Friday, 08 September 2023
The fourth day of competition at the FEI European Dressage and Para Dressage Championships was once again bathed in sunshine. A bumper crowd packed the show ground to witness the climax of the para dressage team competition and the first head-to-head battle for individual honours in the dressage in the form of the Grand Prix Special.
Britian’s para quartet featuring two debutante combinations and a young horse performed beyond expectations to take a hard-fought bronze, while it was individual third spot for Charlotte Dujardin with compatriots Lottie Fry and Carl Hester completing the top five.
With the team honours decided and a gold to Britain’s name, the spotlight turned to the tussle for a place on the individual podium – and, such was the quality of the field here in Riesenbeck, there were a number of names on the list of potential medalists.
First up for Britain was Gareth Hughes and Classic Briolinca, who he owns with wife Rebecca, daughter Ruby and long-term friend and supporter, Julia Horning. The duo had impressed in the Grand Prix with a harmonious test and the Special is well suited to ‘Briolinca’s’ highlights. Gareth again rode beautifully to present a lovely picture, but the judges were somewhat reluctant with the marks – they ended on 74.651%, which took the lead after 16 riders gone.
“I’m very very happy. Do you know what, this is her third or fourth championship and at each one, she gives everything she’s got. She’s 17 years of age now, and goes in there and performs – she’s a true, true professional, she’s beautiful and she tries her heart out. What more could a rider want?” Gareth said.
“She was brilliant. It’s like a cauldron in there – you go in and there’s no air. But she was really, really focused and she tried her heart out. I think it’s one of the best tests she’s done and that’s all you can do as a rider, go in there and ride the best test that you can. We had one little blip going into the piaffe out of my right passage, but this is where she just picks it back up – she doesn’t take it through to the other movements and she’s just a super star.”
Reflecting on yesterday’s team gold medal, Gareth said: “If I retired now, I’d be happy. I’m very lucky because I’ve got a medal of every colour now. When you’re young and you’re wanting to do this, you have ambitions – my ambition when I was young was to ride dressage, then my second ambition was to ride in tails, then it was to ride a Grand Prix, then if I was ever good enough it was to ride on a team.
“To be part of this team, that’s really something special. It’s a medal- winning team and to get on the team is so hard every year, and to come away with a gold at the Europeans in Germany? These are things I read about as a kid – you never believed it would happen – so it’s a fairytale,” he said.
As the afternoon wore on, the lead changed regularly and the scores were rising as the competition progressed to the highest scoring combinations from the previous two days. The next British pairing was Charlotte ‘Lottie’ Fry and Glamourdale, owned by Van Olst Horses – as reigning World Champions in this test, they were amongst the favourites. Lottie admitted that the black Lord Leatherdale x Negro stallion had been a bit distracted in yesterday’s Grand Prix test, but a new personal best had still secured gold for the team and today was another day.
Within a few movements, it was clear they were back on form and as impressive as ever. There was a small mistake in the one-time changes, but most of the canter work was scoring in the eight to 10 mark range, with Glamourdale’s two-time flying changes and extended canter bringing gasps from the crowd. Their final percentage was announced as 81.763% – not quite the score they posted to take gold in Herning last year, but enough to claim the lead.
“He felt really good in there today,” beamed Lottie. “He was much better than yesterday, much more concentrated. To be honest, everything felt really good – we had one tiny blip in the one-tempo changes behind, but apart from that, he was really foot-perfect and I couldn’t fault him.
“I think the test overall went a lot better than yesterday, he was much more with me and he wasn’t losing his concentration. I think the pirouettes were a real highlight today and pretty much all the trot work. His extended walk has improved so much as well, which I was really happy with. The feeling was much better today – it wasn’t reflected in the marks, which was a shame, but with him I couldn’t ask much more,” she continued.
Next up for Germany was the highest scoring combination in the Grand Prix, Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TFS Dalera BB – the duo many had tipped for double gold at the championships. They did have a few mistakes, but the extreme highs scored so well that it didn’t matter. A final mark of 85.593% flashed up and they rocketed into a commanding lead.
We were down to final three combinations and they now knew what they had to beat for a podium place. Our next combination was Charlotte Dujardin with Carl Hester and Coral Ingham’s Imhotep, who had played a vital role in Britain’s team gold. At just 10, ‘Pete’ is very low milage compared to some of the field, but Charlotte has brought him on in the last 12 months and any weaknesses are now strengths. They were on song today – just some small mistakes in the passage/piaffe tour, but the final score was still a huge 82.583%. While not quite enough for the lead, it was a new personal best and put them into second place.
“I’m so proud of Imhotep. He’s 10 years old and he’s literally given me absolutely everything. I’m very, very proud of him,” exclaimed Charlotte.
“He’s a very young, inexperienced horse and he’s against a lot of experienced horses who are used to this sort of atmosphere. He’s done very, very little of this and next year is going to be very, very exciting – to come out again with a horse that’s even more experienced. He’s getting personal best scores – I can’t complain because I got a personal best yesterday and a personal best today. I’m absolutely thrilled with our performances.
