Saumur CDI 29 April – 2 May 2010 proved a happy hunting ground for British riders over the bank holiday with several new combinations finding their feet and more established riders stamping their authority on the proceedings. Riding the Countess of Derby’s 11 year old gelding Hiscox Artemis (by Florestan), British Olympian Richard Davison improved on his third place in the grand prix to lift the grand prix freestyle in impressive style on 75.15%.
The result was all the more remarkable given the dramatic circumstances - the pair had to endure two false starts when, last to go, the heavens opened and drizzling rain suddenly turned to hail like bullets. Davison duly waited for a break in the weather and five minutes later was called back in to commence the test. This time a problem with the music caused a halt to proceedings and the pair was forced to restart for the third time, completing their test to cries of ‘Bravo!’ from the crowd.
"I had my back to the judge at C” explained Richard, "when suddenly all this shouting started and people were running for cover. It was a bit exciting but this was the class I really wanted to win. I’m very happy with Artemis, he coped so well with all the disruption and I’m glad he got to raise the flag for Great Britain on the final day."
Davison is ecstatic about the progress Hiscox Artemis is making each show. In Saumur the Westfalian gelding totally rose to the occasion when he won the Grand Prix Kur. "He was a star," Davison told Eurodressage. "No mistakes and some really good work. The public was very supportive and shouted "bravo" at the end. All very French," he quipped.
Two fellow Brits were hot on his heels; Henriette Andersen bettered her fifth place in the grand prix to take second in the freestyle on 71.25% with Mrs Paula Potter’s 13 year old gelding Louis D’or. World Class Development rider Amy Stovold also impressed on her senior debut to improve from tenth place in the grand prix to fourth in the freestyle with 70.65% partnered with her 17hh chestnut gelding MacBrian.
Thanks to a stellar performance from last to go Fiona Bigwood, the British team were given another lifeline and bounced back on the rostrum to take third in the nations cup ahead of Germany.
Bigwood from Horsham in West Sussex went on to take second in the grand prix special (71.17%) and third in the grand prix freestyle (72.55%) partnered with her 11 year old Wie Weltmeyer gelding Wie Atlantico. “We’ve been working hard all winter and I was hoping to do well but you can never be sure. I really feel as though we’ve turned a corner, it was a great show and we all left with smiles on our faces!”
Commenting on the other Brit’s performance Bigwood added “It was really nice for the team to take bronze; there were some competitive teams out there so I’m delighted. The rest of our team were out on up and coming grand prix horses which was lovely to see. They made a few mistakes and didn’t quite pick up the marks but there was a lot of quality out there.”
Gemma Green with Showtime, Judy Harvey with Fitzceraldo and Anna Ross-Davies with Pegasus MK completed the team along with a new senior chef d’equipe Dicky Waygood who will work alongside team captain Richard Davison in preparation for the World Equestrian Games later this year.
Richard Davison commented: “This was an inexperienced team and with the exception of Fiona all the riders all came away feeling they could have gone better. It was a useful experience though as the riders learnt a great deal and each showed they have a lot more to come. All credit to Fiona who rode a very good test to pull GB into the third spot. They have built on the potential they showed last year to become a very exciting prospect ahead of Kentucky in September.”
Meanwhile in the pony section 16 year old Claire Gallimore from St Albans in Hertfordshire continued her recent run of good form with her mother’s 14.1hh chestnut gelding Gigolo. They fought hard amidst a competitive field of 39 riders to take second place in the team test with an inspiring 74.22% and maintained the momentum to finish third in the individual test on 73.26% and fifth in the freestyle on 74.50%.
Text © British Dressage/Eurodressage
Photos © Caroline Finch, Gemma Green, Claire Young
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