First Big Tour Winners, Spain and Britain Take the Podium at 2015 BCN Dressage Tour

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2015 CDI Barcelona

The first CDI3* at 2015 BCN Dressage Tour on 17 - 22 March 2015 is up and running. The two Big Tour Grand Prix tests have already taken place but the action continues throughout the weekend. Michael Eilberg and Marakov (by Rufs) scored a 71,57% to win the Grand Prix for Special.

Breathing down their neck were Ulrik Molgaard and Michigan (by Michellino). "Michael, I'll be back on Sunday' were the words of the Danish riders who spoke with a twinkle in his eye when he saw the scores a 71,331% that placed him second. Stella Hagelstam and her Chopin III (by Contendro x Almox Prints J) from Finland were third with a 69,786%.

In the Grand Prix for Freestyle on Thursday evening a Spanish combination won: Lauro Aguiló and his Hierro, the CDE spanish crossbred by Ferro and out of PRE dam Babieca XII, achieved their personal best score with 70,600%. Lauro couln't be happier!

Six out of seven judges were in agreement on thursday, placing Lauro and @Hierro first in the test. Lauro was very happy with his win we all could see the big smile on his face. This personal record in an international competition is a good seasoning opener for this rider, who is aiming to gain a place on the national team for the European Championship at Aachen in 2015. They received good marks for their passage a usual highlights. However, there is still scope for them to improve their scoring, as Hierro showed some tension. English rider Hayley Watson-Greaves with RUBINS NITE (Rubin Royal x Limbo) became second behind this couple with a 68,586%.

Grand Prix for Special

Michael Eilberg and Marakov entered their 5th season together at Grand Prix level. They bay gelding showed nice piaffe, expressive passage and some very good transitions. The 14-year old gelding, owned by the Eilberg family was the winner of last year's British Championships.

Ulrik Molgaard on Michigan

Already in their second year back at BCN Dressage Tour was Britain based Danish rider Ulrik Molgaard on Michigan, a true son of Michellino. They showed real improvement and Molgaard was very happy with his test as he stated afterwards. He told us with good sense of humour that "neither Henriette nor Carl were around to hold my hand, so I wanted to do a very relaxed and nice ride. I was very pleased with Michigan today." His trainer Carl Hester and partner Henriette Andersen will compete next week at the CDI4* Barcelona. Michigan, who is owned by Klaus Munkedal and Molgaard, loves the audience, his rider stated. For him it is all about entering the centreline and getting full attention! The combination showed a harmonious test with some highlights; for example the half passes and an extended canter with a good transition back to collection followed by a big flying change. Although 14-years old Michigan still showed improvement in the piaffe which is cadenced but a bit shy, but Moelgaard assures it'll become better!

Another true fan of the BCN Dressage Tour was back on the scene: Stella Hagelstam, the German based Finnish rider presented several of her horses again. In the Grand Prix for Special she showed Chopin III, which she competed at the World Equestrian Games in Caen. Passage and piaffe showed good quality and a lot of expression. The combination has improved much since last year when they started the season around 63% - 64%. Yesterday they reached 69,357%.

Fiona Bigwood on Atterupgaards Orthilia

There was another debut yesterday for British Fiona Bigwood and her lovely young Atterupgaards Orthilia (by Gribaldi x Donnerschlag), a 10-year old mare bred by Kristine Munch. The two ladies showed a very nice test with a promising passage, that was very expressive and quite cadenced. It was the international debut of this combination and it was very nice to see Fiona Bigwood back in competition in Spain on this promising young horse after a one-year break from competition due to a fall.

Universalis (by Ferro x Accord II) was back competing on Spanish soil, now under the Ukrainian rider Inna Logutenova. They became fifth. We used to see Universalis under Spanish rider José Raga in the past. Now Inna and the impressive KWPN scored 68,514%. Jordi Domingo and his mare Wonder (by Waterford) were the best Spanish combination, finishing 6th place with 68,371%. The mare showed strength and their presentation showed harmony.

