Dujardin Back in the Game, Winning 2023 CDI Windsor Grand Prix

Former Olympic champion Charlotte Dujardin has thrown herself back in the game after a baby break and taken the victory in the Grand Prix aboard Imhotep at the 2023 CDI Windsor on 10 May 2023. 

Invitational

The 2023 Royal Windsor Horse Show got underway on Thursday 10 May with the 4* Grand Prix, the standalone class for the first day of the Show’s 80th year. Returning after a three-year hiatus, dressage opens five days of  international equestrian sport held in the private grounds of Windsor Castle. The big tour CDI is not an open entry CDI but an invitational competition. The starters' list revealed only pairs based in the U.K. this year albeit from four different nations: Great Britain, Ireland, China, and Germany.

Twelve combinations contested the Grand Prix, including three of the four British World Championship squad who claimed team silver in Herning last summer, and a strong British contingent ensured great excitement for the home crowd.

Hester Students

A fantastic first test from Royal Windsor debutant Lewis Carrier scored an impressive 70.435% with Diego V (by Spielberg x Welt Hit II) to keep him well up the ranking and secure eventual fourth place. The Wiltshire-based 26-year-old, who currently trains with Carl Hester, rode a KWPN warmblood he has produced himself from a four-year-old. Following him into the ring, Louise Bell and Into The Blue (by Ublesco x Calvaro Z) couldn’t quite match Carrier’s score to finish on 68.761%.

Third to go, Charlotte Dujardin, formed an early lead with 77.261%. The joint-most decorated British female Olympian pulled off a reliably stylish test aboard Coral Ingham and Carl Hester’s striking gelding, Imhotep (by Everdale x Vivaldi). The ride – Dujardin’s debut return to international competition following the birth of her daughter, Isabella Rose, in March this year – proved a winning performance, with the expressive chestnut wowing the crowd in the famous Castle Arena.

Her  World Championship teammate, Gareth Hughes, was next up with Briolinca (by Trento B x Royal Dance). The 17-year-old mare by Trento B, who has been such a stalwart of the British dressage scene, impressed the judges with highlights in the passage and piaffe, but could not quite match the impressive score laid down by Dujardin.

Cotswold Pairs

Cotswolds based German rider, Kathleen Kröncke, with the 16-year-old San Royal (by San Remo x Grand Royal), were the last combination to enter the ring before the break. The pair who triumphed in the 2022 British Dressage Championships – where they won the Grand Prix title – could not quite repeat their success and went into provisional fifth with 68.043%.

Charlotte’s lead was unrivalled as the second session progressed. First in after the break, Ireland’s Abigail Lyle who rode Farrell (by Fabregas x Davignon) scored 68.413% to move ahead of Kröncke by a fraction of a mark.

However, the rest of the field’s chances faded when Britain’s Emile Faurie, who owns Heath Farm in the Cotswolds, came to the fore with the stunning American owned mare Bellevue (by Bordeaux x Brentano II), producing an accurate and pleasing test in the afternoon sunlight to slot in behind Dujardin and Hughes in third place with 71.826%.

"Riding for Three Weeks"

On her return to top level competition Dujardin stated: “I haven’t competed for 8 months, and Pete [Imhotep] hasn’t done a competition since the 2022 World Championships. I have only been back riding for 3 weeks – so I was worried I would be a bit ring rusty – but he was incredible and was so positive with his energy. There are still areas that we can improve on which is exciting – we are now aiming for the FEI European Championships this summer.”

Dujardin continued: “I have such amazing memories of Royal Windsor Horse Show having competed here in the Showing as a child – it has such a wonderful atmosphere and to be back here is just so special. It is now Isabella’s time to support Mummy and I hope I have done her proud.”

Photos © Peter Nixon

Related Link
Scores: 2023 CDI Windsor