CDI clean sweeps for Britain's leading riders at Hickstead

Britain’s team talents were top of the tree in the CDI classes at Hickstead’s ICE Horseboxes All England Dressage Festival, with Olympic team hopefuls both current and future coming to the fore (10 – 12 May 2024).

Fresh from success at Hagen’s Horses and Dreams Meets Portugal show, Charlotte Dujardin returned to the UK CDI scene with two hot-to-trot irons in the fire. With Carl Hester and Coral Ingham’s FEI European Championship medallist Imhotep, Charlotte rode to 80.870% in the Grand Prix, judged by Michael Osinski (E – USA), Andrew Gardner (H – GBR), Kurst Christsensen (C – DEN), Eva-Maria Vint-Warmington (M – EST) and Joyce Van Rooijen-Heuitink (B – NED); whilst also placing second with her own Ulrike Bachinger and Carl Hester’s Alive And Kicking, who scored an impressive 77.370% in only her fourth Grand Prix start.  

Alive And Kicking went on to reign supreme in Saturday’s Grand Prix Freestyle to Music, dancing to Charlotte’s Frozen-themed programme for a winning score of 82.350%. Whilst Imhotep owned the Grand Prix Special with 81.362%.  

“I’ve had a fantastic week with both my horses, finishing off the show with the Special with Imhotep, and I felt like he did one of his best tests that he's ever done,” said Charlotte before going on to explaining how important it is that ‘Audrey’ is also stepping up as Imhotep’s understudy, “with Paris in mind, it’s something we’re really focusing on, we’re really busy trying to get everything in tip top shape. They’re very different horses. Pete is like being on a spring, he’s extremely bouncy and very powerful, and he’s quite big and wide to ride. Whereas Audrey [Alive And Kicking] is smaller, much neater, and a totally different mover to Pete.” 

Carl Hester was also back in action following his own successful trip to Germany last month. For Fiona Bigwood’s Fame it would be another inspired trip around the arena, earning 76.239% in the Grand Prix to place third behind stable mates Imhotep and Audrey, before notching up an impressive 78.660% for second place in the Grand Prix Special.  

Carl praised both of his winning rides on social media, as En Vogue also achieved success in the Premier League classes: “Both Fame and Vogue really were exceptional this weekend at Hickstead and honestly, I could not be happier with them. I think what the horses reminded me of this weekend was just how special these moments continue to be and why so many of us are committed to this sport with these horses that are first and foremost part of our family.”

2023 Young Rider European Champion Annabella Pidgley brought her medal winning mare Espe to Hickstead, along with Grand Prix ride Vamos Amigo. The young talent achieved success in all classes entered, achieving a clean sweep in both the CDI1* Small Tour classes and the U25 Grand Prix classes.  
Sarah Pidgley’s Escolar-sired mare Espe was on fine form throughout the weekend, scoring 72.706% in Friday’s Prix St Georges class, before notching up 72.402% in the Intermediate I competition in front of Alexandre Lacerda Leão (E – BRA), Michael Osinski (C – USA) and Joyce Van Rooijen-Heuitink (M – NED).  

In the U25 classes, Annabella continued to strengthen her partnership with the powerful twelve-year-old Vamos Amigo (Vitalis x Blue Hors Hotline). In the Intermediate II test the combination scored 72.794% to pip fellow Brit Angus Corrie-Deane to the post; before producing a strong performance in the U25 Grand Prix to record 74.974%, this time leading the podium ahead of Spain’s Sergio Moron Basoco.  

Thanks go to the organising team at The All England Jumping Course for running a spectacular spring festival of dressage with top class CDI and CPEDI competition. 

Results

Friday 10 May  

CDI1* Prix St Georges  
1. Annabella Pidgley and Espe, 72.706% (GBR) 
2. Nikki Barker and Dan Icarus, 70.206% (GBR)  
3. Andrew Gould and Active Solaris, 69.088% (GBR)  

CDI3* Grand Prix sponsored by The Swan Inn at Fittleworth 
1. Charlotte Dujardin and Imhotep, 80.870% (GBR) 
2. Charlotte Dujardin and Alive And Kicking, 77.370% (GBR) 
3. Carl Hester and Fame 76.239% (GBR)

Saturday 11 May

CDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle  
1. Charlotte Dujardin and Alive And Kicking, 82.350% (GBR) 
2. Caroline Chew and Blue Hors Zatchmo, 74.940% (SGP) 
3. Andrew Gould and Genie, 74.345% (GBR)

CDI U25 Intermediate II 
1. Annabella Pidgley and Vamos Amigos, 72.794% (GBR) 
2. Angus Corrie-Deane and Jack Johnson 2, 71.677% (GBR) 
3. Sergio Moron Basoco and Farnham L, 69.382% (ESP)

CDI1* Intermediate I  
1. Annabella Pidgley and Espe, 72.402% (GBR) 
2. Nikki Barker and Dan Icarus, 71.765% (GBR) 
3. Andrew Gould and Active Solaris, 69.755% (GBR)

Sunday 12 May

CDI3* Grand Prix Special 
1. Charlotte Dujardin and Imhotep, 81.362% (GBR) 
2. Carl Hester and Fame, 78.660% (GBR) 
3. Jayden Brown and Willingapark Quincy B, 71.617% (AUS)

CDI U25 Grand Prix  
1. Annabella Pidgley and Vamos Amigos, 74.974% (GBR) 
2. Sergio Moron Basoco and Farnham L, 71.282% (ESP) 
3. Angus Corrie-Deane and Jack Johnson 2, 70.820% (GBR) 

FULL RESULTS

Photo credit: Hickstead