Nichola Mohr Wins the 2024 South African Grand Prix Championships

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2024 South African Dressage Championships

Nichola Mohr became the winner of the 2024 South African Grand Prix Championships, which were held at Kyalami Equestrian Park in Kyalami near Midrand on 18 - 22 September 2024.

With only one South African rider (Jean van Deventer) who has competed at CDI level this year, South Africa has been struggling as an international dressage nation. In the 2024 Olympic year it failed to field an individual rider for the Olympics despite having a slot in its group. Nonetheless at national level, a record number of no less than 18 combinations competed in the Intermediaire II and 15 competed in the Grand Prix at the 2024 South African Championships

Double Win for Nichola Mohr

The SA Grand Prix Championship delivered 32-year old Nichola Mohr as the champion. Aboard the 16-year old South African bred warmblood Callaho Winston (by Wenckstern x Idocus x Michellino) Mohr won the Grand Prix with 70.935% and the Kur to Music with 73.625%

The Grand Prix class was judged by Eino Vuorinen (FIN), Clare Bailes (RSA), Christof Umbach (LUX), and Carla Jacobs (RSA). The Kur was judged by Umbach, Larysa Velyka (UKR), and Debi van Wyk (RSA). As the top scorer over the two rounds, Mohr also won an Erreplus saddle.

"It was very exciting this year," Mohr told Eurodressage. "The saddle is is the biggest prize I've ever won! I still can't believe Winston and I won this."

Mohr purchased Winston as a youngster at the Callaho auction in 2013. She has competed internationally at a handful of CDI's in South Africa between 2013 and 2017. In the spring of 2018 she made a trip to Germany to train with Tanya Seymour and brought two horses. She showed Winston at the national show in Haftenkamp, but retired in the CDI Hamburg.

"The Rand to Euro exchange rate was quite good at the time and the support I had to raise the money to get there was incredible," Mohr said about her trip to Europe. "When Covid hit in 2020 I had to get back home to Cape Town before my visa expired and I wasn't able to get back because everything went into lockdown. The exchange rate shot through the roof and we couldn't afford it anymore. We really did try to make it work but it was too difficult."

Winston was sent to Joyce van Rooijen-Heuitink in The Netherlands as Mohr figured out an exit-strategy.

"She was kind enough to make it more affordable for us, where Winston thrived, but once we realized that Covid wouldn't allow me back any time soon we needed to be realistic and we had two choices: to either sell Winston or try bring him back home," Nichola explained. "We managed to sell one of my other horses and we flew Winston home I can't tell you how happy I am to have him back."

Mohr lives in Cape Town and trains with German ex-pat Carsten Peters alongside her mom Linda Mohr.

"I'm very thankful to my mom and dad, because without them I wouldn't have had any of the opportunities I've had," said Nichola. "They are the biggest part of my support team."

On the Podium

The runner-up in the Grand Prix class was 48-year old Candice Hobday aboard Esclavo FM, a 14-year old PRE by Sol VI x Pelote II. She posted 67.931%. She did not ride the freestyle.

The number three of the Grand Prix test, show jumping rider Carl Boonzaaier on Ina and Tjaart Kruger's 12-year old South African bred T.I. Spartacus (by Sir Oldenburg x Harvard x De Niro) had a score of 66.435%. He placed fourth in the Kur.

The runner-up in the freestyle on Sunday 22 September was Siobhan Records on the 17-year old South African bred stallion Rathmor Caprice (by Capital Capriccio x Land Earl) with 73.267%, while Dawn Newman and the 10-year old Hanoverian registered Callaho Lincoln Rose (by Lissabon x Rotspon) placed third with 70.283%.

Results - 2024 South African Grand Prix Championships

Grand Prix

1. Nichola Mohr - Callaho Winston - 70.935%
2. Candice Hobday - Esclavo FM - 67.913%
3. Carl Boonzaaier - TI Spartacus - 66.435%
4. Chere Burger - Adelprag Quick Silver - 65.370%
5. Dawn Newman - Callaho Lincoln Rose - 65.304%
6. Siobhan Records - Rathmor Caprice - 65.022%
7. Kristina Plattner - Lebed - 64.130%
8. Beryl Johnston - Rivervale's Ultimo - 64.087%
9. Andrea Harrison - Wild Thing - 63.000%
10. Chere Burger - Adelprag Lord of the Ring - 62.957%
11. Samantha Foley - Lukas - 61.717
12. Casey Vetrik - Kepler - 60.848
13. Jessie van Eck - Zucca Dice - 60.522
14. Catherine Berning - Vinducath - 60.413
15. Chere Buger - Adelprag Maximus - 57.913
Nicole Smith - Chi La Rou - DNS

Grand Prix Kur to Music

1. Nichola Mohr - Callaho Winston - 73.625
2. Siobhan Records - Rathmor Caprice - 73.267
3. Dawn Newman - Callaho Lincoln Rose - 70.283%
4. Carl Boonzaaier - TI Spartacus - 69.300%
5. Andrea Harrison - Wild Thing - 69.175%
6. Beryl Johnston - Rivervale's Ultimo - 67.633
7. Catherine Berning - Vinducath - 66.883%
8. Jessie van Eck - Zucca Dice - 65.692%
9. Kristina Plattner - Lebed - 65.517%
10. Casey Vetrik - Kepler - 62.250%
11. Samantha Foley - Lukas - 60.492%
Chere Burger - Adelprag Quick Silver - RET