Fry brings 2019 to a close with top results at Mechelen CDI-W

Charlotte Fry concluded a super 2019 with top placings aboard Dark Legend at Mechelen CDI-W in Belgium (26 – 30 December 2019) – the seventh leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2019/2020 Western European League. 

Fresh from two top-three placings at Olympia with Everdale, Charlotte and her 2019 FEI Senior European Championship partner Dark Legend (Zucchero x Tango), an 11 year old gelding who she co-owns with Van Olst Horses, presented two impressive performances at the Christmastime Belgian show.

Charlotte and ‘Darky’ - pictured - made a successful World Cup series debut at the Stuttgart German Masters in November. Last weekend they upped their game further with a clean Grand Prix test for 73.870% and second, followed by fifth in the Freestyle with a personal best mark of 79.075%.

The Dutch rising-star combination of Emmelie Scholtens and Desperado N.O.P. headed both the Grand Prix and Freestyle, and a strong representation from Portugal and Spain sealed a clutch of top placings.

The 23-year-old Brit also contested the Small Tour with Van Olst Horses’ eight-year-old gelding Graaf Leatherdale T (Lord Leatherdale x Kennedy) achieving second in the PSG and tenth in the Inter I Freestyle.

Top fives
FEI Dressage World Cup™ Grand Prix
1. Emmelie Scholtens and Desperado N.O.P, 76.478% (NED)
2. Charlotte Fry and Dark Legend, 73.870% (GBR)
3. Maria Caetano and Coroado, 73.674% (POR)
4. Joao Miguel Torrao and Equador, 72.543% (POR)
5. Morgan Barbançon Mestre and Sir Donnerhall II OLD (FRA)

FEI Dressage World Cup™ Freestyle
1. Emmelie Scholtens and Desperado N.O.P, 85.075% (NED)
2. Maria Caetano and Coroado, 80.940% (POR)
3. Juan Matute Guimon and Quantico, 80.510% (ESP)
4. Morgan Barbançon Mestre and Sir Donnerhall II OLD, 79.780% (FRA)
5. Charlotte Fry and Dark Legend, 79.075% (GBR)

Small Tour
Prix St Georges
1. Thibault Vandenberghe and Santiago Song, 71.588% (BEL)
2. Charlotte Fry and Graaf Leatherdale T, 71.088% (GBR)
3. Inge Heylen and Kalagan ‘H’, 70.441% (BEL)
4. Joyce Heuitink and Gaudi Vita, 69.882% (NED)
5. Jorinde Verwimp and Arie Sollenburg, 69.382% (BEL)

Intermediate I Freestyle
1. Joyce Heuitink and Gaudi Vita, 78.245% (NED)
2. Loranne Livens and Aragon L, 75.795% (BEL)
3. Inge Heylen and Kalagan ‘H’, 75.265% (BEL)
4. Thibault Vandenberghe and Santiago Song, 75.060% (BEL)
5. Frederic Wandres and Hot Hit, 74.940% (GER)
10. Charlotte Fry and Graaf Leatherdale T, 68.360% (GBR) 

Full results