Bigwood and Morgan shine at Hickstead CDI with double victories

Last week, our international senior riders took to Hickstead for the second domestic CDI of the season, supporting huge entries as we returned to the iconic venue for three days of world-class performances (11 – 17 May).

Fiona Bigwood and Donna Bella | Spidge Photography

In a standout performance before a competitive international field at Hickstead CDI3*, Sussex-based Fiona Bigwood showcased her homebred 10-year-old mare Donna Bella (Don Juan de Hus x Gribaldi) to take a decisive double victory in both the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special. Building on their success at CDIO5* Fontainebleau (FRA) in April, the elegant mare demonstrated increasing confidence and expression, producing two international personal bests of 73.130% in the Grand Prix and 72.808% in the Special.

The combination only made their international debut last year at Hartpury CDI3*, where they finished second in the Special, and have continued an impressive upward trajectory since: “It was only her fourth ever international” explained Fiona, “she hasn’t really had that much exposure, but she was just brilliant. She just has such a good attitude, she is so honest to ride and was really listening to me in the arena. She has been getting better and better each time she has been going out and it’s really lovely to see her developing throughout the season. I bred her from my Olympic mare Orthilia and they are just so similar to train, and I also have got Bella’s daughter, who won the Four Year Old qualifier, that is the exact same to train. It’s really great to see that attitude being passed down the dam line, not just in the ridden work, but also to handle on the ground and their general characteristics are the same.”

Fiona then went on further to say, “It was brilliant to be back competing at Hickstead, we all really missed it. It is just such an amazing event, and you could feel the excitement and enthusiasm of the competitors to be back there. Everyone just had such a good time, and there was a lot of high praise to the organisers. The atmosphere at Hickstead really compares to some of the international venues across Europe and we are so lucky to have it so close to home. I also had the rest of my family there competing in the CDIU25 and Premier League, and a para rider who is based with us in the CPEDI so it felt really special to have everyone there in one place. A huge thank you go to the organisers for all their hard work putting on such a special event”.

Close behind, Olympic champion Charlotte Dujardin secured second place in both classes with Ellie McCarthy’s 12-year-old gelding Brave Heart II (Bordeaux x Tuschinski). The relatively new partnership, who made their international debut together at Wellington CDI3* last November, continues to gain consistency, scoring 72.804% in the Grand Prix and 70.787% in the Special. Laura Tomlinson finished third in the Grand Prix, riding Ursula Bechtolsheimer’s 10-year-old gelding Forest Hill (Furstenlook x United) with a final score of 69.696%.

While the 3* classes were dominated by experienced combinations, the 1* competition also showed fierce competitiveness. Dannie Morgan riding his own British bred gelding Fever Tree won the Prix St Georges and Intermediate I Freestyle with 71.275% and 76.292% respectively; earning an international personal best in the Freestyle. Reflecting on the experience, Dannie commented, “I was really proud of Fever Tree. As always, he tried his best in the arena for me, and it was a great show. I was really pleased with the two tests he did; I think having had the experience from competing him at CDI Hagen and having already done the Hartpury CDI earlier this year, I was a bit more confident in terms of what we could expect from our test”.

“I went in with the goal of just riding the test in a nice balance and trying to get better control in my pirouettes which I think were the best we’ve done yet. Hopefully we will have lots of time in the sport to get them a bit smaller but for now I just really wanted to focus on his confidence and balance. He did two super tests, and I opted to do the Inter I Freestyle instead of the straight just because we did that in Hagen, and I always enjoy riding through my freestyle that Tony and Kelly at Equidance created for me. Hickstead has always been one of my favourite competitions. It’s a show where you can really socialise with everyone, you get to see a lot of your friends and there’s a lot of high-level sport for you to sit and watch. Dan has done a fantastic job putting on a lot of different levels so there’s a bit of something for everyone to have a go at and enjoy- it was fantastic to be back.”

Behind Dannie, Shruti Volta (IND) finished a close second place in the Prix St Georges with 69.854% riding Magnanimous, followed by Michael Eilberg riding Jacky Kennedy DVB on a score of 69.510%. In the Intermediate I Freestyle, Shruti Volta finished just behind Dannie with 74.400% and Gracie Catling riding Julia Catling’s Qwinton finished third with a score of 71.859%.

Following their podium placing in the Prix St Georges, Michael Eilberg and Jacky Kennedy DVB (Damsey x Jazz) won the Intermediate I with 71.078%, making them the only combination in the class to break the 70% barrier. The 12-year-old mare, owned by Amanda Wu, impressed judges Freddy Leyman (GER), Alban Tissot (FRA) and Maarten Van Der Heijden (NED) to dance their way to the win, including earning a nine for their final halt. Second place was earned by Nynn Puttisombat (THA) and Sara Gallop’s 13-year-old gelding Rock That Tango on 69.608%, and Nicolle Begovic (BIH) finished in third place riding her own Jeroen Leatherdale G to score 67.647%.

