At the 2017 CDI Gotemba on 1 - 3 December 2017, the biggest CDI competition in Japan of the year, Shingo Hayashi and his 19-year old Danish warmblood Clearwater were on song and won the Grand Prix and Kur to Music. With his second horse Unesco, he also claimed the Grand Prix Special.
Shingo Hayashi, who was the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix champion, rode the golden oldie Clearwater, a 19-year old Danish warmblood by Michellino x Carpaccio, to victory. After an unsuccessful campaign to qualify Clearwater on the Japanese Olympic team in 2016, the 32-year old Hayashi shipped Clearwater to his new home in Japan and now booked his first international success on the gelding. In Gotemba Hayashi, who is trained by his sponsor, Mr. Shimoda, scored 69.120% in the Grand Prix and 74.875% in the Kur to Music. Aboard Asuka Sakurai's 16-year old Dutch warmblood Unesco (by Karandasj), Shingo won the Grand Prix Special with 61.940%.
The small tour level CDI classes brought about a surprise at 2016 Japanese Olympic team rider Masanao Takahashi dropped his Grand Prix horse Fabriano, an 18-year old Westfalian licensed stallion Fabriano (by Florestan I x Angelo xx x Fitger), down a level to win the Prix St Georges (70.341%) and Intermediaire I Kur to Music (72.940%). Masanao is aiming to ride his stallion at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, which are contested at small tour level.
At young riders' level it was the 17-year old Mio Fukuoka who reigned supreme aboard her mother's 15-year old Westfalian Tiida (by Fetiche du Pas x Diamantino). Trained by Ryuma Hieda at the Little Horse Club in Kobe, Japan, Fukuoka made her international show debut only one year ago. She scored 66.894% in the individual test and 70.555% in the Kur to Music.
At junior riders' level the 16-year old Yurie Yoshida, who trains with Yuko Kitai at her Hacienda Riding Club, claimed a double victory aboard the 14-year old Danish warmblood gelding Engbjerggaards Ballestino (by Michellino x Ragazzo), which she acquired on a shopping trip in Germany in September 2016. Yoshida and Ballestino scored a winning 68.367% in the individual test and 71.065% in the Kur to Music
Related Links
Scores 2017 CDI Gotemba
New Comer Toshiya Kawabata Wins 2017 Japanese Grand Prix Championship
Japanese Team for 2016 Olympic Games Selected
Renate Voglsang's Fabriano Sold to Japan
Eaton H, Tokyo Olympic Hopeful for Masanao Takahashi