News
Hickstead CPEDI heats up spring selection race
- Written By: British Dressage
- Published: Fri, 10 May 2024 18:52
First class para competition kick-started the ICE Horseboxes All England Dressage Festival, with Britain’s brightest talents returning to the international arena from 7 – 9 May.
Despite early deluges delaying the start of the competition, Hickstead CPEDI (supported by Agria) provided top drawer competition in much-needed spring sunshine, as the race for Paralympic selection begins to heat up.
Mari Durward-Akhurst and the exceptional mare Athene Lindebjerg (Gribaldi x Diamant) were stars of the show, producing the highest score recorded on each day of the CPEDI competition at Hickstead. Taking control in the 3* Grade I competition, Mari opened her account with 75.208% in the Grand Prix A test, earning a clean sweep of first positions from the judges panel of Anne Prain (FRA) at H, Freddy Leyman (BEL) at C and Alexandre Lacerda Leão (BRA) at B. The combination went two percent better in the Grand Prix B test, recording no less than 23 marks on or over an 8 on their way to 77.153%. For their concluding Freestyle competition on Thursday, the winning score was 79.278%, leaving them six percent clear of a small but high-quality field. Former Olympic and European gold medallist Athene Lindebjerg, now 17-years-old, adds more wins to her outstanding collection each time she sets foot in the arena – with Mari doing a superb job of piloting the mare, who is owned by Diane Redfern.
Natasha Baker (pictured) made a resplendent return to the international arena with Keystone Dawn Chorus, making it three wins from three, after 20-months away from competition. ‘Lottie’ was Natasha’s team gold medal winning ride in Tokyo, and partnered her for individual silver and bronze success at the 2022 World Championships in Herning. “She is the kindest, sweetest, cuddliest horse,” said Natasha, “she's just the absolute dream to look after, she's so well behaved but also really brave and confident.”
At Hickstead, the combination claimed the Grade III Grand Prix A with 74.833% and the Grand Prix B with 73.333%, before going on to debut new freestyle music to earn a superb 76.656% in the Grand Prix Freestyle. “It’s really good to be back in competition, and ‘Lottie’ was amazing - she really looked after me.”
Natasha also spoke about what it’s like to be back in competition after bringing her first child into the world, Joshua, in 2023: “I'm not going to lie, I thought parenting would be easier to balance than it actually is! I really want to make sure I balance it well, and to make sure I don't miss anything with my son. I want to be there for all of his ‘firsts’, but I also want to be back out performing and being the best that I can be. So it's a juggle, but I'm sure every parent will understand that. Becoming a mum has been a real adventure – I love challenges and this is probably the biggest challenge that I've ever had. But coming into that arena yesterday was just awesome.”
Fellow team compatriots Sophie Wells, Nicola Naylor and Georgia Wilson were also all in fine form throughout the week, each achieving a hat-trick of victories in their respective grades. “He had an injury last year in July, so he's been out of it a little bit. He found it very exciting to be back at a show,” Sophie Wells spoke about the exciting return of Don Cara M, “so he didn't produce his best work here, but it was a good start for us to build on. Diana, my younger mare, she showed some really good work, and I think now I need to be a little bit braver and start to ask a bit more from her.”
Following her BD Magazine cover star spot earlier this year, Alice Begg claimed five first place spots throughout the week with rides J’Adore (1*) and Gluckauf (2*). Alicia Griffiths and Sara Bates shared the accolades in the Grade IV CPEDI2* competition, each claiming classes throughout the week; with a similar style of podium switching shared by Vicky Earnshaw and Janet Cummings in the 2* Grade III. Elan Williams’ ride Brandini earned a Grade I victory in the 2* tour, dancing to Neil Diamond in Thursday’s freestyle competition on his seventeenth birthday.
Congratulations to all riders for producing some superb tests; thanks go to the team at The All England Jumping Course Hickstead for organising a sunny, successful CPEDI competition.