“I definitely think he’s got more in him – there is heaps more to come. Next year is going to be so exciting because I think by then I could take the handbrake off and really ride what he’s got. I’ve literally only been back in the saddle for five months [after giving birth to daughter Isabella], which is no time at all. I just came here thinking, ‘I want to enjoy every minute of it, I want to do my best’. I just want to go in there, come out and feel that I’ve done my best and Pete’s done his best, and that’s all that matters,” she summed up.
Our final rider for Britain was the legend that is Carl Hester, who’s competing in his 22nd championship and angling for his 15th medal. With Fiona Bigwood’s stallion Fame, he impressed many in the Grand Prix with a masterful display of how to get the best out of a horse. In the searing heat today, his masterclass continued and, although they were trending below Jessica and Dalera, they were still right up there. A final total of 80.106% put him fourth, but he’d posted a magic +80% – a big milestone for the Sark-born rider and his newest equine partner.
“It felt easy. He felt so relaxed – I’ve never had him so relaxed. It was a new feeling for me because normally I’m always managing him because he gets a little bit tense here and there. But it was like he grew up at this show, he accepted all of my aids really nicely and I just had a lovely ride,” enthused Carl.
“He was more relaxed today, definitely, and I could have ridden him a little bit stronger perhaps, but at the moment that’s another notch up from yesterday – building bricks, if you like.
“This championship has been an amazing show, an amazing place, and it’s amazing to ride here. I think because I do less competing now, I enjoy it a bit more when I do it, rather than having loads of horses to compete like the old days. This is a really nice way of doing it. I’ve done the Grand Prix so many times for so many years, I don’t have to think about where I go, and instead I can think about helping the horse. But it was great to get there, to finish a test and then walk out on my long rein. All those things are so important to you as a trainer, a rider – they all tell you things about how it’s all going with your training, so I couldn’t be happier,” he said.
The final rider to go was Nanna Skodborg Merrald with Blue Hors Zepter for Denmark – this duo had been super impressive at CHIO Aachen, so couldn’t be discounted. As their test went on, it was clear they meant business and a final score of 82.796% backed this up. It was enough to snatch the silver from Charlotte’s grasp and drop Lottie off the podium.
At the end of the day, the gold went to Germany as Jessica and Dalera retained the title that the won in Hagen in 2021. This time, however, it was with the third highest score ever for the Grand Prix Special – only Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro, and Edward Gal and Totilas have gone better. The silver went Denmark’s way for Nanna, while Charlotte Dujardin and ‘Pete’ claimed their first ever individual championship medal together, and with the way this exciting young horse is developing, it’s likely to be the the first on many to come.
With three grades completed yesterday, the team medals would be decided on the Grades 4 and 5. With the top three scores counting and nations fielding athletes from across the five grades, the leaderboard wouldn’t be finalised until the final pair had exited the arena. The Grade 5 was the first under the watchful eyes of the judging panel and our final two British combinations both featured.
On Wednesday, Yorkshire-based rider Charlotte Cundall had a touch of imposter syndrome while making her team debut, questioning her right to be in such highly esteemed company on the European stage. However, after a +72% score in the Grand Prix A individual test with The Veyron Partnership’s FJ Veyron gave her the perfect shot of confidence, she could approach today’s Grade 5 team test with new self-belief to quell any lingering doubt.
The temperature gauge was turned up a few notches today, making conditions hot for both horses and riders. The para competitors have a large, airy indoor arena to warm up in and the design is perfect for these conditions – it’s almost as if it’s air-conditioned, so preparations can be made out of the intense heat.
The test itself was also a knotch up from Wednesday – Charlotte’s new-found confidence was channeled into presenting a test that grabbed the attention. The overall picture was pleasing, and ‘Duke’ was attentive, active and soft. The walk tour was well-presented and Charlotte really used the arena to set up every transition so that they were crisp and obedient – particularly the simple change. They finished with a fantastic final extended canter, which was a real ‘look at us’ moment. The final score was 73.368% – an improvement on her previous personal best of over 1.5% and the performance was every bit worthy of the score.
“What a horse!” said an elated Charlotte. “He just gave me everything and more in there. I could not have asked for any more from him, I’m just the luckiest girl in the world to be riding him.
“I had a little secret goal again for today, which was for a score around 71%. So, for 73% and to be up there on the leaderboard as well at the moment – I know it will change – but to contribute to the team, hopefully it’s a good score.
“I just feel so lucky to be here and have all the support of UK Sport and the National Lottery players helping us get here. Today, I felt a bit more like I belonged in there. Yesterday, on your first championship test, you do feel like ‘gosh should I be here?’. I guess having a good day yesterday gave me a bit of confidence to go in there and leave nothing in there, just gave it absolutely everything.
“It’s been a really long journey to get here and this red collar is so symbolic in British Equestrian – it was always my dream when I was doing Ponies, Juniors and Young Riders in eventing, to get a team red collar. Obviously, a turn of events meant that I could no longer event, so I had to change my dream and I ended up with a red collar, so the words embroidered inside my jacket say, ‘I had a dream’. I never thought when I had to focus purely on dressage that I would get the adrenaline rush that I did from eventing and point-to-pointing, but I absolutely do. Things happen for a reason sometimes – you just change your dream and go down another path.”
