Dujardin continues winning ways at Hartpury

Following their victory in Friday’s Hazlewoods CDI Grand Prix, Charlotte Dujardin and Mount St John Freestyle did it again winning the Baileys Horse Feeds Grand Prix Special at Hartpury CDI3* in Gloucestershire (4 – 8 July 2018).

Two days after their Grand Prix, Charlotte and the Fidermark x Donnerhall nine-year-old who is owned by Mount St John Stud, delivered a superior performance to take the Baileys Horse Feeds Grand Prix Special. In the Grand Prix, the young mare appeared to be a little affected by the heat, and lost fluency at times. Sunday however, she was back to her best and, confidence restored, earned a score of 80.51% from judges Peter Storr (GBR) at E, Olivier Smeets (BEL) at H, Peter Holler (GER) at C, Susanne Baarup (DEN) at M and Stephen Clarke (GBR) at B.

Barring a minor hesitation into the second piaffe, the performance was exemplary with beautiful expression, mobility and balance. Simply breathtaking, the mare tried her heart out and it’s exciting to think of what the future might hold as she develops further.

Carl Hester and his World Equestrian Games prospect Hawtins Delicato took second spot earning a score of 77.29% with Henriette Andersen and Flavio completing the top three.

The previous night, taking centre stage in the Hartpury Arena was the Superflex CDI Grand Prix Freestyle. This was won by Richard Davison with Gwendolyn Meyer’s Bubblingh (Lingh x Picandt). For the second year running, Olympic dressage rider Richard and the 12-year-old gelding ‘Bubbles’ stole the limelight during Saturday night’s gala evening. Fourth in the previous day’s Grand Prix, they delivered a technically demanding performance to a funky garage compilation to earn 77.81%.

“He’s taken a long time to get him where I want him this season, and he finally feels like he’s getting there,” said Richard. “I’m still not riding him full out because I want him to settle in the arena and I thought he did tonight. In fact, he was probably the easiest he’s ever been to ride. Tom Hunt composed my freestyle music last year. I wanted something jazzy and upbeat and it really suits Bubblingh’s personality.”

Second went to Sonnar Murray-Brown and Erlentanz who continue to impress. The Latimer-sired 11-year-old and his rider were awarded a score of 75.40%, whilst Louise Bell and Into The Blue took the third podium position with a super 72.17%. 

No one rider dominated in the Small Tour divisions, but three exciting combinations each came to the fore. In Friday’s Classic Dressage CDI Prix St Georges it was Lancashire’s Jess Dunn who had the edge, winning the class with 72.79% aboard Jennifer Whittaker’s Dutch-bred 13-year-old Alicante Valley on his international debut and more than a decade since Jess’s last international appearance.

“Where do I start?!” said Jess on her Facebook page. “Eleven years after my last international as a Junior I was honoured to be at Hartpury. And even more surprised to win the Classic Dressage international PSG on the first day of competition! 

“I cannot express my thanks enough to everyone who gets me to this point! I’m pretty speechless. Thank you Lisa Marriott for the (winning/lucky) hairnet, and for Helen Elizabeth Dutton and crew for resewing my flags after I did such a rubbish job! Thank you to everyone back home who is allowing me to be here too.”

The Freeflex CDI Intermediate I belonged to Nicola Buchanan and Half Moon Dark Magic, a Dimaggio-sired nine-year-old who she co-owns with Diana Reynolds-Hale. Nicola and ‘Paddy’, who were second in this year’s Superflex Inter I Freestyle at the NAF Five Star Winter Championships, claimed the class with 71.88%, with Paddy’s breeder Julie Deverill proudly looking on.

Experienced international campaigner Nikki Barker, from Suffolk, rose up the ranks throughout the show with the handsome bay Spielberg son, Durable. Nikki and the 10-year-old stallion who she owns with Viv Gleave placed fifth in the Prix St Georges, third in the Inter I, going on to win the Andrews Bowen Inter I Freestyle. 73.52% was the score, marking the first international victory for the talented pair.

