Britain’s 2003 European team bronze medallists Nicola McGivern and Active Walero won the grand prix freestyle at Addington CDI***YJP in Buckinghamshire, 21-23 March 2008, at their first international show in two years.
The German-bred gelding by Wanderer has been out of action since kicking himself on the 2006 Spanish Sunshine Tour.
Nicola, who was second in the grand prix, said: “Our grand prix was full of mistakes because of his exuberance, which is a wonderful thing to be able to say considering he is 17.”
Nicola admits to their freestyle being cobbled together at the last minute: “My music was stuck in a CD player, so I had to make do with a freestyle I hadn’t used since 2002. We didn’t even run through it once, but he produced some of the best work I have ever had from him. I think we took the meaning of the word freestyle to a new level, though!”
Judge Jennie Loriston-Clarke said: “There were some mistakes, but the highlights were the piaffe and passage and the choreography was inventive.”
The Grand Prix was won by the Dutch Christa Laarakkers aboard the Dutch warmblood Ovation (by Cabochon x Apollonios xx). Laarakkers scored the winning mark of 67.37 %. In the Grand Prix Kur to Music, she finished second on 68.95%. Laarakkers was also in Addington in the function of Dutch pony rider chef d'equipe. "I have to stay believable for my pony kids as a riding chef d'equipe," Laarakkers told the KWPN press officer. "Fortunately that worked pretty well [in Addington]. Ovation's piaffe and passage now score 8s and even a 9."
The FEI pony riders division was dominated by Germany’s Sanneke Rothenberger aboard former European pony champion Konrad. The 18-year old chestnut Constantin x Lungau offspring is only competed very carefully at a few shows to safekeep his fitness. In Addington, he was once again victorious, winning all three pony classes with 70% ++ scores.
Sanneke's brother Sonke finished third twice and fourth in the individual kur to music finals aboard former European Pony Champion Deinhard B. In the Kur, Deinhard spooked which led to three errors. German Katharina Weychert and her horse-pony Golden Derano C were second with 69.750% in the Kur. It was very striking that no measurements were carried out by the FEI veterinarian during the vet inspection at the CDI Addington. This resulted in several horses (148 cm + sized ponies) participating in the pony classes. A disgrace to the sport as fairness and fairplay are brutally tampered with by allowing horses to compete in pony classes. Furthermore, the FEI currently conducts only a measurement test at the European Pony Championships.
Last year at the 2007 Euro Champs they judges measured gracefully, still allowing too large ponies to compete in pony classes. It's time they applied the rules and are more strict. The 150 cm - 152 cm measurement deviation nonsense has to stop! We are eagerly awaiting Weychert's appearance on the international scene with her pony Dornik B, the 2007 European Pony Champion.
Finishing third in the Kur was Dutch Antoinette Te Riele with her second FEI pony Golden Girl (FS Don't Worry x Dancer). Purchased as a 3-year old for 70,000 eurpo by Te Riele's grandfather Mr. Gordijn at the Munster Elite Auction, Golden Girl is developing into a wonderful FEI dressage pony. Te Riele chose to compete her palomino mare in the Kur to Music instead of her number one pony Danny Boy B.
Dutch Maria van den Dungen placed fifth on Pan Tau B. In the preliminary test, Van den Dungen placed third on Dino P, but the chestnut pony developed a hoof sore at the show and had to be withdrawn.
Dutch chef d'equipe Christa Laarakkers was very happy with the results of the Dutch pony riders. "Both Antoinette and Maria have proven gthat that they can ride for the medals with two ponies. A good start of the season," Laarakkers said. British pony team coach Peter Storr said: “It has been good for us all to get together and there is a great team spirit. We have an inexperienced new team and they have all learned a lot.”
Young rider Georgina Somerset and Paris headed the Young rider prix st georges and freestyle as well as taking the runner-up slot in the team test, which was won by Natalie Allen and Young Rider European Champion Jessica Wendl's former ride Duke. Somerset's Paris is a 15-year old black Hanoverian stallion by Prince Thatch xx.
British Dressage sent out a special thanks to Natalie’s dad Anthony, who has worked so hard together with Dr Wilfried Bechtolsheimer to secure the sponsorship for the show.
More photos in the image gallery below
All Photos copyrighted: Caroline Finch
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