(CDIO Compiègne press release - Eurodressage articles and photo report to follow on Monday)
A technical and artistic show, a convivial atmosphere and mild weather, despite a forecast saying otherwise... Everything was there for the best dressage riders on the planet and the spectators that came to Compiègne this Sunday 19 May 2°19. Overnight leaders, the four athletes from the other side of the English Channel did everything in order to maintain their lead and take victory, in front of Sweden and the United States of America. Individually, Gareth Hughes with Classic Briolinca (GBR) and Emmelie Scholtens riding Desperado (NED) took respectively the CDIO 5* Grand Prix Special and Grand Prix Freestyle.
The British team secured their lead in the Grand Prix Special - PAPREC. Gareth Hughes, 3rd in this same class in 2018 and 5th in yesterday’s Grand Prix, won convincingly, overtaking the previous days’ leaders Patrik Kittel and Carl Hester. Piloting Classic Briolinca, he rode a test awarded 77.170% leaving the other two steps on the podium to the Swede who was riding a less relaxed Well Done de la Roche CMF, and performed a test punctuated by a few faults (75.638%), and to his team leader partnering Hawtins Delicato, and who also left the arena with a few inaccuracies (75.319%).
As for the French, performances were not as hoped in this second test, Arnaud and Anne-Sophie Serre being placed 11th and 12th respectively with Ultrablue de Massa (68.319%) and Vistoso de Massa (67.766%).
Next, the Freestyle Grand Prix of the CDIO 5* FEI Nations Cup - Crédit Mutuel Nord Europe, always fascinating for the public watching in the stands, provided its share of thrills and excitement. Modern rhythms perfectly practised, scores exceeding 80%, the crowd set alight and a British team that withstood the pressure to take the only French leg of the Nations Cup in front of Sweden and the United States... what a 2019 conclusion!
1. Great Britain - 24 pts (Richard Davison, Charlotte Fry, Carl Hester, Gareth Hughes)
2. Sweden - 27 pts (Mads Hendeliowitz, Patrik Kittel, Antonia Ramel, Juliette Ramel)
3. United States - 51 pts (Katherine Bateson Chandler, Heather Blitz, Shelly Francis, Nick Wagman)
4. The Netherlands- 55 pts (Danielle Heijkoop, Emmelie Scholtens, Patrick van der Meer, Tommie Visser)
5. France - 74 pts (Morgan Barbançon, Stéphanie Brieussel, Anne-Sophie Serre, Arnaud Serre)
6. Switzerland - 75 pts (Carla Aeberhard, Caroline Häcki, Antonella Joannou, Birgit Wientzek Pläge)
7. Belgium - 106 pts (Isabelle Cool, Simon Missiaen, Laurence Roos, Jorinde Verwimp)
Charlotte Bredahl, Chef d’ Equipe and U.S. Dressage Development Coach, said: “We are thrilled with how this team has performed. They all rode very well and it is always a lot more pressure to be part of a team. It is a great way to start out our competition season in Europe."
Individually, Netherlands’s Emmelie Scholtens, 8th in the World Cup Final last month, broke through the 81% barrier, a score never seen before at Compiègne. With her sublime black stallion Desperado, the pair sailed through this artistic and musical test achieving 81.585%: “To be honest I didn’t expect it at all, especially as Helen had entered the same class. Desperado still needs more experience and we were surrounded by very experienced partnerships. I started with the aim of trying to battle for second place but... surprise! (she laughs) I think Desperado and I like Compiègne, in any case this venue bought us luck for our first time”.
France’s Morgan Barbançon Mestre, already 8th in yesterday’s Grand Prix gave her second best performance since taking the ride on Sir Donnerhall II OLD. The pair installed themselves in 5th place with a score of 76.240%. Her fellow team member Stéphanie Brieussel on Amorak finished 15th with 67.620%. The reaction of the national selector, Jan Bemelmans: “ Morgan did her job during the two tests. In the Grand Prix she made a small mistake in the two-time changes but the rest was very good. In the Freestyle, she rode well with music that really suits the pair. Stéphanie rode a very good Grand Prix, making no mistakes, she did what was expected of her. In the Freestyle, it wasn’t as good as we hoped as Amorak was a little on edge. As for Anne-Sophie and Arnaud, they made mistakes in the two tests, I know they can do a lot better. More work is needed. The next date will be mid-June at Geesteren (NED).”
Opening this final day, competitors in the CDI 3* rode their Grand Prix Special which was sponsored by Suez. Already receiving the accolade in the Grand Prix and although saying she still needs to improve certain points, Malin Wahlkamp- Nilsson, who’s trained by Patrik Kittel, yet again stood out with Eddieni, this time receiving a unanimous vote from the judges. With the score of 72.936%, she was ahead of France’s Charlotte Chalvignac/Lights of Londonderry who scored close to 70% (69.957%) and Belgium’s Jeroen Devroe/Eres DL (69.191%).
Photos © Astrid Appels - NO REPRODUCTION ALLOWED
Eurodressage took photos of pretty much all riders in Compiègne. If you are interested in our photos for your social media, contact us for permission and our conditions for republication
Related Links
Scores: 2019 CDIO Compiegne
Wahlkamp-Nilsson and Eddieni Win 3* Grand Prix at 2019 CDIO Compiègne