The third international competition for the 2013 Global Dressage Festival began on Thursday 14 March 2013 with the opening CDI competition, the Grand Prix. This week's CDI 3* runs March 14-17, 2013 and the Grand Prix winner was Tina Konyot from Palm City, FL, riding her Danish warmblood Calecto V.
There were 55 entries that jogged for the CDI competition, with Carlos Munoz taking home the prize for Best Turnout Award from Show Chic with Klouseau. The judges for the Grand Prix were Anne Gribbons at E, Janet Foy at H, Isabelle Judet at C, Ulrike Nivelle at M, and Bo Ahman at B.
Konyot and Calecto V, winners of the Grand Prix Freestyle at the last CDI-W competition, won with a score of 70.553%. Cesar Parra (USA) and Van the Man placed second with a score of 68.213%. Susan Dutta (USA) placed third with Currency DC on a score of 67.383%.
Konyot traveled from Palm City to Wellington this morning in order to compete and felt that the early morning wake-up call may have had an effect on Calecto V, her and John Byrialsen's 15-year-old Danish Warmblood stallion (by Come Back II x Rastell).
"I had a few little bobbles. It felt maybe just a slight bit tired, and it shouldn't be because the weather is lovely. I did wake him up at 4 am," she acknowledged with a smile. "He's been laying down sleeping; he had three naps today. He's a very laid-back guy! I was happy with it. I had some very nice things, but we could have just a little bit more energy in the package. Tomorrow is another day."
Konyot joked about Calecto's penchant for napping, "He doesn't just lay down. He's lays out flat, goes to sleep, snores. At the Olympics, they took videos of him. He starts running and whinnying in his sleep. You've never seen anything like it. That's just him."
The pair will compete in tomorrow night's Grand Prix Freestyle and Konyot said she's sure Calecto will "be on his toes." She added, "He feels good and he's happy. He felt very good physically and in his body."
Konyot is looking forward to the evening, which will combine show jumping and dressage. "It should be a beautiful evening. Tomorrow night should be a lot of energy and electricity. That's very exciting and this is such a gorgeous showgrounds. It's very special to have it right here."
In the national divisions, Megan Glynn had a one-two finish in the Prix St. Georges - AA class with Tyto (62.303%) and Everybody's Darling (61.908%). The high score of the day was Alix Szepesi on Primative Dancer, who did the First Level Test 2 in the USEF Test of Choice and received a 74.189%.
Photo © Sue Stickle
Related Link
Scores 2013 CDI Wellington