Thanks go to the team at Aster Events, who organised the Chart Stables International Dressage at Hickstead, for delivering a superbly run event, and congratulations to all riders and connections for their hard work and excellent performances throughout the competition.

Results- Top 10 

Thursday 14 May

1* Prix St Georges

1. Dannie Morgan and Fever Tree, 71.275% (GBR)

2. Shruti Vora and Magnanimous, 69.853% (IND)

3. Michael George Eilberg and Jacky Kennedy DVB, 69.510% (GBR)

4. Gracie Catling and Qwinton, 68.823% (GBR)

5. Nynn Puttisombat and Rock That Tango, 68.677% (THA)

6. Sarah Wilkinson and Horacia, 67.559% (NZL)

=7. Nicolle Begovic and Jeroen Leatherdale G, 67.255% (BIH)

=7. David Sheerin and Shanti 39, 67.255% (GBR)

9. Louise Anne Bell and Peaky Blinder, 67.157% (GBR)

10. Leah Beckett and Atterupgaards Capirossi, 66.912% (GBR)

Friday 15 May

1* Intermediate I

1. Michael George Eilberg and Jacky Kennedy Dvb, 71.078% (GBR)

2. Nynn Puttisombat and Rock That Tango, 69.608% (THA)

3. Nicolle Begovic and Jeroen Leatherdale G, 67.647% (BIH)

4. Sara Jane Lanning and Choice, 66.128% (GBR)

5. Louise Anne Bell and Peaky Blinder, 65.834% (GBR)

6. David Sheerin and Shanti 39, 65.588% (GBR)

7. Anna Bates and Gitina, 65.490% (GBR)

8. Annie Ho and Bella Rouge, 63.039% (HKG)

9. Sarah Ann Fung and High-Quality, 61.814% (HKG)

10. Tara Hayes and Ferrero K, 61.373% (IRL)

1* Intermediate I Freestyle

1. Dannie Morgan and Fever Tree, 76.292% (GBR)

2. Shruti Vora and Magnanimous, 74.400% (IND)

3. Gracie Catling and Qwinton, 71.859% (GBR)

4. Leah Beckett and Atterupgaards Capirossi, 71.375% (GBR)

5. Sarah Wilkinson and Horacia, 69.667% (NZL)

6. Sara Jane Lanning and Hawtins Lirica, 69.500% (GBR)

7. Abbie Newbury and Seagry Firstamour, 69.259% (GBR)

8. Nynn Puttisombat and Ivaro, 65.642% (THA)

9. Sarah Ann Fung and Hezzel, 65.000% (HKG)

10. Sarah Stewart and Djoe Dimaggio, 64.875% (GBR)

Saturday 16 May

3* Grand Prix

1. Fiona Bigwood and Donna Bella, 73.130% (GBR)

2. Charlotte Dujardin and Brave Heart, 72.804% (GBR)

3. Laura Tomlinson and Forest Hill, 69.696% (GBR)

4. Henriette Andersen and Zackery, 68.109% (GBR)

5. Abigail Lyle and Giraldo, 67.826% (IRL)

6. Thomas Goode and Furstenrausch PS, 67.413% (GBR)

7. Yue Wu and Iggy Pop Bek, 67.022% (CHN)

8. Alex Baker and Top Gear, 66.826% (IRL)

9. Thomas Bobis and Moliere de Massa, 66.739% (FRA)

10. Alexander Harrison and Kickback, 66.413% (GBR)

Sunday 17 May

3* Grand Prix Special

1. Fiona Bigwood and Donna Bella, 72.808% (GBR)

2. Charlotte Dujardin and Brave Heart, 70.787% (GBR)

3. Abigail Lyle and Giraldo, 69.191% (IRL)

4. Henriette Andersen and Zackery, 68.808% (GBR)

5. Alexander Harrison and Kickback, 67.341% (GBR)

6. Laura Tomlinson and Forest Hill, 66.894% (GBR)

7. Thomas Goode and Furstenrausch PS, 66.234% (GBR)

8. Anna Wilson and Habana Libre A, 66.170% (POL)

9. Yue Wu and Iggy Pop Bek, 65.808% (CHN)

10. Anu Sironen and Ypajan Fioretto, 64.851% (FIN)

3* Grand Prix Freestyle

1. Sorrell Klatzko and Turbo, 72.750% (IRL)

2. Anne-Marie Cowan and Woodcroft Royal Charter, 68.810% (GBR)

3. Thomas Bobis and Moliere de Massa, 68.350% (FRA)

4. Lewis Carrier and Rubico, 68.095% (GBR)

5. Carolyn Mellor and Gouverneur M, 67.970% (IRL)

6. Matt Frost and Helga, 67.715% (GBR)

7. Susanna Foustok and Don Rodolfo, 65.080% (FIN)

FULL RESULTS