Kronenberg CPEDI3*: Para riders show class in top company

Under blazing June skies, the British contingent of riders achieved promising results in top company at the recent Kronenberg CPEDI3* held at the Peelbergen Equestrian Centre in Kronenberg, the Netherlands (17 – 19 June 2022).

Sophie Wells’ young partner, her own and Charlotte Hogg’s Jillz Geuzenhof (Charmeur x Fruhling) - pictured above, displayed his great potential with pleasing results in the Grade V. The good-looking Dutch gelding, at just eight years old and competing at only his second overseas international, was piloted by Sophie to fourth in the Team Test (71.628%) and tenth in the Individual (69.801%) before dancing into fourth place in the Freestyle with 73.558%.

Travelling home from Holland, Sophie took to social media to say; “The weather was very hot, peaking at 34°C yesterday, but the horses coped so well with lots of showers through the day, and the competition was hot too! We held our own though with 71% in the Team Test, and just under 70% in the Individual with a fairly significant error of me entering the arena without a bell ringing. Turns out I heard the bell for the nextdoor arena only 10m away. In 32 years I’ve never done that, and plan not to again!

“He was lovely in the Freestyle to come fourth, still full of energy which is lovely to feel after three hot days of competition and a busy month. I have to remind myself that he’s eight in July and still needs mileage as he’s had very little, but he’s been foot perfect all week and taken everything in his stride,” she concluded. “All experience in the bank.”

Sophie’s Grade V compatriot, Charlotte Cundall with The Veyron Partnership’s 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding FJ Veyron (by Vivaldi), also impressed. The duo scored just shy of 70% in the Team Test to finish top-ten, before climbing the ranks to sixth in both the Individual Test and Freestyle with scores of 71.111% and 73.192% respectively.

“I was absolutely delighted,” commented Charlotte. “I compete against Sophie Wells all the time, so I’m used to seeing the best in the world, but to see the others ‘up there’ was really good. It was awe-inspiring to be competing against riders that I normally watch and admire on livestream!

“We grew in confidence each day,” she continued. “We just felt in a good place, and all three rides gave me a great feeling and the confidence to think that we were holding our own in such good company. I’ve not been to an FEI championship before, but it felt like a championship, and I loved every second from start to finish. The riders and the World Class team were such an amazing support crew, and ‘Duke’ who had not competed abroad before, was a complete professional from start to finish.”

Next stop for Charlotte will be Hartpury CPEDI next week, which is the final selection trial for the FEI World Championships in Herning, Denmark.

The sole British representative in the Grade III, Erin Orford, finished top-ten in the Team Test scoring 68.008% with the Lady Joseph Trust’s nine-year-old Hanoverian gelding LJT Diamond Crusador (by Diamond Hit). Later, the pair posted another creditable 68%-plus for 13th in the Individual, which was not quite enough to secure a spot on the Freestyle startlist.

“It was a really good competition to go to,” reflected Erin. “It was a well-attended show – the classes were huge, and the horsepower was amazing. The best of the best were there and it was nice to have that exposure, but unfortunately ‘Loki’ and I didn’t quite get the scores.

“He put in two really good performances, and got better each day, so there’s a lot to build on. He’s only nine years old but he loves it. He loves a big atmosphere. It was nice to be part of a show like that and definitely one I’d like to compete at in future.”

It was wonderful to see Paralympic multi-medalist Sophie Christiansen back on the international stage, after a four-year hiatus, now with her new ride - the British-bred 11-year-old gelding, Scirocco T (Sarkozy x Dimaggio). Known at home as Rocco, the tall, dark bay gelding was bought by Sophie in March this year.

The pair achieved 14th place in the Grade I Team Test on a solid score of 68.036% and 18th in the Individual on 65.536% - a promising start for this fledgling partnership on only their third competition appearance together, and their first CPEDI. We look forward to following the progress of Sophie and Rocco as their bond develops further.

Results: top three and British placings
Grade V Team Test
1. Frank Hosmar and Alphaville NOP, 73.333% (NED)
2. Britney de Jong and Caramba, 73.295% (NED)
3. Frank Hosmar and Guetta, 72.403% (NED)
4. Sophie Wells and Jillz Geuzenhof, 71.628% (GBR)
9. Charlotte Cundall and FJ Veyron, 69.961% (GBR)

Grade V Individual Test
1. Britney de Jong and Caramba, 74.008% (NED)
2. Frank Hosmar and Alphaville NOP, 73.770% (NED)
3. Frank Hosmar and Guetta, 73.016% (NED)
6. Charlotte Cundall and FJ Veyron, 71.111% (GBR)
10. Sophie Wells and Jillz Geuzenhof, 69.801% (GBR)

Grade V Freestyle
1. Frank Hosmar and Alphaville NOP, 78.150% (NED)
2. Regine Mispelkamp and Highlander Delight’s, 76.284% (GER)
3. Britney de Jong and Caramba, 75.625% (NED)
4. Sophie Wells and Jillz Geuzenhof, 73.558% (GBR)
6. Charlotte Cundall and FJ Veyron, 73.192% (GBR)

Grade III Team Test
1. Tobias Thorning Jorgensen and Jolene Hill, 76.274% (DEN)
2. Maud de Reu and Webron NOP, 72.892% (NED)
3. Lotte Krijnsen and Rosenstolz, 72.206% (NED)
9. Erin Orford and LJT Diamond Crusador, 68.186% (GBR)

Grade III Individual Test
1. Tobias Thorning Jorgensen and Jolene Hill, 78.872% (DEN)
2. Lotte Krijnsen and Rosenstolz, 72.990% (NED)
3. Maud de Reu and Webron NOP, 72.304% (NED)
13. Erin Orford and LJT Diamond Crusador, 68.008% (GBR)

Grade III Freestyle
1. Tobias Thorning Jorgensen and Jolene Hill, 81.722% (DEN)
2. Lotte Krijnsen and Rosenstolz, 76.278% (NED)
3. Chiara Zenati and Swing Royal IFCE, 74.123% (FRA)

Grade I Team Test
1. Rihards Snikus and King of the Dance, 77.797% (LAT)
2. Sara Morganti and Mariebelle, 74.821% (ITA)
3. Michael Murphy and Cleverboy, 72.976% (IRL)
14. Sophie Christiansen and Scirocco T, 68.036% (GBR)

Grade I Individual Test
1. Rihards Snikus and King of the Dance, 77.976% (LAT)
2. Michael Murphy and Cleverboy, 75.714% (IRL)
3. Sara Morganti and Royal Delight, 74.941% (ITA)
18. Sophie Christiansen and Scirocco T, 65.536% (GBR)

Grade I Freestyle
1. Rihards Snikus and King of the Dance, 79.856% (LAT)
2. Sara Morganti and Mariebelle, 77.334% (ITA)
3. Michael Murphy and Cleverboy, 76.222% (IRL)

VIEW FULL RESULTS

Photo © Kevin Sparrow
Words: British Dressage/Joanna Bowns