Fresh off her third World Championships in August, Roberta Sheffield, riding for Canada with her mount Fairuza finished first overall in the CPEDI3* (Grade III) at the annual Keysoe British Dressage Para International Show in Keysoe, UK held from Oct. 4 – 6, 2022.
The host venue at Keysoe, located just over 50 kilometres west of Cambridge, is a world-renowned equestrian centre of excellence that was the training facility for the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics.
Sheffield, who is based in Lincolnshire, England, and her mount Fairuza, a 13-year-old mare whose breeding derives from the Dutch-bred Gelderlander carriage horse opened the Grade III Team test on Oct. 4, 2022, topping the standings matching a personal best score of 72.000% over Hong Kong’s Fleur Schrader and Jockey Club Caraat (68.088%).
A day later on Oct. 5, 2022, the Canadian pair finished again in first place, setting a personal best score in the Individual Test of 71.853%. Sheffield was satisfied with her personal best. “I was pleased with our scores,” she said. “Equalling our personal best in the team test and a new one in the individual.”
On the last day of competition, the two-time Paralympian and her mare danced their way to music produced by Avery Maude Dressage and finished number one for a third straight class with a score of 73.714% in the Grade III Freestyle. Sheffield is so pleased with Maude’s music. “I will be knocking on her door again for next year’s fresh new one!”
Sheffield has been with Fairuza since 2015 and their close partnership continues to build with every test they compete together. “Fairuza just gets better and better,” she said. “The judges recognize our partnership and how far we have come from raw material I presented them back in 2018.” Sheffield added, “I couldn’t be more thankful for this wonderful horse, Fairuza is a legend.”
After representing the maple leaf on the world stage two months ago. “It was lovely to be out competing again after representing Canada at the World Championships in August,” reflected Sheffield. “Keysoe felt like a great way to close out the 2022 Para season.”
Sheffield drove back to home base in Lincolnshire over 100 kilometres north, where she and her mare will spend the winter training and doing some able-bodied dressage competitions. “We want to be absolutely on top of our game for the Paris 2024 qualifiers next season.”
The 41-year-old Sheffield acknowledged the brilliant team behind the scenes. “Competing at the show was made possible by fantastic grooming skills of Alicia Kerfoot and coaching support of Clive Milkins.”
For more information on the CPEDI3* Keysoe International Para-Dressage competition, visit www.Keysoe.com. For full results, visit here.
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