Monday, 29 April 2024
It’s been a busy week for our World Class Programme, with some fantastic results in Europe and further afield. We’ve rounded up what’s been going on…
Oliver Townend had a weekend to remember in Kentucky. He brought forward nine-year-old Cooley Rosalent for her second trip across the pond – the pair finished third at Maryland CCI5* in October – for what would incredibly be his 100th start at the level. A slightly disappointing dressage test by Oliver’s high standards left them off the pace after the first phase, but they made up ground thanks to a textbook run across the country for just 0.4 of a time penalty. Heading into the showjumping in third position and less than a fence behind the leaders, Oliver guided the talented mare to one of only two clear rounds inside the time, putting enough pressure on those above them to eventually secure the win. This marks his fourth win at the Kentucky Horse Park and his eighth CCI5* title overall.
Having already taken the win at Defender Burghley Horse Trials last year with Ballaghmor Class, this weekend’s success means that Oliver now holds two legs of the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing. With Ballaghmor Class and Tregilder entered at the final leg at MARS Equestrian Badminton Horse Trials next week, he has a real chance of becoming only the third rider in history to claim the historic feat.
Runners up last year at the Kentucky Horse Park, Tom McEwen and JL Dublin landed state-side hoping to go one better. They put in a classy dressage test to give them the first-phase lead, then followed it up with just a few time penalties on cross-country day. However, one pole down in the showjumping meant they had to settle for second place once again on a score of 33.8.
World Champions Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir came to Kentucky hoping for redemption after they had a run-out in the cross-country phase last year. That ghost was successfully laid to rest, thanks to a clear run across the country with just a few added time penalties, but they slipped from second to third place in the jumping thanks to a uncharacteristic fence down. They completed the all-British podium with a score of 35.6.
Final British combination Kirsty Chabert and Classic VI finished in 19th after a weekend of mixed fortunes saw them in second position after the first day of dressage, then slip down the rankings after a run-out on cross-country day and one down in the showjumping.
Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin got their Paris 2024 selection campaign underway in earnest with a trip to a very rainy Germany for the Horses & Dreams show at Hof Kasselmann, Hagen. They took two horses apiece, with Imhotep and Alive and Kicking for Charlotte, and En Vogue and Fame for Carl.
First up, it was the turn of Alive and Kicking and En Vogue in the CDI3* competition. The Grand Prix proved to be a successful endeavour, with Charlotte and ‘Audrey’ the clear winners on 74.848%, then Carl and ‘Vogue’ runners up on 72.761%. In the Grand Prix Special, the placings were repeated and the scores consistent, with Charlotte and Audrey topping the podium again with 74.170%, followed by Carl and Vogue with 72.170%.
Then, it was over to the CDI4* competition, where Imhotep and Fame made their first international outings of the year – and, for Fame, his first since the FEI Dressage European Championship last summer. Charlotte and Imhotep looked happy to be within the white boards again, taking the win with a score of 77.478%. Fame’s test was a little sticky in places, but Carl nursed the fiery stallion round and a score of 74.478% saw them slot into second place.
On Sunday, it was the turn of the Grand Prix Special – which both riders elected to do over the Grand Prix Freestyle, given its role in deciding the team medals at an Olympic Games – and another win for Charlotte and Imhotep. At age 11, the energetic chestnut gelding is finally starting to relax and grow into his powerful potential, although Charlotte maintains that the handbrake isn’t yet completely off. The test wasn’t without its mistakes, including some miscommunication in the canter-trot transition towards the end, but it was still enough for 79.064%.
Fame proved a touch more rideable on his second visit to the Hof Kasselmann arena. There was one mistake in the pirouettes, which Carl was quick to take the blame for, but otherwise the test was much more relaxed and enough to them slip into third behind Germany’s Frederic Wandres and Bluetooth, thanks to a score of 75.809%.
A visit to Waregem, Belgium marked the first overseas trip of the year for some of our para dressage combinations aiming for Paris 2024 selection.
In a competitive Grade 1 class, Mari Durward-Akhurst and Athene Lindebjerg picked up second placings in the Grand Prix A and B tests – scoring 73.583% and 74.666% respectively – before taking the win in the Grand Prix Freestyle with a combination best score of 77.600%. Gabriella Blake and Strong Beau, who made their championship debut at last summer's FEI Para Dressage European Championship, placed fifth in the Grand Prix A (70.708%), then made it to the podium for third place in the Grand Prix B (74.000%) and Grand Prix Freestyle (74.380%).
Meanwhile, also in the Grade 1, Sophie Christiansen further cemented her relationship with new ride Gladstone thanks to scores of 67.458% in the Grand Prix A and 68.750% in the Grand Prix B tests.
Nicola Naylor brought forward her long-term partner Humbero L for the Grade 4 competition, alongside rising star Kallista’s Furstenlooks UVA. The two horses scored close together in the first two tests, with Humberto L toaking sixth in the Grand Prix A to Kallista’s Furstenlooks UVA’s seventh, then fifth and seventh respectively in the Grand Prix B. In the Grand Prix Freestyle, Nicola and Humberto L finished their competition on a high, with a podium placing and third with a score of 74.465%.
The British team of Mari, Gabby and Nicola also took third in the Nations Cup competition.
Athletes from across the disciplines descended on Le Grand Parquet, Fontainebleau for an event that’s being used as an operational test for the equestrian disciplines at Paris 2024, with the main arena using the same surface as is planned for Versailles.
Fresh from their tumultuous trip to Riyadh for the FEI Dressage World Cup Finals, Lottie Fry and Everdale were looking to put their elimination in the Grand Prix Freestyle behind them with a good result. They certainly managed this, finished second in the Grand Prix with a score of 73.543% behind Dutch combination Emmelie Scholtens and Indian Rock, before going one better in the Grand Prix Freestyle to take the win with their punchy Pink-themed floorplan for 82.340%.
Several British showjumpers, including Scott Brash, Harry Charles and Joe Stockdale, made the trip over to France. The result of the week went to Joe and Equine Rescue Services Kandleford, who took the win in the Prix Fiducial CSI5* 1.45m Table A class, finishing almost two seconds ahead of the rest of the field.
In the para dressage competition, Britain was represented by Erin Orford and Dragons Fire in the Grade 2, and Izzy Palmer and new ride Last Gift in the Grade 4. Erin and ‘Nero’ scored 69.467% for the third spot on the podium in their Grand Prix A test, while Izzy and ‘Queen’ were sixth in the Grand Prix A and B, and fifth in the Grand Prix Freestyle with 69.875%.
We’re extremely grateful to the owners of the horses for their continued support of our athletes and sports:
Cover image: Tilly Berendt Media