Kröncke, Millis, Carrier and Harrison Win Small and U25 Tour at 2021 CDI Wellington

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2021 CDI Wellington Heckfield

The inaugural Wellington CDI (11 – 16 May 2021), the first ever international dressage competition at the Hampshire venue in Great Brutaun, proved a huge success attracting up-and-coming combinations as well as those in contention for Tokyo.

The show featured classes from pony level to the big tour with Britain's best competing in the Grand Prix and GP Special.

Under 25

A great entry of 11 came forward for the U25 CDI with a few riders making their international debut in the age group. World Class Programme rider Lewis Carrier took the Inter II with his ever-faithful Spielberg sired Diego V with a consistent test with scores between 6.5 and eight to yield an overall score of 70.294%. Less than one percent behind was Alex Harrison and Diamond Hill (by Don Diamond) on 69.412% - a stunning effort by the rider who was suffering with the after affects of the removal of three wisdom teeth! Jersey rider Lucy Amy completed the podium with the 12-year old Holsteiner gelding Rudy (by Cancara x Julio Mariner), who she’s bought as a 2-year old in the Brightwells sales and produced from Prelim with 68.33%.

After a rest day, U25 Grand Prix top three was all change. Having had good night’s sleep and the swelling beginning to recede, Alex Harrison was back to his bubbly self and piloted ‘Damo’ to victory with all three judges awarding 70+% scores. The class was the final one to run at the end of the day and resourceful Alex used his morning well and studiously watched the warm up for the Grand Prix Special and Freestyle, taking in what the senior riders were doing and the inspiration clearly paid off. Second spot went to Ellie McCarthy riding her latest star, Londero von Worrenberg (by Londontime x Calypso II), owned by her dad Spencer McCarthy who made full use of having her trainer Charlotte Dujardin in attendance to assist with the warm up. Two judges had Ellie to win but Alex just edged her out in the end. The Inter II victors Lewis Carrier and Diego were relegated to third with an expensive error in the one time changes – as a double score it really does hit the final tally hard.

GP winner Alex explained an eventful few days; “We broke down getting here and I had three wisdom teeth removed so it wasn’t the best start. On Monday night, I didn’t have the best night’s sleep as the mechanic turned up to fix the lorry at 11pm, tilted the cab up not realizing I was asleep so had to spend two hours in there until 1am! But managed a good night’s sleep on Wednesday for the Grand Prix. He felt much more confident in the ring today and I rode much better. I watched the warm up this morning for the Senior Grand Prix and noticed how decisive they were in their approach so I tried to ride the same and it really gave us both confidence. Plus, I’ve found a more efficient way of riding him to get him into the rein and take the bit forward.”

Lewis Carrier added; “Diego felt really good in the Inter II, no mistakes and good energy, it was certainly one of the best tests I’ve ridden on him. I’m really aiming for mistake-free tests now as we’re experienced at the level. In today’s Grand Prix he felt great again, almost too much energy so he was a bit energetic in his tempis. I really feel we’re established at GP now, I ask for piaffe and passage, I get them, not just hoping it happens which gives me such confidence.”

Small Tour

The six-day CDI opened on Tuesday with a 32-strong Prix St Georges class which was a quality affair. Former European Pony Champion Nikolas Kröncke made his first international appearance after 17 years away from the arena a winning one.

Nikolas left his equestrian career in Germany behind when he travelled to the US to study and a career in banking soon followed and since 2010, he’s been based in London. His wife Kathleen Keller is an avid competitor from their UK base since 2020, The Cotswold Club Equestrian and she’s the regular rider of his Wellington partner, the 10-year old chestnut stallion Flanell. But time in lockdown spent working from home and not commuting to London has given Nikolas more time in the saddle and he’s formed a great partnership which showed at Wellington.

Drawn in the first half of the field, Nikolas and the 11-year old Hanoverian Flanell (by Fidertanz x De Niro) posted 73.627% in a round which never scored below 6.5 under judges Mary Robins, Isobel Wessels and Susanne Baarup. Sarah Millis riding her own 8-year old Impressive VDC (by Charmeur x Krack C) matched the score exactly, but Nikolas was deemed the winner with a higher median score of 74.265%. Third spot went to prolific breeder and owner Emma Blundell who has reignited her passion for competing with a partnership with Mount St John VIP (by Vivaldi x Donnerhall), who was formerly competed by Charlotte Dujardin. In only their fourth show together and first attempt at an international, they scored 70.981%.

Day two featured the Inter I and this time it was Sarah and ‘Ed’ who took the advantage to score an impressive 75.049% with all three judges having the combination to win. Impressive VDC is out of the same dam, Vechta, as the licensed stallion Vaderland. The win may go some way to making up for the duo missing the World Breeding Championships last year when Covid stole their chance of contesting the seven year old championships. Nikolas and Flanell were second on 72.206% while there was a new name on the podium this time, Andrew Gould and his own Genie (by Zhivago x Sandro Hit) edged out Emma and VIP with a score of 70.833%.

On Facebook Sarah decreed; “Wow…my little Ed is a star – this horse just keeps on giving. So proud of him at his first international and only eight years old, showing maturity in his work and enjoying himself. Thank you to my amazing team at home, without you I couldn’t get away to do this.”