Charlotte Dujardin. Photos: Kit Houghton/HPower.
British team riders Charlotte Dujardin, Michael Eilberg and Carl Hester delighted a full house at the evening performance of the Royal Windsor Horse Show with a one, two, three in the Grand Prix Freestyle.
Charlotte Dujardin and the stallion Uthopia comfortably topped the leaderboard with an energetic freestyle (83.675%). The Olympic Gold Medallist made full use of Uthopia’s powerful extended trot and passage and produced immaculate passage to piaffe transitions and bold riding to a Tom Hunt compilation of music from ‘How to Train Your Dragon’. The pair left the arena to huge applause from the 4,000 strong crowd.
“Tonight he felt fantastic,” said Dujardin. “I got everything I asked for and couldn’t have asked for more.”
Eilberg and Jon and Julie Deverill’s grey mare Half Moon Delphi (79.4%) produced a personal best score with a foot-tapping freestyle to ‘Shake It Like Shakira’, making best use of her huge passage and flying changes.
“With everything going on at the show she has been really lit up so I gave her a bit more time in the warm up and with more breaks to keep her relaxed which paid off and she went really well,” said Eilberg.
Hester and the huge Nip Tuck (75.725%) took third place with a well-managed freestyle – the same one he used at this venue in 2009 at the European Championships – to a compilation of Tom Jones music.
“It is a freestyle designed for horses starting in Grand Prix,” said Hester who acquired the 18hh gelding as a yearling. “I don’t think anyone thought he was particularly going to be anything but he is really starting to come into his own now. His attitude is priceless; he loves his work and is a pleasure to ride.”
British based Dane, Anders Dahl, took fourth with Wie Atlantico de Ymas (74.60%) with British Young rider Lara Griffith fifth on Andretti H (73.80%) the former ride of her trainer, Laura Bechtolsheimer.
Judge Andrew Gardner, President of the Ground Jury for the class, commented: “The top end was really top. Beautiful rides to lovely programmes and music against a beautiful backdrop – it really was a top class evening.”
It is the first time since 2002 that dressage has been included in the five day show that also includes international show jumping, endurance and driving. Hester, a winner of the Grand Prix here in 1996 and 1997 with Legal Democrat, said: “We need to add venues to the British calendar and it is great that Windsor has stepped back in especially with its great surfaces and packed stadiums. British riders don’t get the opportunity to prepare for Championships in this country so to have this venue is fantastic and long may it stay.”
Royal Windsor Spoils Shared between Two Nations
The second running of the Royal Windsor Endurance 120km CEI** competition resulted in a win shared by His Highness Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa of Bahrain and His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum of The United Arab Emirates. The two competitors are brothers-in-law, the former being married to a sister of the latter, and a joint win allowed family pride to be more greatly spread.
“We wanted to make both fathers happy – His Majesty King Hamad and my father-in-law His Highness Mohammed Bin Rashid – by crossing the line together,” said HH Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad, who was riding Onirik de Becheral. “He [Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, riding Yamamah] was four minutes ahead of me and when I caught him up we had a bit of a chat. We decide to grab hands and cross the line together.”
The start of the ride was blessed with warm early-morning sunshine as a field of 44 started out on the first loop. The course included a stretch on the turf in front of the stunning Ascot Racecourse Grandstand, before sweeping around the edge of Windsor Great Park. The three loops that followed took in iconic landmarks within the park, including Jubilee Statue, Prince Consort Statue and The Long Walk, and also treated riders to spectacular panoramic views of Berkshire and Windsor Castle.
The victorious Sheikhs had been part of the leading pack from the outset. They had broken away from the rest of the field quickly, but their stronghold became particularly evident by the second loop. Towards the end of the race, the leaders, who were predominantly the winners’ fellow countrymen, were averaging speeds of over 24km/h, with the winning average speed recorded as 24.615km/h.
“It was a great race for me, particularly as I was eliminated last year,” said Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad after finishing. “I loved the race, the track and the competition.”
Sheikh Hasher Bin Mohammed Thani Al Maktoum took third for the UAE with Satanik Larzac, while Bahrain claimed fourth and fifth courtesy of Yacoon Yousif Yacoob Al Hammadi (Plage El Milora) and Hood Ebrahim Ali Husain Bucherri (Sheer Arleta FL Ewalraid).
The highest placed Brit was Harry Ingram, who finished 12th on Bronze Nahdir with an average speed of 21.445km/h.
International Show Jumping Returns
The international Show Jumping got underway yesterday with the Land Rover Speed Stakes which saw Nick Skelton’s Olympic horse, Big Star, return to competition after an eighth month break due to injury. The London 2012 team gold medallist finished in ninth place after picking up 2 penalties, but the first three spots were all taken by other British riders. Headed by Britain’s no. 1 female rider Laura Renwick on Beluga, with John Whitaker and Uni Stop and Tim Stockdale in third riding Fresh Direct Kalico Bay.
Later on in the day the CSI3* Bahrain Pearl Stakes took place with overseas visitors taking the top spots. Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Al Sharbatly took the honours on Andrea, shaving just over two seconds off Shane Breen’s (IRE) time. Back in third was Laura Kraut, whilst Nick Skelton was the best of the Brits taking 5th on eight-year-old Aristio.
The dressage phase of Land Rover International Carriage Driving Grand Prix was completed yesterday, with the USA’s Chester Weber currently leading World Champion Boyd Exell (AUS) by a narrow margin. With Dutch teammates Theo Timmerman and Ysbrand Chardon snapping on their heels in third and fourth, there is everything to play for in the marathon phase of the competition which takes place around Home Park on Saturday.
Once again a feast of equine entertainment will take place throughout Saturday with performances carrying on into the evening, including the Musical Ride of The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and the Musical Drive of The King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery.
For tickets or to see a full schedule, visit www.rwhs.co.uk.
For more information or image requests please contact Hannah Grissell at Revolution Sports + Entertainment E: hannah@revolutionsports.co.uk T: 0207 592 1207