Intermediaire I

Stella Hagelstam on New Hill Julitrea

Belgian Françoise Hologne-Joux was not only third in the Grand Prix for Freeestyle but also became the winner in the Intermediaire I with her second horse Warhol (by Warkant) they reached a score of 70.842%. The combination showed nice medium trot and good three tempi changes. Stella Hagelstam and the bright bay New Hill Julitrea (by Revan) climbed up to the second place; the hindlegs are always ready and very active. Their score was a 69,921%. María Eilberg and the grey Oldenburg Royal Concert (by Royal Diamond) finished third this time (69,658%).

Five year Old Finals

The winner of the 5-year old Finals test was a son of Damon Hill, Der Zauberer (79,200) ridden by the young Russian competitor Polina Afanasieva. These two had achieved their top score earlier behind San Diego in the preliminary FEI test with an 8.2, in the trot, leading to a total score of 80.800%. Der Zauberer is owned by Andrey Gloriozov and was acquired at the 2014 PSI Auction for 400,000 euro.

Lauro Aguilo and Hierro

Lauro Aguilo was not only the winner of the Grand Prix but he was also successful in the test for five-year-olds, in which he presented San Diego (by San Amour), owned by his student Timofei Rusakov. The combination took the lead, with an extraordinary 82.200%, including 8.6 for the trot and 8.5 for the canter.

Russian Regina Isachkina and Pimpollo (by Sandro Hit) had already finished third in the Preliminary test (76,200%) and became second in the Final with 76,400%. The best Spanish combination in the Final was Sarotti (by Sarkozy) presented by Juan Carlos Díaz Amor. Beatriz Ferrer Salats lovely First Lady (by Sir Donnerhall x Johnson) became 4th presented under Villa Equus rider Laura Turbeau with 73,600%.

Six year old Finals

Wilma Wernsen from The Netherlands presented two promising KWPN horses in this class, the winner Estupendo (Prel: 80,400% Final: 83,600%) a son of Ziesto x Scandic and Elmar (by Serano Gold x Jazz) with a 78% in the final and a third place. They are two promising horses that show very elastic gaits. Spanish rider Judith Sarda Mañe presented Don Pimus (Prel.77,800 Final: 80,200) were second twice.

Under 25 Intermediate B

Nuria Vila Perez on London Pride

The winner of the Under 25 Intermediate B was the young French competitor Corentin Pottier on the Hanoverian Gotcha (by Goethe). They scored 67.524%. Their pair was part of the French Young Riders team and made their debut at this level in Saumur last season. Second position was taken by Swiss participant Simona Aeberhard with Private Dancer (by Jazz x Formateur), boasting a score of 66.786%, while Russian rider Polina Afanasieva with Winston (by Gribaldi x Jazz) was placed third based on her score of 65.952%. Young Spaniard Laura Mangado Salvatierra made her debut at this level on Tempo (by Metall) and finished in fourth place with a score of 63.214%.

Classica 3

Local hero Nuria Vila and London Pride had a hattrick in the Classica tour. Barcelona Horses ruled the podium of the Classic 1, 2 and 3 during the first three days of competition as all three members of the host-team achieved great results.

Nuria won throughout the three days with the marvellous London Pride (70.147%), owned by Marta Gonzalez. Annabelle Collins and Dimacho BCN (68.480%) once again followed in second place, beating Agustí Elias with the Spanish bred Joyero F (by Corinto) with a 66.127% who climbed up to the 2nd position in the Classica 3. French rider Corentin Pottier also stood out at this level with Dewi M and scored a fourth place with 65.539%.

Agusti Elias and Joyero competing at their home show, the Barcelona Dressage Tour

Lots of promising young riders, juniors and children are competing in Barcelona this week. The future is still to come in the final wrap-up of the BCN Dressage Tour CDI3*. On Saturday 21 March 2015 the Intermediaire A, the Grand Prix Freestyle and the Intermediaire Freestyle are on the programme. Don´t miss it at BCN Dressage Tour.

The event is live streamed on www.topiberian.com with comments from Bobby Fernandez de Bobadilla, the former director of Dressage at the Royal Spanish Federation. For any additional information please go to eventos.topiberian.com. Scores can be followed in real time on scores.topiberian.com. Very soon more to come on BCN Dressage Tour 2015.

by Katharina Braren - Photos © Top Iberian