Results
Tuesday 7 May
CPEDI2* Intermediate A IV
1. Alicia Griffiths and Seagry Danita, 64.867% (GBR)
2. Sara Bates and Solo Hit 2, 58.8678% (GBR)
CPEDI1* Novice A V
1. Alice Begg and J’Adore II, 67.417% (GBR)
CPEDI3* Grand Prix A IV
1. Nicola Naylor and Humberto L, 69.908% (GBR)
2. Nicola Naylor and Kallista’s Furtenlooks UVA, 67.963% (GBR)
3. Fiona Maynard and Denver, 67.778% (GBR)
CPEDI2* Intermediate A V
1. Alice Begg and Gluckauf, 67.797% (GBR)
CPEDI3* Grand Prix A V
1. Sophie Wells and LJT Egebjerggards Samoa, 73.975% (GBR)
2. Charlotte Cundall and FJ Veyron, 72.137% (GBR)
3. Sophie Wells and Don Cara M, 71.881% (GBR)
CPEDI2* Intermediate A I
1. Elan Williams and Brandini, 66.875% (GBR)
2. Elan Williams and WSH Something Borrowed, 64.792% (GBR)
CPEDI3* Grand Prix A III
1. Natasha Baker and Keystone Dawn Chorus, 74.833% (GBR)
2. Erin Orford and Dragons Fire, 69.444% (GBR)
3. Kate Kerr-Horan and Serafina T, 68.333% (IRL)
CPEDI2* Intermediate A III
1. Vicky Earnshaw and Prince Pepe, 67.381% (GBR)
2. Janet Cummings and Rhonderful Dorrells, 63.095% (GBR)
CPEDI3* Grand Prix A II
1. Georgia Wilson and Faside Got The Love, 71.839% (GBR)
2. Georgia Wilson and Sakura, 71.782% (GBR)
3. Jemima Green and Fantabulous, 68.678% (GBR)
CPEDI3* Grand Prix A I
1. Mari Durward-Akhurst and Athene Lindebjerg, 75.208% (GBR)
2. Austen Burns and Happy Feet 3, 72.639% (CAN)
3. Sophie Christiansen and Gladstone, 71.806% (GBR)
Wednesday 8 May
CPEDI3* Grand Prix B IV
1. Nicola Naylor and Humberto L, 73.063% (GBR)
2. Fiona Maynard and Denver, 69.144% (GBR)
3. Nicola Naylor and Kallista’s Furstenlooks UVA, 68.649% (GBR)
CPEDI3* Grand Prix B V
1. Sophie Wells and LJT Egebjerggards Samoa, 72.456% (GBR)
2. Sophie Wells and Don Cara M, 70.439% (GBR)
3. Charlotte Cundall and FJ Veyron, 68.553% (GBR)
CPEDI1* Novice B V
1. Alice Begg and J’Adore II, 66.917% (GBR)
CPEDI2* Intermediate B IV
1. Sara Bates and Solo Hit 2, 62.365% (GBR)
2. Alice Griffiths and Seagry Danita, 51.936% (GBR)
CPEDI3* Grand Prix B III
1. Natasha Baker and Keystone Dawn Chorus, 73.333% (GBR)
2. Erin Orford and Dragons Fire, 72.056% (GBR)
3. Kate Kerr-Horan and Serafina T, 68.778% (IRL)
CPEDI3* Grand Prix B II
1. Georgia Wilson and Sakura, 72.889% (GBR)
2. Georgia Wilson and Faside Got The Love, 72% (GBR)
3. Jemima Green and Fantabulous, 70.056% (GBR)
CPEDI3* Grand Prix B I
1. Mari Durward-Akhurst and Athene Lindebjerg, 77.153% (GBR)
2. Austen Burns and Happy Feet 3, 70.278% (CAN)
3. Sophie Christiansen and Gladstone, 69.583% (GBR)
CPEDI2* Intermediate B III
1. Janet Cummings and Rhonderful Dorrells, 67.376% (GBR)
2. Vicky Earnshaw and Prince Pepe, 65.538% (GBR)
CPEDI2* Intermediate B I
1. Elan Williams and Brandini, 68.167% (GBR)
2. Elan Williams and WSH Something Borrowed, 65.083% (GBR)
Thursday 9 May
CPEDI2* Intermediate Freestyle IV
1. Sara Bates and Solo Hit 2, 60.341% (GBR)
CPEDI1* Novice Freestyle V
1. Alice Begg and J’Adore II, 67.608% (GBR)
CPEDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle V
1. Sophie Wells and Don Cara M, 75.500% (GBR)
2. Charlotte Cundall and FJ Veyron, 75.209% (GBR)
3. Melissa Cannon and Quentino 43, 70.475% (AUS)
CPEDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle IV
1. Nicola Naylor and Humberto L, 74.550% (GBR)
2. Fiona Maynard and Denver, 70.608% (GBR)
3. Sara Bates and Tango, 68.684% (GBR)
CPEDI2* Intermediate Freestyle V
1. Alice Begg and Gluckauf, 70.517% (GBR)
CPEDI2* Intermediate Freestyle III
1. Vicky Earnshaw and Prince Pepe, 67.845% (GBR)
2. Janet Cummings and Rhonderful Dorrells, 66.422% (GBR)
CPEDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle I
1. Mari Durward-Akhurst and Athene Lindebjerg, 79.278% (GBR)
2. Austen Burns and Happy Feet 3, 73.311% (CAN)
3. Sophie Christiansen and Gladstone, 73.278% (GBR)
CPEDI2* Intermediate Freestyle I
1. Elan Williams and Brandini, 62.712% (GBR)
CPEDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle II
1. Georgia Wilson and Sakura, 76.767% (GBR)
2. Jemima Green and Fantabulous, 70.023% (GBR)
3. Julie Payne and Divinity, 66.489% (GBR)
CPEDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle III
1. Natasha Baker and Keystone Dawn Chorus, 76.656% (GBR)
2. Erin Orford and Dragons Fire, 74.445% (GBR)
3. Kate Kerr-Horan and Lykkebo’s Don Akino, 69.178% (IRL)
