Nine months after winning team and individual bronze at the 2018 World Equestrian Games, Charlotte Dujardin and Mount St. John Freestyle returned to the arena to score a double victory with 80% + scores. Dujardin also made it a triple at Bolesworth by bagging the Kur to Music on catch ride Erlentanz.
This year's CDI Bolesworth was unfortunately closed to the public on Grand Prix day, because of torrential downpour of rain that made the accessibility of venue problematic, but that did not keep Charlotte Dujardin from completing a clean sweep of the three major classes.
The lack of spectators was a big blow to the show, which is professionally staged by Nina Barbour. In a short period of time, the CDI Bolesworth is considered by British riders their best international dressage competition in the country.
She rode the 10-year old Hanoverian mare Freestyle (by Fidermark x Donnerhall), which owner Emma Blundell purchased as a foal at the Hanoverian Foal Auction in Verden, to victory in the Grand Prix on 80.348%. On Thursday she upped the ante and won the Special with a personal best score of 82.979%. In the afternoon, Dujardin completed a trifecta by steering Sonar Murray-Brown's 12-year old Trakehner bred Erlentanz (by Latimer x Benz) into the winner's circle in the freestyle with 84.100%.
Reflecting on her achievements at Bolesworth, Charlotte said: "I am absolutely delighted with the performances. Mount St John Freestyle in the grand prix special, she tried so hard, and Erlentanz was an absolute pleasure to ride. Both horses couldn't have done any more. I am really excited heading towards Tokyo, hopefully with Mount St John Freestyle, and some other horses in reserve to back me up as well. There is still more to come from Freestyle, and another year on heading towards Tokyo, fingers crossed, it should be very exciting. I definitely know she can cope with pressure and all sorts of environments.
Dujardin plans on getting her second mandatory team selection score at the CDI Hartpury. Her coach Carl Hester told Eurodressage a month ago that Charlotte competing Freestyle at the CDIO Aachen in July is not sure.
Related Links
Scores: 2019 CDI Bolesworth
Heavy Rainfall Forces Organizers to Close 2019 CDI Bolesworth to the Public for a Day
Mount St. John Freestyle's Come Back Planned for 2019 CDI Bolesworth