Victorious Dunn is best of the Brits at Peelbergen CDI

Jessica Dunn led a successful British contingent travelling to Peelbergen CDI3*/CDI1*/CDIU25/CDIY/J/P, held at Peelbergen Equestrian Centre in the Netherlands  (27 November – 1 December 2024).

Lancashire’s Jessica Dunn (35) had a sensational weekend aboard  Dan It’s Carston (Durable x Clearway). With Jennifer Whittaker’s 11-year-old gelding, she concluded her week with a win in the CDI1* Inter I Freestyle on an outstanding score of 75.942%, rewarded by Janine Van Twist (NED – E), Miguel Gonçalves (POR – C) and Jacques Van Daele (BEL – M).

Reflecting on her victory, Jess said, “I was thrilled with him. It's probably the best, most consistent freestyle he's done. It's his last test at Small Tour, and I just really wanted to go in and do the music and ride as well as I knew that we could.”

Jess’s freestyle routine was set to music from The Greatest Showman, a choice that holds sentimental value for her. “I originally had the music for my old Grand Prix horse LG Alicante Valley when he was at Small Tour. It always gave me a great feeling to ride to as he came alive when the music was on,” she explained.

When Dan It’s Carston stepped up to Small Tour last year, Jess struggled to find new music that resonated as deeply, ultimately returning to the soundtrack she loved. “Anyone who knows me knows I'm probably one of the cheesiest people around when it comes to things like that. I love a good musical, and it’s one of my favourite films,” she added with a laugh.

Jess also claimed second in the closely contested CDI1*Prix St Georges and Inter I classes, scoring 71.568% and 70.686%, respectively. This put them just behind the Netherlands’ Adelinde Cornelissen and Luqiedo (Aqiedo x Stedinger), who topped both classes with 71.765% and 74.069%. Jessica also presented Jennifer Whitakker's Hokita (Dreamboy x Tikita), earning good mileage in the international arena.

 Laura Tomlinson brought her two eight-year-old rides to content the Small Tour classes. Full Moon II, who she co-owns with Ursula Bechtolsheimer, placed sixth in the Prix St Georges on 69.706% and seventh in the Inter I with  68.872%, whilst her 2024 HOYS Future Elite Champion Forest Hill (Fürstenlook x United) placed 13th in the same class, with a score of 67.108%.   

Piloted by Sarah Millis, Le Zorro BH (Hero x Florencio I) is another promising eight-year-old who gained valuable Small Tour experience in Peelbergen and will be one to watch in 2025.  

The victories in the CDI3* Big Tour classes were dominated by Germany and Belgium. Germany’s Ingrid Klimke took the 35-strong Grand Prix win on 73.609% riding Vayron (Vitalis x Gloster), who formally represented Denmark at the 2023 FEI European Championships and 2024 Olympics piloted by Daniel Bachmann. Justin Verboomen and the talented eight-year-old Zonik Plus by Hohenstein are a pair to watch after they came top of the leaderboard in the Grand Prix Special with an outstanding score of 74.042% for Belgium. In the Grand Prix Freestyle, Germany’s Semmieke Rothenberger and Farrington (Jazz x Samba Hit) were ahead of the competition after their standout performance earned them a score of 77.335%.

The British contingent held their own amongst strong competition and their performances led to several results within or just short of the top ten. London 2012 medallist Laura Tomlinson displayed promising form with her upcoming 10-year-old star Soegaards Bon Royal (Bon Bravour x De Noir 3), placing sixth with a score of 70.217%. The pair also came in sixth in Saturday night’s Grand Prix Freestyle with yet another impressive score of 71.965%, closely followed by Anna Ross and the 12-year-old warmblood gelding Habouche (Ampere x Sydney), who came in less than 0.01% behind Laura on 71.830%. Anna and Habouche also delivered a strong Grand Prix performance, putting them in 11th place on 68.522%.

Three-time Olympic medallist Lottie Fry and Van Olst Horses’ 10-year-old Especial (Especial x Vivaldi) delivered two consistent performances. In the Grand Prix, they came in just behind Laura, earning seventh place with a super solid score of 69.630%, before going on to place eighth in the Grand Prix Special with another impressive score of 69.042%.

Alex Harrison (27) made his continental debut with home-produced nine-year-old  Kickback (Galaxie x Florencio I), whom Alex has trained through the levels from a four-year-old. The combination placed 21st in the Grand Prix with a score of 67.174% and 13th in the Freestyle with another strong score of 69.605% as he successfully rounded up the gelding’s first experience of an overseas CDI competition. Fellow British rider Sarah Millis and Impressive Vdc (Charmeur x Krack C) placed 30th in the Grand Prix (65.087%) and 16th in the Grand Prix Special (64.191%).

