Compiègne, France – May 19, 2019 – The popular dressage venue in Compiègne, France set the stage for the second leg of the FEI Dressage Nations Cup. Seven teams of four horse-and-rider combinations and three individual riders competed during the CDIO5* Grand Prix before riders moved onto either the Grand Prix Special or the Grand Prix Freestyle.
On the opening day of competing in the Grand Prix, 31 riders appeared before the five officiating judges, to vie for the lead for provisional team results. The team from Great Britain, which consisted of Carl Hester, Charlotte Fry, Richard Davison and Gareth Hughes, took the lead with 14 points, ahead of Sweden with 17 points and the United States with 36 points.
Individually, Sweden’s Patrick Kittel and Well Done of the CMF Roche impressed the judges and spectators by obtaining the score of 77.283%, and was followed by two other stars, Britain’s Carl Hester on Hawtins Delocato (76.348%) and Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg and Damsey FRH (75.957%).
“My mare was beautiful — I think it was her best Grand Prix,” Kittel said. “She went perfectly, very calm, totally connected with me, she made no real mistake. Tomorrow, I will take part in the Grand Prix Special because she was a little stressed because of the music in Hagen and I prefer to continue to train her calmly and not to take any risk.”
Spectators wondered if Great Britain would be able to maintain their lead following the second day of competition with a top Swedish team nipping at their heels. The four riders from across the Channel made every effort to maintain their position and they indeed rode away with the Nations Cup victory, ahead of Sweden and the United States.
In the CDIO5* Grand Prix Special, Great Britain’s Hughes and Classic Briolinca won with a 77.17%, with Kittel riding into second place with a 75.638% and his teammate, Hester, following in third with a 75.319%.
Emmelie Scholtens of the Netherlands was victorious in the CDIO5* Grand Prix Freestyle aboard Desperado with an impressive 81.585%. Langehanenberg, who is coming off a third-place finish at the FEI World Cup Finals in Gothenburg, Sweden, earned an 80.775% to finish in second and the United States, Shelly Francis placed third on Danilo with a 79.61%.
Overall, the team from the U.S. faired well in France with their third-place podium finish. Riding as the anchor, Francis and Danilo, led the team throughout the weekend, earning a 71.478% for an individual top-10 placing in the Grand Prix before their third-place finish in the Freestyle. Katherine Bateson-Chandler and Alcazar produced a solid Grand Prix test earning a score of 70.196% on the first day of competition and later showcased lovely work in the extended trot during the Special – but an unfortunate mistake in the temp changes to earn a 70.043%. Heather Blitz and Semper Fidelis earned a 67.435% in the Grand Prix and a 69.83% in the Freestyle. Nick Wagman and Don John received a 69.783% in the Grand Prix and in the Special, they earned a personal best of 71.404%.
Results: FEI Nations Cup CDIO5* Compiègne Overall Team
1. Great Britain – 24 pts (Richard Davison, Carl Fry, Carl Hester, Gareth Hughes)
2. Sweden – 27 pts (Mads Hendeliowitz, Patrik Kittel, Antonia Ramel, Juliette Ramel)
3. United States – 51 pts (Katherine Bateson Chandler, Heather Blitz, Shelly Francis, Nick Wagman)
4. Netherlands – 55 pts (Danielle Heijkoop, Emmelie Scholtens, Patrick van der Meer, Tommie Visser)
5. France – 74 pts (Morgan Barbancon, Stephanie Brieussel, Anne-Sophie Serre, Arnaud Serre)
6. Switzerland – 75 pts (Carla Aeberhard, Caroline Hacki, Antonella Joannou, Birgit Wientzek Pläge)
7. Belgium – 106 pts (Isabelle Cool, Simon Missiaen, Laurence Roos, Jorinde Verwimp)
Results: CDIO5* Grand Prix
Place / Rider / Country / Horse / Total Score
1. Patrik Kittel / SWE / Well Done De La Roche CMF / 77.283
2. Carl Hester / GBR / Hawtins Delicato / 76.348
3. Helen Langehanenberg / GER / Damsey FRH / 75.957
4. Emmelie Scholtens / NED / Desperado / 74.804
5. Gareth Hughes / GBR / Classic Briolinca / 74.696
6. Antonia Ramel / SWE / Brother De Jeu / 73.304
7. Richard Davison / GBR / Bubblingh / 72.674
8. Morgan Barbanãon / FRA / Sir Donnerhall II OLD / 71.783
9. Shelly Francis / USA / Danilo / 71.478
10. Juliette Ramel / SWE / Wall Street JV / 71.283
Results: CDIO5* Grand Prix Special
Place / Rider / Country / Horse / Total Score
1. Gareth Hughes / GBR / Classic Briolinca / 77.170
2. Patrik Kittel / SWE / Well Done De La Roche CMF / 75.638
3. Carl Hester / GBR / Hawtins Delicato / 75.319
4. Juliette Ramel / SWE / Wall Street JV / 71.872
5. Nick Wagman / USA / Don John / 71.404
6. Birgit Wientzek Plãge / SUI / Robinvale / 70.809
7. Katherine Bateson Chandler / USA / Alcazar / 70.021
8. Danielle Heijkoop / NED / Badari / 69.702
9. Tommie Visser / NED / Chuppy Checker CL / 69.681
10. Carla Aeberhard / SUI / Delioh Von Buchmatt CH / 68.468
Results: CDIO5* Grand Prix Freestyle
Place / Rider / Country / Horse / Total Score
1. Emmelie Scholtens / NED / Desperado / 81.585
2. Helen Langehanenberg / GER / Damsey FRH / 80.775
3. Shelly Francis / USA / Danilo / 79.610
4. Antonia Ramel / SWE / Brother De Jeu / 78.300
5. Morgan Barbanãon / FRA / Sir Donnerhall II OLD / 76.240
6. Richard Davison / GBR / Bubblingh / 75.670
7. Patrick Van Der Meer / NED / Zippo / 74.960
8. Charlotte Fry / GBR / Dark Legend / 72.015
9. Antonella Joannou / SUI / Dandy De La Roche CMF CH / 71.825
10. Carlos Pinto / POR / La Gesse Sultao Menezes / 71.120