last updated on July 21, 2009 13:32

In an exciting week of competition, the Hartpury Festival of Dressage concluded with impressive performances from Richard Davison (pictured) and Carl Hester among others in the CDI. Davison dominated in the Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Kür with a 68.60% and a 74.40% respectively on his mount Hiscox Artemis. Maria Eilberg and Two Sox flew in on a close second place in the Kür on 72.35%.

Hester held on to firsts in the Intermediate I with 73.51% and in the Intermediate Kür with 76.67% on the eight year old Uthopia. Carl was also the master class presenter for the Gala Evening of the week, offering simple but effective training advice for maximum success in competition to a standing room only crowd.

UK based Kyra Kyrklund and the 16.3hh chestnut gelding Adelante snatched up the Grand Prix Special on 68.75% closely followed by Judy Harvey and Fitzcerraldo on 68.38%. Kyrklund also topped the field in the Prix St Georges with a 74.91% on Rico followed closely by Carl Hester and Uthopia on 73.68% for second.

British Team Captain and Olympian Richard Davison thoroughly enjoyed the show and was understandably pleased with the result.“The Grand Prix was great because we were able to produce a lot of the technical work we’d been working on in the past few months, and I was able to see the result— more self carriage and lightness.”

Davison’s victory in the Freestyle is all the more impressive when you consider that in the middle of the test the fire alarm went off, interrupting the show for 10 minutes. “I was pleased with how Artemis reacted to the interruption,” said Richard. "After the alarm went off I had to walk him for about 10 minutes until we could continue. He was great and continued right where we left off without a hitch.”

"I thoroughly enjoyed the show,” said Davison. “I’m using these competitions as a way to mark Artemis’ improvement and I’m very pleased with what I’ve been seeing.”

>For full results of the festival click here.