Butler, Fry and Tomlinson on form at Hagen CDI

British riders who travelled to Hagen CDI at Hof Kasselmann in Germany (24 – 27 September 2020) achieved excellent results and many positive comments for their harmonious riding. Lara Butler pulled off a double victory – one at Prix St Georges, one at Grand Prix - Lottie Fry landed the Inter I and along with Laura Tomlinson achieved strong results in the Big Tour.

On Thursday, Lara (31) was the runaway winner of the PSG with her own and Anne Hutton’s Amiek C (by Ampere).

Lara and the Westphalian 10 year old (pictured below, earlier this year), who was making his first international appearance, took the class with an impressive 75.58% and a plus-3% lead ahead of Denmark’s Lone Bang Larsen with Thranegaardens Rostov. Lottie Fry partnered by Anne Van Olst’s Don Joe (Diego x Lord Leatherdale) – another horse making his international debut – was third on 71.82%.

Later that same day, Lara rode a super-fluent, harmonious Grand Prix aboard Kristjan to win the Grand Prix for Freestyle with a fantastic new PB of 74.5%. Owned by Ursula Bechtolsheimer and Laura Tomlinson, Kristjan was bred and owned by the late Dr Wilfried Bechtolsheimer, making the win a poignant one for Lara who has worked as a rider for the Bechtolsheimers for the past ten years.

“Some wins mean more than others, today was one of those days…” said Lara, expressing her reaction on Facebook. “I can’t quite believe it, Kristjan and I have just won the Grand Prix on 74.5%. A special day winning both international classes, I must have had someone special watching over me.”

Some wins mean more than others, today was one of those days…

Lottie Fry and Chippendale (Lord Leatherdale x Negro), a 13 year old stallion owned by Anne Van Olst, delivered a Grand Prix full of potential for 71.95%. This was the horse’s third Grand Prix ever and first international start.

On Friday, it was a British one-two in the Inter I - this time with Lottie and Don Joe atop the podium with 72.38% followed by Lara and Amiek C in second (71.91%). Don Joe, Van Olst Horses’ bright young star, shows all the qualities of a future top Grand Prix horse and at eight years old he was the youngest competitor in the field.

The qualifier for the Special took place under floodlights Friday evening. The highly competitive Grand Prix was won by Germany’s Isabell Werth with DSP Quantaz on 79.91% ahead of her compatriot, Jessica Von Bredow-Werndl with Zaire-E (77.50%). Completing the podium was British contender Lottie Fry with her own and Anne Van Olst’s gelding, Dark Legend (pictured top, in 2019). Their test was a masterclass in precision riding, matched with super elasticity and quality for a PB score of 76.71%.

Laura Tomlinson and DSP Rose of Bavaria (pictured below, earlier this year) scored 74.17% for eighth. A small misunderstanding on the final centre line, when the mare halted in the transition to piaffe, was costly. Aside from this, Laura and the 10 year old Bordeaux x Florestan I mare radiated class. A very exciting pair for the future.

Saturday night, the Grand Prix Freestyle under floodlights witnessed a win by Denmark’s Lone Bang Larsen and Bakkely’s Onandt (78.08%). Britain’s Lara Butler and Kristjan, and Lottie Fry with Chippendale claimed sixth and ninth respectively.

Lara and Kristjan, riding in heavy rain to their Scottish-themed freestyle, had a couple of expensive communication errors but the quality stood out for 75.90%.

Lottie and the beautiful Chippendale posted 74.71% for a top ten place riding to tracks from The Piano Guys plus Josh Vietti’s Closer. In the pouring rain, the stallion appeared focused, working well with his rider - an impressive performance for his first ever freestyle.

The home nation’s Isabell Werth once again triumphed on Sunday, taking the Grand Prix Special with a massive plus-80% ahead of Von Bredow-Werndl and Zaire-E on 78.19%. The top three remained the same with Lottie Fry and Dark Legend once again completing the podium, this time with 77.08%, another new PB, and Laura Tomlinson and the up-and-coming Rose of Bavaria achieved eighth on a mark of 74.31% to conclude a successful CDI for the Brits.

“Great ending CDI Hagen 2020,” concluded Van Olst Horses on Facebook. “At the end a wonderful show with great results with so much more coming for the future!”

Top-three and British rider results: 
CDI4* Grand Prix (Qual. GPFS)
1. Lara Butler and Kristjan, 74.500% (GBR)
2. Victoria Max-Theurer and Rockabilly, 71.957% (AUT)
3. Hubertus Schmidt and DSK Belstaff, 72.718% (GER)
5. Charlotte Fry and Chippendale, 71.956% (GBR)

CDI4* Grand Prix Freestyle
1. Lone Bang Larsen and Bakkely’s Onandt, 78.085% (DEN)
2. Victoria Max-Theurer and Rockability, 77.550% (AUT)
3. Hubertus Schmidt and DSK Belstaff, 77.270% (GER)
6. Lara Butler and Kristjan, 75.905% (GBR)
9. Charlotte Fry and Chippendale, 74.710% (GBR)

CDI4* Grand Prix (Qual. GPS)
1. Isabell Werth and DSP Quantaz, 79.913% (GER)
2. Jessica Von Bredow-Werndl and Zaire-E, 77.500% (GER)
3. Charlotte Fry and Dark Legend, 76.717% (GBR)
8. Laura Tomlinson and DSP Rose of Bavaria, 74.174% (GBR)

CD4* Grand Prix Special
1. Isabell Werth and DSP Quantaz, 80.659% (GER)
2. Jessica Von Bredow-Werndl and Zaire-E, 78.192% (GER)
3. Charlotte Fry and Dark Legend, 77.085% (GBR)
8. Laura Tomlinson and DSP Rose of Bavaria, 74.319% (GBR)

CDI1* Prix St Georges
1. Lara Butler and Amiek C, 75.588% (GBR)
2. Lone Bang Larsen and Thranegaardens Rostov, 72.059% (DEN)
3. Charlotte Fry and Don Joe, 71.824% (GBR)

CDI1* Intermediate I
1. Charlotte Fry and Don Joe, 72.382% (GBR)
2. Lara Butler and Amiek C, 71.912% (GBR)
3. Lena Waldmann and Feu D’Or 2, 71.059% (GER)

Full results

Photo © Jon Stroud Media (Charlotte Fry); Kevin Sparrow (Lara Butler and Laura Tomlinson).