Tina Konyot had a lock on the 2010 U.S. Grand Prix Dressage Championship over the first weekend, winning both the Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Special handily. She made it very clear in the Grand Prix on Friday of the second weekend that she wasn’t going to give up her top spot without a fight.
Her score of 71.319% with her beloved Calecto V was a reward from another consistent performance for the pair who has been winning consistently up and down the East Coast of the United States. A couple of small mistakes couldn’t mar an otherwise impressive performance.
“I’m so happy to be back again,” said Konyot at the press conference. “He was there for me. The extended trot was not so good, but I was happy with the passage tour, it was quite even and very, very nice, the piaffe wasn’t at its best.”
Konyot and the 12-year-old Danish Warmblood recently returned from Aachen and have had a very busy summer working toward selection for the US Dressage Team for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.
“I didn’t ride enough,” said Konyot. “He was feeling fresh and good – I can’t say he felt tired… I can’t believe we’re here.”
Despite winning at every turn, Konyot knows that in order to keep winning she has to continue to improve.
“I know I can get a better score,” said Konyot. “I can do better transitions. Two piaffes were a little weak, the pirouette is getting better. Overall it is a work in progress for all of us. Calecto and I have had one year at Grand Prix so we are a work in progress. We can make it better.”
Even with room for improvement, this win gives Konyot a clear lead going into the fourth and final portion of the National Grand Prix Dressage Championship – the freestyle.
Todd Flettrich (Royal Palm Beach, FL) found himself in the runner-up spot after a very dynamic performance with Cherry Knoll Farm’s Otto. They scored 69.787% for a test that had beautiful piaffe and passage work. Their scores after three days leave them third, and Flettrich was pleased with the progress his horse has made.
“It meant more to me to do better,” said Flettrich. “I still think we have room for improvement. It’s been a hard week. I was very happy but there is room for improvement. For him (like Calecto) he’s almost done four weekends in a row: Aachen, then quarantine then here for two weeks.”
Otto seemed ready to go to work, despite his busy schedule and had some of his best work of the year in this test. But Flettrich, like a number of other riders in Friday’s Grand Prix made a mistake in the changes.
“I don’t usually make mistakes in the changes, and I made a mistake in the twos,” he said.
Flettrich was thrilled with Otto’s pirouettes, something that isn’t always the highlight of his work: but he can always rely on his piaffe and passage, which received praise from judge Janet Foy.
Pierre St. Jacques (Anthony, FL) rounded out the top three with a polished effort on Lucky Tiger. Lucky Tiger, a 15-year-old Danish Warmblood was determined and accurate and the pair scored 69.489%.
St. Jacques has dramatically improved the quirky horse and has produced him into a top Grand Prix horse.
“It was one of his best tests,” said St. Jacques. “He is so reliable, so happy doing his job. I was having a blast in the test.”
It has been two rigorous weekends of competition but the top horses have really risen to the challenge.
“The horses are a little more on edge,” said St. Jacques. “They know it’s important and they know their jobs. I’ve been doing what I’ve been doing all along.”
For St. Jacques, who now lies fifth in the overall standings, all the work is paying off.
The scores are cumulative over the four classes. The two Grand Prix count for 30% each of the total score, the Special counts for 25% and the Freestyle on Sunday counts for 15%.
Text by Joannie Morris
Photo © Astrid Appels
Related Links
Konyot Leads in 2010 U.S. Championships; Konyot, Bateson, Flettrich in the Running for WEG Ticket
Scores 2010 U.S. Dressage Championships - Week Two