Charlotte Dujardin and Imhotep win double at Wellington CDI3*

The CDI3* start list at Wellington CDI in Hampshire (06 – 09 June 2024) featured many of Britain’s leading names as team selection draws closer for Paris 2024, while plenty of up-and-coming talent was evident in the Small Tour.

Charlotte Dujardin and her European team gold and double individual bronze medal partner, Imhotep (Everdale x Vivaldi) - pictured - took charge to win the CDI3* Grand Prix on 79.891% in front of judges Mariette Sanders-Van Gansewinkel (NED), Magnus Ringmark (SWE), Raphaёl Saleh (FRA), Susanne Baarup (DEN) and Isobel Wessels (GBR) – all of whom will be part of the judging panel in Paris. Carl Hester claimed the remaining podium places, taking second aboard Fame (77.457%) and third with En Vogue (71.783%). 

Charlotte and Imhotep’s Grand Prix Special test, with a couple of costly blips in the one-tempis, likewise brimmed with quality for a winning score of 77.638%. “I couldn’t be prouder of his progress ahead of team selection for Paris – he really does have a heart of gold,” said Charlotte about Carl Hester and Coral Ingham’s 11-year-old ‘Pete’ who has now achieved eight straight victories since the European Championships last year. Second place on the Grand Prix Special podium was occupied by Carl Hester and his Tokyo 2020 ride, En Vogue, on 74.149% while Lewis Carrier and Diego V took third (68.893%).

Carl Hester and Fame, also part of the gold medal-winning British team last summer in Riesenbeck, came to the fore with a beautiful performance in the Grand Prix Freestyle. Debuting a new floorplan set to new music with a decidedly French feel, Carl and the Bordeaux 28 x Rhodium 14-year-old, who he co-owns with Fiona Bigwood and Mette Dahl, earned 83.935% to finish well in front of Australian challenger Jayden Brown with Willingapark Quincy B (73.225%) and young Brit, Alex Harrison-West aboard his international big tour debutant, Kickback (71.395%).

Grand Prix rider Kate Cowell, a team bronze medallist at the 2000 Young Rider European Championships, rode her 10-year-old Dutch-bred Joolz (Expression x Uphill) to achieve a dream clean sweep of the CDI1* Small Tour classes. The pair won the Prix St Georges (69.755%) and Intermediate I (69.118%) on the gelding’s international debut, with British Olympian Laura Tomlinson’s home-bred eight-year-olds, Forest Hill (Fursten-Look x United) and Full Moon II (Fürstenball x Gribaldi), each achieving a second place on the podium. 

Top three results

CDI3* Grand Prix
1. Charlotte Dujardin and Imhotep, 79.891% (GBR)
2. Carl Hester and Fame, 77.457% (GBR)
3. Carl Hester and En Vogue, 71.783% (GBR)

CDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle
1. Carl Hester and Fame, 83.935% (GBR)
2. Jayden Brown and Willingapark Quincy B, 73.225% (AUS)
3. Alexander Harrison and Kickback, 71.390% (GBR)

CDI3* Grand Prix Special
1. Charlotte Dujardin and Imhotep, 77.638% (GBR)
2. Carl Hester and En Vogue, 74.149% (GBR)
3. Lewis Carrier and Diego V, 68.893% (GBR)

CDI1* Prix St Georges
1. Kate Cowell and Joolz, 69.755% (GBR)
2. Laura Tomlinson and Forest Hill, 69.510% (GBR)
3. Jacqueline Wing Ying Siu and Jockey Club Huittharien, 69.412% (HKG)

CDI1* Intermediate I
1. Kate Cowell and Joolz, 69.118% (GBR)
2. Laura Tomlinson and Full Moon II, 68.627% (GBR)
3. Laura Tomlinson and Forest Hill, 68.186% (GBR)

VIEW FULL RESULTS

Photo © Kevin Sparrow Photography