11 British riders accompanied by 17 of their equine counterparts crossed the waters to Spain for the Barcelona CDI3*, which is taking place in two installments over the next couple of weeks (18 – 30 Mar).
Competing at big tour level in the Grand Prix, with the hope of qualifying through to the Grand Prix Special, will be Henriette Andersen and her two rides, Warlocks Charm and Louis D’or. Barcelona marks the first competition of 2014 for both Warlocks Charm, an 11 year old gelding co-owned by Henriette and Jennifer Charlesworth who will be making his Grand Prix debut, and Paula Potter’s Louis D’or, a 17 year old Danish gelding who has been Henriette’s partner for over 12 years, experiencing great success at national and international level.
Spencer Wilton and international giant, Carl Hester, are also competing with their big tour horses over the course of the two-week competition. Spencer comes equipped with his ride since 2012, Jennifer Goodman’s Supernova, an 11 year old gelding by De Niro. Whereas Carl is riding Aram Gregory’s gelding by Donnerschwee, Dances with Wolves, in the second week of the CDI3* competition.
The Brits are well represented by the U25s in Spain with 15 year old Alice Edmonds and her own 18 year old gelding, Broadstone Jackanory. Alongside Alice in the Junior classes will be 17 year old Becky Edwards riding Margaret Cox’s Portuguese stallion, Ufano II. Both Alice and Becky will be competing in the Junior Team test tomorrow afternoon (20 Mar).
However, there is a flurry of British riders competing today (19 Mar) in the small tour classes. Starting proceedings for the Brits is Beverley Brightman with her own 14 year old Trakehner gelding, Gutsherr II. Competing in the Prix St Georges, Beverley will be jumping off Gutsherr after his test this afternoon to mount her second ride of the day and competition, the 17 year old Dutch mare, Hexagons Platina van Lange Wee, also owned by Beverley.
Both Henriette Andersen and Spencer Wilton have horses competing at small tour too. Henriette is riding her own nine year old gelding, Flavio, in today’s PSG; whereas Spencer will be looking to make his mark in the same class with his partner of four years, Carol Large and Mary Baker’s 11 year old gelding, Doogie.
A combination fairly new to the international scene but already making noise is Willow Kemp and her own gelding, 11 year old Dragon Heart. Coming sixth in the Inter I class at Roosendaal in December last year, the duo will be looking to build on their experience and start to move up the leaderboard.
Paul Friday, Nicola Gillespie Crolla and Kirsty Mepham are also competing with their small tour partners. Paul is riding Christine Trendell’s 11 year old gelding, Winston Bond, in today’s PSG along with List 1 judge Kirsty Mepham, who is competing with her newest ride, Anne Baldock and Rebecca Vinter’s Danish mare, Minain. Nicola Gillespie Crolla is looking to make an impact with her small tour ride and partner of four years, James Stewart’s Fearless.
Kirsty Mepham will also be competing in the medium tour classes with her second ride of the trip, Calderon. Owned by Anne Baldock and Rebecca Vinter, the 15 year old Danish stallion is no stranger to international competition, competing at CDIs with Kirsty since they became partners in 2009.
The Spanish CDI is the first trip abroad for our final combination, 26 year old Alice Hurley and her rides, Karen Bourdon’s seven year old stallion Deseado CCV and gelding Marques XC. Alice will be riding in the seven year old class in the CDN and, as both of her rides are Spanish bred, she’s also up for the COPA ANCCE.
For starter lists and results, click here.