last updated on July 31, 2006 01:00

The world’s number one ranked rider, Anky van Grunsven, withdrawing at the last minute due to illness did not stop Holland from dominating the Hickstead CDIO in West Sussex, 26-30 July 2006.

They won the Nation’s Cup and Holland’s Laurens van Lieren won the CDIO grand prix, grand prix special and grand prix kür.

Britain finished second in the Nation’s Cup, less than two points behind Holland and just ahead of Germany. The team comprised Laura Bechtolsheimer with Douglas Dorsey, Wayne Channon on Lorenzo CH, Maria Eilberg with Two Sox and Spencer Wilton on Dolendo, who stepped in after Emile Faurie’s ride Rascher Hopes failed the vet’s inspection.

It was team members Channon and Lorenzo who spearheaded the British campaign with a second place on a score of more than 70% in the CDIO grand prix, third in the special with nearly 70% and another third in the kür on more than 74%.

Another British team member Sandy Phillips and Lara won the CDI grand prix with more than 70%.

Carl Hester and Blakes Da Vinci swept the board in the CDI small tour, winning the prix st georges, intermediaire I and inter I kür with scores of more than 70% in each test.

British success continued in the young rider competition with Georgina Somerset and Paris heading the team championship test and kür as well as finishing second in the prix st georges behind Holland’s Dominique van der Horst and Dimorf’s Kait.

Ulrik Molgaard and Herman TG won the British National Young Horse Championship five-year-old final, the six-year-old section went to Alice Peternel and Surprise. Carl Hester enjoyed another victory, this time in the Rhinegold British Young Horse Championship for five-year-olds with Utophia while Charlotte Dujardin and Fernandez won the six-year-old final.

Click www.dressageathickstead.com for the complete results.