News

BD abroad: Fritzens CDI4*

  • Written By: British Dressage
  • Published: Mon, 02 Jul 2018 21:54 GMT

Great British duo Emile Faurie and Hayley Watson Greaves made the long trip to Fritzens CDI4* in Austria, home of the Swarovski family, a worthwhile one with impressive performances and scores to match this weekend.

In the Grand Prix qualifier for the Special, Emile posted 74.02% with Hof Kasselmann’s Dono di Maggio to finish on the podium behind Germany’s powerhouses, Isabell Werth and Dorothee Schneider. Werth was making a long awaited return to competition having missed nearly four years through injury with Madeleine Winter-Schulze’s Belissimo M mare, Bella Rose and a 77.52% for the win proved their right back where the left off. Schneider was just ahead of Emile on a score of 74.37% on her young star Faustus.

Emile said afterwards; “He just keeps on getting better, such an incredible horse!” Three of the five judges had the combination over 75% with the piaffe and passage scoring regularly 8 and higher.

Saturday’s Grand Prix Special proved truly special as Isabell Werth posted 80.17% with the chestnut mare which now gives the rider a fourth horse to choose from ahead of the World Equestrian Games. But Emile and the Dimaggio sired chestnut Dono di Maggio pulled out all the stops to post 75.59% to earn a unanimous second place, a new personal best to match the one he scored in Friday’s Grand Prix. Dorothee Schinder completed the podium in third with Faustus on 71.23%.

Emile took to Facebook with; “I’m absolutely bursting with happiness today as Dono di Maggio did another personal best of 75.59% to come second behind Isabell Werth. He just keeps improving with every test. A massive thanks to Team Kasselmann, trainer Hartmut Lammers and stand in supergroom Vicky for all the support and help. And especially to my home team that kepps everything running so smoothly when I’m away competing! How lucky am I!”

Electing for the Freestyle, Hayley Watson-Greaves (pictured) was in action in Saturday’s Grand Prix for Freestyle aboard her partner of a lifetime, Rubins Nite. They came up against a wall of German domination. Isabell Werth, this time riding Emilio, took top spot with 79.8%, Dorothee Schneider second with Fohlenhofs Rock’n Ro on 71.93% and third was Anja Plönzke riding Tannenhof’s Fahrenhe with 70.26%. Hayley was back in seventh with ‘Squeaks’ on 67.3%.

This was enough to see them through to Sunday’s finale Freestyle where they were back firing on all cylinders to post 75.75% and a place on the podium. Isabell was the only rider to break the 80% barrier with Emilio, 80.14% to be exact with Dorothee second on 78.97% and Hayley in third. 

Hayley said on Facebook after the prize giving; “Squeaks does it again! After not doing our best Grand Prix yesterday, we were placed seventh. I changed his warm up for the freestyle today and my goodness what a difference. We came 3rd to Isabell Werth and Dorothy Schneider! Thank you to everyone for your support, my sponsors, home team and CDI Schindlhof for another amazing show.”