Lisa Wilcox and the Belgian warmblood Galant claimed their first World Cup points winning the World Cup qualifier kur to music at the 2017 CDI-W Wellington on Friday 13 January 2017. The pair scored 77.209% to top the board in the kur to music. Their biggest rivals, Danish Mikala Gundersen and My Lady withdrew from the class as the Danish mare cast herself in the stall and was not fit to compete.
Wilcox and Galant, a 2006 Belgian Warmblood gelding (by Escuro x Bellisima) owned by Jacqueline Shear, did the double, winning two classes out of two on the first weekend of international competition in Wellington. Earning a score of 77.209% for their Justin Timberlake and “Trolls” movie soundtrack-themed freestyle, Wilcox is off to a good start to qualify for the 2017 World Cup Finals in Omaha, NE (USA) at the end of March.
Wilcox said, “I knew that he (Galant) liked it, so I was hoping that that would show up in the arena tonight. It brought a bit of confidence because he recognized the music, he was having fun, and he totally focused on me and what we were doing.” Of Galant, she said, “I’m so proud of him. I’m just so proud of where we have come from last year to this year.”
Team Canada saw some strong performances for the night and rounded out the top three placings. The duo of Megan Lane (CAN) and Caravella, a 2001 KWPN mare (by Contango x Riverman) owned by Lane, scored an impressive 75.967% putting them in second place. Megan Lane and Caravella Lane described her goals for the season with Caravella, “It’s been an amazing journey with this horse and at both stages of our lives. It’s still growing. I’m excited for the future, I have plans on going to the World Cup so I look forward to that.”
Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu (CAN) and All In, a 2005 KWPN gelding (Tango x Leontine x Damiro) thatFraser-Beaulieu also owns, rounded out the top three with a score of 72.608%. “I was really proud of All In tonight. You know, he is a hot horse and tonight he actually seemed like he was getting more relaxed and more calm the more I went through my pattern,” said Fraser-Beaulieu.
Judge Gary Rockwell commented on the tests and the new scoring system that has been put into place for the Freestyle judging. “It’s the first time that the riders have ever really had a catalogue of degree of difficulty,” he said.
AGDF Director of Sport Thomas Baur also expanded upon the new judging concept, stating, “The riders have to submit their floor plan beforehand, and they also have to follow the floor plan. The judges will judge movement by movement and they can choose if they accept the difficulty or not, and I think it’s a good step forward to make the subjective freestyle a bit more objective.”
Other classes of the day included the Young Rider Team (PSG), won by Barbara Davis (USA) and Feivel Mousekewitz, a 2001 Hanoverian gelding (by Federweisser x Singular Joter) owned by Michael Davis, with a score of 67.000%. Victory in the Intermediate II 16-25 went to Juan Matute (ESP) and Quantico, a 2006 Hanoverian gelding (by Fighting Fit) owned by Juan F Matute, with a score of 72.447%. The Junior Rider Team class awarded the win to Natalia Bacariza Danguillecourt (ESP) and Zoef, a 2004 KWPN gelding (by Amsterdam x Walser) owned by Yeguada de Ymas S.L., with a score of 68.595%.
Text by Carly Weilminster, edited by Eurodressage - Photos © Sue Stickle
Related Links
Scores 2017 CDI-W Wellington
Wilcox and Galant Win First Grand Prix of the Season at 2017 CDI-W Wellington