BD abroad: Rotterdam CDIO5*

Last week five British riders vied for the ribbons at one of the jewels in the FEI calendar, CHIO Rotterdam (20 – 24 June).

Taking home a win in the CDIO Grand Prix Special B Final was Gloucestershire-based rider Lara Butler with her National Grand Prix winning partner, the Bechtolsheimer’s Rubin Al Asad. Lara and ‘Rufus’ scored 70.70% to top the class following a solid 68.93% test the day before in the CDIO Grand Prix competition.

Speaking from her Facebook page Lara said, “My absolute superstar made this long trip worthwhile by going and winning the Grand Prix Special out here in Rotterdam. He was so good today. We have learnt a lot this trip and going for safe in the test isn’t good enough anymore and today we proved this... Rufus and I upped our game for the win!”

Michael Eilberg and the ever-reliable Marakov were the highest scorers for Great Britain in the CDIO Grand Prix test after being awarded 69.13% from the panel of judges consisting of Maria Colliander (FIN), Peter Holler (GER), Susan Hoevenaars (AUS), Mariette Sanders (NED) and Andrew Gardner (GBR).

Whilst third team member, Emma Hindle, earned an impressive 70.36% in the CDIO Grand Prix Kur to Music B Final with her 12-year-old Blue Hors Romanov daughter Romy Del Sol, improving on their Grand Prix result by four percent.

The CDIO team event was won by a strong Dutch team on home soil. It’s interesting to note that the four victorious horses, Glock’s Zonik, Apache, Dream Boy and Cennin, are all popular breeding stallions away from the competition arena. Sweden and the USA completed the podium whilst Great Britain claimed sixth place.

In the CDI 3* event, Laura Tomlinson gained valuable arena time with her own and Dr W Bechtolsheimer's Duvals Capri Sonne Jr. The elegant black stallion by Rhodium made his Grand Prix debut with Laura in the saddle in only May this year.

Ryan Todd and Charlex Eskbjerg were the sole British representatives in the Under 25s Grand Prix competition. The duo placed 13th in the short Grand Prix class before going on to claim a top ten finish in the Grand Prix Freestyle to Music. Both Under 25s classes were won by former European Young Rider Champion Jeanine Niewenhuis with the eye-catching chestnut gelding TC Athene (United x Jazz).

Results

CDIO Grand Prix 
1st Edward Gal with Glock’s Zonik NOP, 76.95% (NED)
16th Michael Eilberg with Marakov, 69.13% (GBR)
18th Lara Butler with Rubin Al Asad, 68.93% (GBR)
23rd Emma Hindle with Romy del Sol, 66.95% (GBR)

CDIO Grand Prix Special – B Final
1st Lara Butler with Rubin Al Asad, 70.70% (GBR)
6th Michael Eilberg with Marakov, 67.55% (GBR)

CDIO Grand Prix Special – A Final
1st Therese Nilshagen with Dante Weltino OLD, 74.14% (SWE)

CDIO Grand Prix Kur to Music – B Final
1st Marie Emilie Bretenoux with Quartz of Jazz, 71.42% (FRA)
3rd Emma Hindle with Romy del Sol, 70.36% (GBR)

CDIO Grand Prix Kur to Music – A Final
1st Edward Gal with Glock’s Zonik NOP, 80.07% (NED)

CDIO Nations Cup
1st The Netherlands
2nd Sweden
3rd USA
4th Germany
5th France
6th Great Britain
7th Belgium

Grand Prix 3*
1st Edward Gal with Glock’s Voice, 74.26% (NED)
21st Laura Tomlinson with Duval’s Capri Sonne Jr, 64.13% (GBR)

Grand Prix Special 3*
1st Adrienne Lyle with Horizon, 70.68% (USA)
8th Laura Tomlinson with Duval’s Capri Sonne Jr, 66.93% (GBR)

Grand Prix Kur to Music 3*
1st Edward Gal with Glock’s Voice, 78.67% (NED)

Under 25s Short Grand Prix
1st Jeanine Nieuwenhuis with TC Athene, 72.35% (NED)
13th Ryan Todd with Charlex Eskebjerg, 65.07% (GBR)

Under 25s Grand Prix Kur to Music
1st Jeanine Niewenhuis with TC Athene, 75.20% (NED)
9th Ryan Todd with Charlex Eskebjerg, 67.50% (GBR)