Four British horse and rider combinations flew to Qatar for the Doha CDI5* held at the Al Shaqab equestrian centre (2 – 4 March 2017).
Olympic Team Silver medallist Spencer Wilton and Jen Goodman’s Supernova (De Niro x Weltmeyer) had the ride of their lives in the Grand Prix Special. They earned a personal best of 76.60%, more than seven percent ahead of second-placed Bernadette Brune of Germany with her consistent partner, Spirit of Age OLD.
Spencer had ridden a tactful Grand Prix the previous day, ‘Neville’ looking a little nervous in the astonishingly impressive Al Shaqab arena, but they hit their stride for the Special. The 14-year-old gelding (pictured last year) owned by Jen Goodman is a powerhouse of elastic energy and his highlight, the passage, notched up no fewer than 12 nines from the judges.
Spencer’s team mate in Rio, Carl Hester, rode two beautiful tests aboard Coral Ingham’s charming chestnut, Wanadoo (Wolkenstein II x Cavalier). The pair placed sixth in a high class Grand Prix with 71.92% and again impressed with their Freestyle, which was awarded 75.32% for seventh.
Hayley Watson-Greaves and Rubins Nite produced some super work in the Grand Prix and were running on plus-70% until an expensive mistake in the one-tempis. This resulted in a final score of 67.94%. Hayley and ‘Squeaks’, who were placed fifth at Olympia CDI-W in December, certainly have a flair for freestyle, but at this show, a handful of blips were costly; “[It was a] Great end to a great show, the good bits felt amazing, a few mistakes kept our score below par, but to finish top ten (ninth) in a class of this calibre, I'm over the moon,” said Hayley via her Facebook page.
British Para star Lee Pearson impressed in the CPEDI Grade II classes with his eight-year-old mare, Styletta. The pair scored 71.57% in the Team and 70.82% in the Individual. Austrian rider Pepo Puch and his Rio partner, Fontainenoir, took both by a substantial margin though Lee gained ground in the Freestyle with a whopping 76.00%.
CDI5* Grand Prix
1st - Isabell Werth with Don Johnson, 76.88% (GER)
6th – Carl Hester with Wanadoo, 71.92% (GBR)
7th – Spencer Wilton with Supernova, 71.68% (GBR)
15th – Hayley Watson-Greaves with Rubins Nite, 67.94% (GBR)
CDI5* Grand Prix Special
1st – Spencer Wilton with Supernova, 76.60% (GBR)
2nd – Bernadette Brune with Spirit of Age OLD, 69.23% (GER)
CDI5* Grand Prix Freestyle
1st – Isabell Werth with Don Johnson, 81.27% (GER)
7th – Carl Hester with Wanadoo, 75.32% (GBR)
9th - Hayley Watson-Greaves with Rubins Nite, 71.67% (GBR
CPEDI3* Grade II Team Test
1st - Pepo Puch with Fontainenoir, 76.26% (AUT)
2nd - Lee Pearson with Styletta, 71.57% (GBR)
CPEDI3* Grade II Individual Test
1st - Pepo Puch with Fontainenoir, 75.63% (AUT)
2nd - Lee Pearson with Styletta, 70.82% (GBR)
CPEDI3* Grade II Freestyle
1st – Pepo Puch with Fontainenoir, 76.88% (AUT)
2nd – Lee Pearson with Styletta, 76.00% (GBR)
For full results click here.
You can watch all the classes in their entirety here.
Photo credit: Kevin Sparrow