BD Abroad: Wellington CDI3* and Amsterdam CDI-W roundup

British riders achieved good results last week, both sides of the Atlantic. Susan Pape and Harmony’s Eclectisch completed a dual win at the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival 3 at Wellington in Florida (25 – 29 January 2023), while Lottie Fry and Laura Tomlinson impressed in the FEI Dressage World Cup™ qualifier at Jumping Amsterdam in the Netherlands (25 – 29 January 2023).

Susan Pape continued her winning streak at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Florida. Partnered by her own and Harmony Amateur Sports Foundation’s 14-year-old stallion Harmony’s Eclectisch (Zenon x Olivi), she clinched a victory in Friday’s CDI3* Grand Prix on 70.826%. The following day, the British duo (pictured in Aachen) won the CDI3* Grand Prix Special in convincing style, on a score of 70.021%.

“Our ride felt nice and powerful today,” said Susan to the AGDF, after her ride in the Special. “Unfortunately, I had a mistake in the twos, and the ones on the centreline. But other than that, it was very good. The passage on the left lead was very good for him and expressive. In the canter work, the ones were beautiful, and so was the extended canter.”

About her experience of competing at the prestigious annual winter series, Susan says; “I really enjoy being here. I only have a couple of horses here, so you can spend time with them. At home we have a big business, and it's rush, rush, rush. Here you can really concentrate on the process and that is what I really love about it – and showing here in this ring, it’s just awesome.”

Second place on both days belonged to British-based Singaporean rider Caroline Chew who made her debut on the 14-year-old stallion Blue Hors Zatchmo (Blue Hors Zack x Donnerhall). Caroline and Zatchmo, a former ride of Denmark’s Nanna Skodborg Merrald, and now owned by Melanie and Tony Chew, scored 68.261% and 68.128% in the Grand Prix and Special respectively.

Susan, who is competing at the celebrated Florida festival for the eighth time in her career, will contest the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival 5 next week.

Amsterdam CDI-W
Great Britain’s representatives in the FEI Dressage World Cup™ qualifier at Jumping Amsterdam in the Netherlands both enjoyed pleasing performances with exciting up-and-coming rides.

Van Olst Horses’ Lars van de Hoenderheide (Negro x Layout) showed great promise piloted by double World Champion, Lottie Fry to post 73.109% for 12th place amongst a star line-up in Friday’s Grand Prix. The 12-year-old gelding, competing at only his third international show, coped admirably with the electric atmosphere of the Jumping Amsterdam arena. He and Lottie later achieved a fantastic 78.335% for 11th place in the Freestyle riding to Dark Legend’s music programme dubbed ‘Let Me Take You Dancing’.

The Belgian-bred chestnut, showing impressive elasticity and rhythm throughout his performance, collected a number of 8s and 8.5s across the technical scores, including for his confident tempi-changes and passage.

London 2012 team gold medallist, Laura Tomlinson rode her own and Ursula Bechtolsheimer’s Fallatijn (Vivaldi x Cabochon) into 14th place in the Grand Prix on a score just shy of 70%. First down the centre line in Saturday’s Grand Prix Freestyle, they lit up the RAI Amsterdam arena with an enjoyable programme choreographed to a collection of Coldplay hits.

A score of 74.150% went on the board for 13th place and a great experience for the talented chestnut gelding who came to the fore winning the Grand Prix Special with Laura at Aachen Dressage Days CDI3* last May.

Laura took to social media to say; “What an amazing show to compete at. Still tough for Finn, not showing his full potential like he can at the quieter shows but he’s got to learn and we had a blast in the process!”

Welcomed back after a Covid-enforced two-year break, the prestigious annual show held at the RAI exhibition centre in the Dutch capital typically attracts a high class field of competitors. This year was no exception with several of Europe’s top combinations forward to contest this eighth leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2022-2023 Western European League.

The Grand Prix and Freestyle were both won by the home nation’s World Championship double bronze medal duo, Dinja van Liere and Hermes N.O.P. (Easy Game x Flemmingh), while Germany’s Isabell Werth and 17-year-old Emilio (Ehrenpreis x Cacir Aa) delivered two beautiful performances for second place both days.

Results: top three and British placings
Adequan® Global Dressage Festival 3, Wellington, Florida (USA)
CDI3* Grand Prix
1. Susan Pape and Harmony’s Eclectisch, 70.826% (GBR)
2. Caroline Chew and Blue Hors Zatchmo, 68.261% (SGP)
3. Jan Ebeling and Jubi’s Tenacity, 67.978% (USA)

CDI3* Grand Prix Special
1. Susan Pape and Harmony’s Eclectisch, 70.021% (GBR)
2. Caroline Chew and Blue Hors Zatchmo, 68.128% (SGP)
3. Christopher Hickey and Stenagers Wyatt Earp, 67.936% (USA)

VIEW FULL RESULTS

Amsterdam CDI-W (NED)
FEI Dressage World Cup™ Grand Prix
1. Dinja van Liere and Hermes N.O.P., 79.739% (NED)
2. Isabell Werth and Emilio, 77.957% (GER)
3. Ingrid Klimke and Franziskus FRH, 76.261% (GER)
12. Charlotte Fry and Lars van de Hoenderheide, 73.109% (GBR)
14. Laura Tomlinson and Fallatijn, 69.848%

FEI Dressage World Cup™ Grand Prix Freestyle
1. Dinja van Liere and Hermes N.O.P., 87.055% (NED)
2. Isabell Werth and Emilio, 86.595% (GER)
3. Nanna Skodborg Merrald and Blue Hors Zack, 85.220% (DEN)
11. Charlotte Fry and Lars van de Hoenderheide, 78.335% (GBR)
13. Laura Tomlinson and Fallatijn, 74.150% (GBR)

VIEW FULL RESULTS

Photo © LL-FOTO.DE