Sophie Wells was drawn late enough in the order to learn Charlotte’s score and, with two +74% tests in the bank from yesterday, she knew the pressure was off. However, Sophie is the ultimate competitor and would still be riding for every mark. Her partner, LJT Egebjerggards Samoa, who’s owned by The Lady Joseph Trust, is just seven and early in her career, but she will have gained huge experience from her enjoyable trip around the arena on Wednesday, and Sophie will also have learned more about managing her.
A bold centre line led to a square halt and quick salute, and they were immediately on their way into an expressive medium trot which floated across the diagonal – Sophie staying mindful of the mare’s green mistake to break in to canter in their previous test. The tricky movements where ‘Diana’ would need to be totally with her rider were executed with great accuracy and with a lovely willingness to please by the horse. The difficult elements of halt and rein-back and a simple change on the centreline were also well ridden, and Diana continued to show a relaxed picture as Sophie worked to keep her focus.
The final percentage was displayed as 74.079% – just a smidge off a personal best, but a hugely satisfying test for such a young horse and a score which put Britain in right in the mix for a medal. The four riders had given their all and, with two debutantes and a young horse in the quartet, to be in contention alone was a massive achievement. Rob Oulton, team vet, takes on the role of chief mathematician and he’d been crunching the numbers – our fate rested in the hands of those nations with the Grade 4 competition to come.
“I'm so proud of her. I'm not going to lie, though, I think that's one of the hardest tests I've ever ridden,” exclaimed Sophie. “Because she's on like 30% [power], I'm having to literally be like, 'less, less, less’, and I think that the day when I can literally put my foot on the accelerator and just go, it'll just be phenomenal. At the minute, we had a couple of heart-in-mouth moments, but it was a couple of steps and then we came back and it was fine. So yeah, I'm just so proud of her.
I always feel the pressure going last on the team – it's obviously depends how it falls as to as to which grade is last, but in the past three or four years, I’ve been last every time and waiting is so hard. Charlotte did a phenomenal job. I went into the warm up and she’d just got her score, and I was like, ‘Oh, thank God, that makes my life easier’. If we have 73% as our third score, that would be amazing. That definitely took the pressure off me and I decided I just needed to get around, I needed to have a good ride. I feel like we had that and we know the bits that we really needed to know – there's lots in there that we need to improve on but that's fine because she's only seven.
“We've got two new riders and a new horse as well. So, it's a very, very green team, but an amazing team to be a part of – they've all been fab this week and it's been a really nice atmosphere, so that makes it a lot better as well. We’re really super lucky that we've got a great team around us, too. Diana has got everything that she can possibly need and I've had everything I could possibly need, and that's thanks to UK Sport and the National Lottery. We’ve got some great people and that makes our lives easier, to concentrate what we're doing, but it's never easy.
“I'm so unbelievably proud that we have two Grade 5s on the team. As Brits, we've never had that – other nations have, but we've always been strong with the low grades. I think it’s fab for the grade and Charlotte is amazing. As for Georgia and Gabby, I've had a lot to do with them over the last six or seven years, so I'm obviously incredibly proud of them. It's really exciting and we've got more horses at home. And obviously, Natasha trying to get back into shape and ready for next year, as well. Hopefully, we start to get our way back towards the top of the podium.
“Whatever happens today, whatever the outcome, we’ve all outperformed ourselves and what was expected, so we can’t do any more than that,” Sophie said realistically.
With the two strongest Dutch riders to come, it was a battle between them and Germany for gold and silver honours, but Britain was right there with Italy, Belgium and Denmark for the bronze. The most likely threat to steal that medal away was Manon Claeys from Belgium, who was due to go right at the end of the Grade 4 order – it was going to be a tense hour. Manon needed a +75% score, and having posted over 74% on Wednesday, it was certainly in her capabilities. As the British camp watched on nervously, she fell just short with 73.703%. A well-earned bronze now belonged to Britain’s newly dubbed ‘green team’, owing to their relative collecting inexperience. All four horses and riders have worked hard to secure that medal and it bodes well with Paris 2024 just under a year away.
Tomorrow, it’s time to dig out your dancing shoes for the final day of the para dressage competition – the freestyle. All four of our combinations have qualified in their respective grades and here’s when they’ll be riding:
FJ Veyron and LJT Egebjerggards Samoa will also go before the ground jury at 07:45 / 06:45 BST. Sakura and Strong Beau had their final horse inspection this evening and passed with flying colours.
It’s a rest day for the dressage competitors, but all the horses who’ve qualified for Sunday’s Grand Prix Freestyle will go before the ground jury at 08:00 / 07:00 BST to ensure they’re fit to continue. This includes the British combinations of Carl Hester and Fame, Lottie Fry and Glamourdale, and Charlotte Dujardin and Imhotep.
All the dressage action will be available to stream live with English commentary on FEI.TV via a subscription to ClipMyHorse.TV. The para dressage tests can be watched via the FEI YouTube channel.
Running orders and results are available from Longines Equestrian Timing.
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