The third day of the NAF Five Star Hartpury Festival of Dressage saw the culmination of a CPEDI3* championship brimming with sparkling international performances.
The competition started in the International Arena with the FEI CPEDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle III. In a turnaround from yesterday, Great Britain’s Erin Orford and Dragons Fire took the win with 74.500%. Jessica McKenna - the in-form Hartpury University student and Davidoff 188 finished in second place on 71.794% and fellow Irish rider Katie Reilly and Impulz W finished third with 70.934%.
In the FEI CPEDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle II, American Fiona Howard and Jagger continued to wow the judges and took the win with a high score of 79.134%. Coming in a close second and surely wondering what else she could do to secure a win was Georgia Wilson and Sukara 78.387%. British rider Amanda Shirtcliffe and Hermione moved up the leaderboard taking third place with 72.047%.
The Grade I Freestyle saw a win for the London based Irish rider Michael Murphy and Cleverboy with a fabulous score of 80.020%. Continuing her good run of results and taking second was Laurentia Tan of Singapore and Hickstead on 78.334%. Flying the flag for the UK and taking third, Mari Durward-Akhurst and Athene Lindebjerg 75.567%.
In the FEI CPEDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle IV another American rider - Kate Shoemaker and Quiana had one 75.680%. Two of the British rider’s were second and third. Nicola Naylor and Humberto second with 73.160% and Isobelle Palmer and Je Suis adiva third with 72.820%.
The final FEI CPEDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle was the grade V, contested by a small field of just three riders from Great Britain and one from Ireland. Great Britain dominated the class with Sophie Wells repeating her win of yesterday but this time on her other horse, LJT Egebjerggards Samoa with 74.835%. Coming in a close second and also flying the flag for GBR was Charlotte Cundall with 74.525%. Fellow Brit and Hartpury graduate, Hope Hayward and Cadeau K came third with 71.030%.
The Premier League took place once again in the indoor Hartpury Arena starting the day with the Saracen Horse Feeds FEI Intermediate 1 Q. A large field came forward to compete for the prizes. Those watching on had to wait right until the end of the class to see the winning test. This was performed by Michael Eilberg riding Nicky Hannan’s MSJ Encore with 72.745%. Nikki Barker and Sara Lucas’s Iwan took second 71.128% and Jessica Dunn riding Jennifer Whittaker’s Hokita came third 70.784%
The Elite Stallions Young Horse Prix St George Qualifier was the final class in the Hartpury Arena. This championship has become an important part of the NAF Five Star Hartpury Festival of Dressage and has seen some famous combinations take top honours en route to global glory. Sadie Smith with her own mare Swanmore Dantina qualified with the best score - 77.451%. Coming second was the Hartpury alum Robert Barker with Christine Kirk’s Herbstrot 72.451% and a very close third Spencer Wilton and Samantha Britton’s Woodcroft Django Mon Ami.
An impressive field also came forward for the LeMieux Grand Prix Q. Carl Hester and Fame XX rode his test half way through the class and led from then until the end with 77.391%. Second was Andrew Gould and Indigro with 73.630% and third Tom Goode and Dior III 70.478%.
The day ended with a lively horse inspection for the CDI1* and CDI3* overseen by FEI Veterinary Delegate Liam Kearns and CDI President of the Ground Jury Stephen Clarke. Two horses were held, with Emma Jablonski’s Higgens Van de Uilenhoek being accepted on representing. Paul Friday’s Hawtins Horatio was withdrawn from the holding box.
The action continues tomorrow, Friday 7 July.