In the Youth competitions, Britain was represented by junior medallist Mette Dahl (18), who presented her 2024 team partner Fidelio Van Het Bloemenhof in the CDI U25 classes, alongside India Hamilton-Burnet who made her overseas debut with Kissingdale (Lord Leatherdale x Santano) in the Young Rider classes. India concluded her week with a top ten placing in the Young Rider Freestyle competition, whilst Mette narrowly missed the top ten in both the Inter II and 16 – 25 Grand Prix classes.  

Results – top three and British placings

CDI3* Grand Prix 
1. Ingrid Klimke and Vayron, 73.609% (GER)
2. Semmieke Rothenberger and Farrington, 72.065% (GER)
3. Justin Verboomen and Zonik Plus, 71.739% (BEL)
6. Laura Tomlinson and Soegaards Bon Royal, 70.217% (GBR)
7. Charlotte Fry and Especial, 69.630% (GBR)
11. Anna Louise Ross and Habouche, 68.522% (GBR)
21. Alexander Harrison and Kickback, 67.174% (GBR)
30. Sarah Millis and Impressive Vdc, 65.087% (GBR)

CDI3* Grand Prix Special 
1. Justin Verboomen and Zonik Plus, 74.042% (BEL)
2. Semmieke Rothenberger and Flanell, 72.277% (GER)
3. Hans Peter Minderhoud and Glock's Taminiau, 71.893% (NED)
8. Charlotte Fry and Especial, 69.042% (GBR)
16. Sarah Millis and Impressive Vdc, 64.191% (GBR)

CDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle 
1. Semmieke Rothenberger and Farrington, 77.335% (GER)
2. Marie-José Calis and Limited Edition, 72.895 (NED)
3. Geert Jan Raateland and Gladiator, 72.755% (NED)
6. Laura Tomlinson and Soegaards Bon Royal, 71.965% (GBR)
7. Anna Louise Ross and Habouche, 71.830% (GBR)
13. Alexander Harrison and Kickback, 69.605 (GBR)

CDI1* Prix St Georges 
1. Adelinde Cornelissen and Luqiedo, 71.765% (NED)
2. Jessica Dunn and Dan It’s Carston, 71.568% (GBR)
3. Kris de Vries and Lexington, 71.030% (NED)
6. Laura Tomlinson and Full Moon II, 69.706% (GBR)
13. Laura Tomlinson and Forest Hill, 67.108% (GBR)
18. Jessica Dunn and Hokita, 65.490% (GBR)
22. Sarah Millis and Le Zorro BH, 63.873% (GBR)

CDI1* Intermediate I 
1. Adelinde Cornelissen and Luqiedo, 74.069% (NED)
2. Jessica Dunn and Dan It’s Carston, 70.686% (GBR)
3. Denise Nekeman and Kansas Sth, 69.216% (NED)
7. Laura Tomlinson and Full Moon II, 68.872% (GBR)
23. Sarah Millis and Le Zorro BH, 62.500% (GBR)
24. Jessica Dunn and Hokita, 60.343% (GBR)

CDI1* Intermediate I Freestyle 
1. Jessica Dunn and Dan It’s Carston, 75.942% (GBR)
2. Denise Nekeman and Kansas Sth, 74.425% (NED)
3. Adelinde Cornelissen and Luqiedo, 74.367% (NED)

CDIU25 Intermediate II 
1. Quinty Vossers and Inferno, 70.441% (NED)
2. Kim Noordijk and Joep, 69.412% (NED)
3. Rowena Weggelaar and Don Quichot, 69.069% (NED)
11. Mette Dahl and Fidelio van het Bloemenhof, 63.186% (GBR)

CDIU25 16 – 25 Grand Prix 
1. Daphne van Peperstraten and Greenpoint's Cupido, 70.171% (NED)
2. Quinty Vossers and Inferno, 70.17% (NED)
3. Rowena Weggelaar and Don Quichot, 69.530% (NED)
11. Mette Dahl and Fidelio van het Bloemenhof, 64.658% (GBR)

CDIY Young Rider Team Test
1. Micky Schelstraete and Venicia Old, 70.490% (NED)
2. Esmee Boers and Montreux, 69.117% (NED)
3. Lucie-Anouk Baumgürtel and Zinq Ferati FH, 68.970% (GER)
15. India Hamilton-Burnet and Kissingdale N&A, 63.873 (GBR)

CDIY Young Rider Individual Test
1. Micky Schelstraete and Venicia Old, 68.873% (NED)
2. Esmee Boers and Montreux, 68.873% (NED)
3. Sophie Luisa Duen and Goldberg, 68.725% (GER)
13. India Hamilton-Burnet and Kissingdale N&A, 64.264 (GBR)

CDIY Young Rider Freestyle Test
1. Isabelle Bergsma and Havita Omhg, 73.659% (NED)
2. Micky Schelstraete and Venicia Old, 72.800% (NED)
3. Lucie-Anouk Baumgürtel and Zinq Ferati FH, 71.992% (GER)
10. India Hamilton-Burnet and Kissingdale N&A, 67.609% (GBR)

FULL RESULTS