Spanish Beatriz Ferrer-Salat and British Carl Hester racked in the trophies at the 2008 Sunshine Tour CDI during the second week of competition at Montenmedio Equestrian Centre in Vejer de la Frontera, Spain.
Aboard her Hanoverian gelding Faberge (by Falkland), Ferrer-Salat won the Grand Prix with 72,583% and the Grand Prix Kur to Music with 73,90%.
Ferrer-Salat is trying to qualify as Spanish Team member for the 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong. She recently had a new freestyle designed by Slings Music Cast and is promoting dressage in Spain by sponsoring and hosting the Copa Ferrer-Salat, a special small tour show circuit in Spain.
British Carl Hester won twice and picked up a host of good placings, including four runner-up slots, on three different horses. He even achieved his personal best international grand prix score, 72.917%, when he finished second in the grand prix riding his 15-year-old Dolendo.
“I haven’t earned nines at this level since I rode Escapado. I decided to go for it in the grand prix and he came up with the goods. And it looks like there’s still more to come,” said Carl.
In the Grand Prix Special, the combination finished fifth: “I overdid it. He was tired and we made mistakes - four large errors - but it was the first time I had ridden him in a special. Now I know what I need to work on.”
The previous week Carl had been offered a last-minute ride on Sasha Stewart’s 10-year-old Oldenburg mare Bicachu (by Breitling W), on whom he won the Intermediaire I and took second in the Prix St Georges and he repeated these placings this week.
Carl also competed his own and Roly Luard’s Dea II to win the owner junior team test and came second twice in the owner junior prelim classes, all with scores of more than 70% . The eight-year-old Hanoverian mare was bought as a replacement for Escapado and Carl has trained her for the past three years.
“She is turning into a hell of a star. She never showed grand prix potential at the beginning. Her piaffe and passage are to die for - we’re not selling her now!” said Carl.
Related Links
Scores 2008 Sunshine Tour CDI - Week Two
Scores 2008 Sunshine Tour CDI - Week One