British Dressage thanks the team at Hartpury as well as the sponsors, volunteers and those behind the scenes for a fantastic CDI event.

Top ten results of the British riders:

Hazlewoods CDI Grand Prix
1st Charlotte Dujardin with Mount St John Freestyle, 77.435% (GBR)
2nd Carl Hester with Hawtins Delicato, 76.087% (GBR)
3rd Spencer Wilton with Super Nova II, 75.848% (GBR)
4th Richard Davison with Bubblingh, 72.000% (GBR)
5th Sonnar Murray-Brown with Erlentanz, 71.609% (GBR)
6th Henriette Andersen with Flavio, 70.630% (GBR)
7th Vicky Thompson Winfield with Mango Jacaro, 69.848% (GBR)
8th Fiona Bigwood with Kjaerholm’s Abutsiaq, 69.457% (GBR)
10th Louise Bell with Into The Blue, 68.304% (GBR)

Baileys Horse Feeds CDI Grand Prix Special
1st Charlotte Dujardin with Mount St John Freestyle, 80.511% (GBR)
2nd Carl Hester with Hawtins Delicato, 77.298% (GBR)
3rd Henriette Andersen with Flavio, 70.957% (GBR)
4th Fiona Bigwood with Kjaerholm’s Abutsiaq, 69.000% (GBR)
6th Sara Gallop with Summerhouse Zelham, 64.319% (GBR)

Superflex CDI Grand Prix Freestyle
1st Richard Davison with Bubblingh, 77.810% (GBR)
2nd Sonnar Murray-Brown with Erlentanz, 75.400% (GBR)
3rd Louise Bell with Into The Blue, 72.170% (GBR)
4th Georgia Stokes with Talented Mr Ripley, 70.635% (GBR)
6th Liz Diegutis with Saskia Hit, 69.450% (GBR)
7th Lucy Fallen with Cruise, 67.460% (GBR)
8th Sara Gallop with Bandreo, 66.850% (GBR)
9th Vicky Thompson Winfield with Mango Jacaro, 65.550% (GBR)
10th Paul Friday with Winston Bond, 65.515% (GBR)

Classic Dressage CDI Prix St Georges
1st Jessica Dunn with Alicante Valley, 72.794% (GBR)
2nd Nicola Buchanan with Half Moon Dark Magic, 72.206% (GBR)
3rd Vicky Thompson Winfield with Artist, 71.647% (GBR)
4th Vicky Thompson Winfield with Exquisite, 71.647% (GBR)
5th Nikki Barker with Durable, 70.559% (GBR)
6th Owen Cooper with Don Dante, 70.118% (GBR)
7th Hannah Biggs with Don Caledonia, 70.088% (GBR)
8th Becky Moody with Eureko, 69.971% (GBR)

Freeflex CDI Intermediate I
1st Nicola Buchanan with Half Moon Dark Magic, 71.882% (GBR)
2nd Vicky Thompson Winfield with Artist, 70.912% (GBR)
3rd Nikki Barker with Durable, 70.794% (GBR)
4th Daniel Greenwood with Lukien Von Tespe, 70.676% (GBR)
5th Jessica Dunn with Alicante Valley, 70.382% (GBR)
8th Hannah Biggs with Don Caledonia, 69.559% (GBR)
10th Becky Moody with Eureko, 69.441% (GBR)

Andrews Bowen CDI Intermediate I Freestyle
1st Nikki Barker with Durable 73.525% (GBR)
2nd Becky Moody with Eureko, 72.500% (GBR)
3rd Nicola Buchanan with Half Moon Dark Magic, 72.375% (GBR)
5th Owen Cooper with Don Dante, 71.550% (GBR)
8th Hannah Biggs with Don Caledonia, 69.750% (GBR)
9th Jessica Dunn with Alicante Valley, 69.350% (GBR)