Belgian WEG Team rider Julie de Deken and her 13-year old Hessian licensed stallion Lucky Dance (by Lucky Lionell x Placido Sun) swept the Grand Prix Special at the 2014 CDI Mechelen on Sunday 28 December 2014. De Deken rode a personal best score of 72.765% and edged out former Dutch dressage team member Patrick van der Meer on his number one Grand Prix horse Uzzo (by Lancet).
The Grand Prix Special was judged by Sanders-van Gansewinkel (NED), Leyman (BEL), Judet (FRA), Holler (GER), and Van Daele (BEL) and 29-year old De Deken placed first with four of five judges. Her marks ranged from 72.157% to 74.902% from French O-judge Judet.
Julie's victory on home turf certainly was a career highlight for the young senior rider who has been a member of the Belgian team at the 2013 European Championships and 2014 World Equestrian Games.
"I was already very happy with yesterday’s result so the pressure was on for today," Julie commented after her Special victory. "But when I entered the arena and I just went for it. I started my training for Mechelen a month ago and to win this class and to improve my personal record, it is unbelievable! For me it is special to win here in Mechelen."
Patrick van der Meer and his 13-year old Dutch warmblood gelding Uzzo finished in second place with 71.882%. The Dutch rider, who runs his own training facility De Hoeve in Holland, was sandwiched by Belgians in the top three as Françoise Joux-Hologne and her 11-year old Dytch bred Wodan (by Gribaldi x Pion) scored 70.882% to finish third.
Photo © WDM
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Scores 2014 CDI Mechelen
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