The Podium People at the 2014 CDI Pompadour

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2014 CDI Pompadour

In the lead up to the 2014 European Junior and Young Rider Championship, the 2014 CDI Pompadour on 27 - 29 June 2014 became an important preparatory event for junior Marjan Hooge and young rider Alexa Fairchild. Belgian pony rider Antonia Arl led the pony division while Holland’s Joyce Lenaerts reigned in the small tour. Portugal’s Carlos Pinto claiming victory in the big league alongside Judy Harvey.

Skipping the 2014 European Pony Championships, Belgian Antonia Arl used Pompadour to get more mileage and experience on her talented Equestrian Epiascer before the 2014 Belgian Pony Championships in Meerdonk, on 31 July - 3 August 2014. In Pompadour, Arl swept the board and won all three pony classes. She scored 71.196% in the team test, 73.171% in the individual and 73.833% in the Kur to Music.

"In the team test he did a good job and in the individual he was really with me and did a super test," Arl commented. "To win three tests was a fantastic way to finish a super week. I'm so proud of my pony."

Taking the crown in the junior team and individual test, Dutch Marjan Hooge rode her 10-year old stallion Fulltime (by Fidermark x Rosenkavelier,) to two scores over 70%. Marjan was also happy that her second horse, 11-year old gelding Jive (by Jazz X Vincent,) took the bronze spot on day two of competition.

“The second day of competition was the best day for both horses,” says Marjan. "Fullitme is a very nice horse, a little bit of a real man, with a good heart, and while Jive has had less competition experience, I feel he is now getting better and better!”

Marjan’s recently sold young horse Escort Texel (Jazz x Ferro) won both the 5-year old preliminary and final tests with scores over 70%, and Marjan knows he is a horse for the future.

"We sold Escort Texel to my trainer, Annemieke Vincourt-krom, whom I’ve been training with for the past five years," she explained. "She helps me very well with everything and as she has so much experience, I feel I can learn a lot from her.”

Taking the team silver and 9th in the individual with Fulltime at last weeks European Championships, Fulltime has now earned himself some relax time before the pair's first international competition in Biarritz this October.

“I will now focus on lots of regional competitions with my young horses.”

Gold in the Junior rider Kur test with 72.375% went to Dutch youngster Zoe de Booij and her 11-year old gelding Wodan (by Osmium) who, even after the long journey of nearly 10 hours to Pompodour, stepped off the truck feeling fit and ready to go!

“I had a lot of expectations for this week, but the week turned out even better than I expected!” Zoe told Eurodressage. “During the training he gave me exactly the right feeling and during the tests he gave me just a little more than usual. My real highlight was the freestyle to music, and the great gift of songs by Robbie Williams. Wotan literally danced around the arena, which was rewarded with a first place and 72% ”

Trained by Stephanie Frel, Zoe is now preparing for the 2014 Dutch Junior Championships.

Joyce Lenaerts on Show Boy Triple gold in the Young Riders divison, Belgium’s Alexa Faircild and her 14-year old KWPN gelding Timor (by Matterhorn) showed themselves in fine form for their final competition before the European Championships. Pompadour has become a fixture on Fairchild's calendar who has been successfully competing at this French show since her pony time more than four years ago.

“Timor was very reactive to my aids throughout the competition, and I had a really good feeling throughout my tests,” said Alexa. “The highlight of my tests was that I was able to maintain a nice rhythm in the trot.”

Going on to finish 8th in the individual at the 2014 European Championships in July, Alexa is now heading home to work on improving her canter pirouettes as well as her 4 and 3 time changes. She will continue her training with Virginie Deltour in Brussels.

“I also look forward to more sessions with Anky thanks to the VLP talent team. I love to train my horse Timor, mostly for his very loving and giving personality,” Alexa told Eurodressage. “My plan for the next few months is to keep fine tuning all the movements in order to get stronger and better.”

Queen of the small tour was Holland’s Joyce Lenaerts and 10-year old gelding Show Boy (by Show Star x Dimension). Joyce felt that Show Boy did a very good job at the show.

“Every day we had a few expensive mistakes as it was raining a lot so it was a little bit difficult to ride,” Joyce told Eurodressage. "There were also a lot of highlights though, like my trot part and also extended canter. Overall I'm very happy with him, he has such a nice character, and his owner, Johannes Salden, is also very proud.”

Joyce will now continue her training with Anky Van Grunsven and partner Marcel Sterrenburg to set herself for a back to back title at the upcoming Dutch Championships in Hoofddorp, and then return home to further her Grand Prix level training.

The Grand Prix an Special were won by Portuguese Carlos Pinto on Soberano III. The duo is well on its way to get officially selected on the Portuguese team for the 2014 World Equestrian Games. Victory in the Kur to Music went to British Judy Harvey on Richard Heley’s 16-year-old Feuerbrand gelding, Fitzcerraldo.