The four-stary CDI at Evelyn Haim-Swarovski's Schindlhof in Fritzens, Austria was the perfect showcase for British talent with personal best breaking scores throughout the competition. Aboard Sasha Stewart's Dutch warmblood stallion Uthopia Carl Hester cracked the extraordinary barrier of 80% to win the Grand Prix Special.
Hester's in-house rider, 25 year old Charlotte Dujardin, and the Negro-bred gelding Valegro won the grand prix for special just ahead of Carl Hester and Uthopia with an incredible personal best of 77.979%. The victory was a remarkable achievement for a combination still in its first year of international grand prix.
“I’m over the moon! It is a fantastic venue and a lovely show, it was a great experience,” a delighted Charlotte told British Dressage. “I only started grand prix this year and I can’t believe that I’ve progressed this quickly, getting those marks so fast.”
Scoring 10’s for their piaffe in both tests and 9’s for extensions, half pass and changes it is clear that this duo are going places, “The grand prix was brilliant, we were so together. I think that Valegro is getting stronger and our test riding is becoming easier as we’re doing more of that work now. He’s still only nine and we don’t want to push him too hard. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to ride him, he’s a happy athlete and everything you would ever need in a horse.”
The pair could not hold off the inimitable Carl for long though as he rode his the stunning black Metall stallion into first place in the grand prix special on an astounding 80.958%. High scores of 76.292% and 73.479% from Charlotte Dujardin and Emile Faurie respectively made it a British one, two, three in the class
"I feel like I'm a different person," Hester told St. Georg after winning the Special. Hester was equally ecstatic about the performances of his student Dujardin, who is riding Carl's Valegro. "Valegro probably has even more qualities than Uthopia if he has matured a bit more," Carl explained. I want to give Charlotte a chance as well. She has been working in my stable for 5 years and has trained Valegro. It is important for British Dressage that we have a strong team and continue to stimulate young riders."
Emma Hindle made her international come back with the 18-year old Lancet (by Wenzel I x Shogun xx) posting 70.936% and 77.17% in the Grand Prix for Kur and Grand Prix Kur to take second place in both classes, while WEG silver medal winning combination Fiona Bigwood and Wie Atlantico took sixth and eight in the classes on 68.511% and 71.35%. Bigwood had to deal with a dachshund on the loose during her freestyle.
The Grand Prix for Kur was won by Italian Valentina Truppa on the Italian warmblood Eremo del Castegno (by Rohdiamant) with 73.532%. Truppa couldn't maintain that lead in the freestyle after several mistakes in her kur. American Guenter Seidel and Dick & Jane Brown's Dutch warmblood U II (by Jazz) won the freestyle with 78.27 %.
Emile Faurie and the Danish warmblood Elmegardens Marquis were fifth in the GP for Special (69.660%) and third in the Grand Prix Special (73.479%). "I'm over the moon," said a very happy Faurie. "What a great weekend in Fritzens. Max coped so well with the atmosphere and put in a great performance."
Photos © Selene Scarsi
Related Links
Scores 2011 CDI Fritzens
Grand Prix for Special Finger Licking Good at 2011 CDI Hagen