Orford, Wells and Wilson unbeatable at Hartpury

British riders Erin Orford, Sophie Wells and Georgia Wilson were in dominant form, each winning a hat-trick in their respective grades, at Hartpury CPEDI (3 – 7 July 2019).

Sophie Wells MBE won the Grade V Team, Individual and Freestyle tests with scores of 75.30%, 76.81% and 80.14% aboard star ride C Fatal Attraction, owned by Charlotte Hogg.

“In the team test yesterday Jorge was good but slightly inattentive to win on 75%, with Dime in third with just under 70%,” said Sophie on Facebook, referring to C Fatal Attraction and up-and-coming ride, Diadeem, a mare who made her Grand Prix debut at Somerford Premier League in May. “Both were good but with room for improvement. Today were the individual classes… Jorge was mega and today Ange [trainer Angela Weiss] was pleased with us!”

On the concluding day of the CPEDI classes, she added, “[We] Finished the week on a high at Hartpury Festival of Dressage to win the freestyle on 80%. I love my Tom Hunt music he composed for us last year.”

Sophie is the reigning Individual and Freestyle World Champion with the Fidertanz 12 year old and will have a spot at next month’s European Championships in Rotterdam well within her sights. One of the the UK's top Small Tour combinations too, they’ve won PSG classes at Somerford and Wellington Premier Leagues this year.

The Newark-based Paralympian is equally adept in the role of trainer, with her students achieving great success. One such rider is Georgia Wilson (23) who last year was selected as reserve for the FEI World Equestrian Games in Tryon. Continuing along her uphill path, at Hartpury she posted three personal best scores to dominate the Grade II with 74.27%, 73.29% and a super 76.54% in the Freestyle. Her winning partner Midnight (Hilkens Black Delight x Cassander) - pictured - is a 10 year old British bred mare who Georgia has been competing since April last year.

“I have had an amazing week with Midnight at Hartpury,” she said. “Three PBs and three wins with 74.23, 73.29% and 76.54% which I never thought I would ever get but Sophie Wells’ training has definitely paid off and I can’t thank her enough.”

In the close-fought Grade III classes, Erin Orford impressed by winning on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday with Annabel Whittet’s Dimaggio-sired mare, Dior UKH. The pair, who are reigning European team gold and World team silver medallists, earned scores of 69.32%, 69.44% in the Team and Individual tests before a plus-74% Freestyle. Throughout the week, the USA’s Rebecca Hart and Great Britain’s Amanda Shirtcliffe jostled for second and third.

Riders from South America made an impression at Hartpury, with Europe-based Brazilian competitors Sergio Oliva (Grade II) and Rodolpho Riskalla (Grade IV) both tasting victory. Sergio and the Dutch mare Coco Chanel M (Tuschinski x Rousseau) took the Grade I Team and Individual tests ahead of Mari Durward-Akhurst, though the tables turned in the Freestyle with the Brit showing her mettle with a winning score just shy of 73%. Rodolpho won all three Grade IV divisions culminating in a 76.86% Freestyle with the gorgeous Don Henrico (Don Frederico x Lauries Crusador xx), owned by Germany’s Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff.

Belgium’s Michèle George (Grade V), who won Individual and Freestyle Gold at London 2012 plus Freestyle Gold in Rio, took the runner-up spot to Sophie Wells on all three days with new ride Best of 8, a nine year old German mare by Bonifatius.

Top-three results:

Wednesday
Grade V Team Test
1st Sophie Wells with C Fatal Attraction, 75.302% (GBR)
2nd Michele George with Best Of 8, 72.512% (BEL)
3rd Sophie Wells with Diadeem, 69.721% (GBR)

Grade IV Team Test
1st Rodolpho Riskalla T with Don Henrico, 72.400% (BRA)
2nd Kate Shomaker with Solitaer 40, 70.300% (USA)
3rd Nicky Greenhill with Betty Boo, 69.825% (GBR)

Grade III Team Test
1st Erin Orford with Dior, 69.324% (GBR)
2nd Rebecca Hart with El Corona Texel, 68.735% (USA)
3rd Amanda Shirtcliffe with New-Princess, 68.294% (GBR)

Grade II Team Test
1st Georgia Wilson with Midnight, 74.273% (GBR)
2nd Suzanna Hext with Abira, 72.121% (GBR)
3rd Lee Pearson with Styletta, 69.939% (GBR)

Grade I Team Test
1st Sergio Oliva with Coco Chanel M, 72.786% (BRA)
2nd Mari Durward-Akhurst with Sky O’Hara, 70.429% (GBR)
3rd Michael Murphy with Skjoldsgaard Hippo-Vo, 70.107% (IRL)

Full results: Team Test

Thursday
Grade V Individual Test
1st Sophie Wells with C Fatal Attraction, 76.810% (GBR)
2nd Michele George with Best Of 8, 71.190% (BEL)
3rd Sophie Wells with Diadeem, 69.905% (GBR)

Grade IV Individual Test
1st Rodolpho Riskalla with Don Henrico, 72.878% (BRA)
2nd Nicky Greenhill with Betty Boo, 71.268% (GBR)
3rd Kate Shoemaker with Solitaer 40, 71.220% (USA)

Grade III Individual Test
1st Erin Orford with Dior, 69.441% (GBR)
2nd Amanda Shirtcliffe with New-Princess, 69.235% (GBR)
3rd Rebecca Hart with Fortune 500, 68.971% (USA)

Grade II Individual Test
1st Georgia Wilson with Midnight, 73.294& (GBR)
2nd Lee Pearson with Breezer, 70.941% (GBR)
3rd Lee Pearson with Styletta, 70.824% (GBR)

Grade I Individual Test
1st Sergio Oliva with Coco Chanel M, 72.143% (BRA)
2nd Mari Durward-Akhurst with Sky O’Hara, 69.821% (GBR)
3rd Michael Murphy with Skjoldsgaard Hippo-Vo, 68.857% (IRL)

Full results: Individual Test

Friday
Grade V Freestyle
1st Sophie Wells with C Fatal Attraction, 80.140% (GBR)
2nd Michele George with Best Of 8, 74.560% (BEL)
3rd Tamsin Addison with Donna Siesta, 71.475% (IRL)

Grade IV Team Test
1st Rodolpho Riskalla with Don Henrico, 76.860% (BRA)
2nd Kate Shoemaker with Solitaer 40, 74.080% (USA)
3rd Nicky Greenhill with Betty Boo, 73.345% (GBR)

Grade III Freestyle
1st Erin Orford with Dior, 74.867% (GBR)
2nd Rebecca Hart with Fortune 500, 73.113% (USA)
3rd Amanda Shirtcliffe with New-Princess, 71.333% (GBR)

Grade II Freestyle
1st Georgia Wilson with Midnight, 76.540% (GBR)
2nd Suzanna Hext with Abira, 74.340% (GBR)
3rd Julie Payne with Pandora, 71.193% (GBR)

Grade I Freestyle
1st Mari Durward-Akhurst with Sky O’Hara, 72.960% (GBR)
2nd Michael Murphy with Skjoldsgaard Hippo-Vo, 70.973% (IRL)
3rd Sergio Oliva with Coco Chanel M, 70.933% (BRA)