Spencer and Supernova steal the Special

Following their success during the first week of Barcelona’s CDI (the 3*), Spencer Wilton and Jennifer Goodman’s Supernova II upped the ante for the CDI4* (25 – 30 Mar) and devoured the competition once more.

Spencer and the 11-year old De Niro gelding began proceedings in the Grand Prix, knocking up a score of 66.59% which placed them 19^th, providing a qualification through to the Grand Prix Special on the final day of the competition. The days leading up to the final class gave the duo time to address any issues noted from their Grand Prix test, enabling them to attack the Special with a vengeance. Notching up an impressive score of 70.94%, Spencer and the Grand Prix newbie topped the leaderboard – a fantastic achievement, especially considering Barcelona marked their first ever international big tour appearance together.

Fresh from Addington’s CDI earlier in the week (21 – 23 Mar), Olympian Carl Hester made the trek over to Barcelona with one of his younger Grand Prix rides, Aram Gregory’s 12-year old Oldenburg gelding, Dances with Wolves. Coming second in Grand Prix with 71.51%, Carl also opted to ride in the Special where they scored a strong 70.78%, narrowly missing out on first place to fellow GBR rider, Spencer.

Henriette Andersen and her partner of 12 years, Paula Potter’s 17-year old Danish gelding, Louis D’Or, also made an appearance in the Grand Prix, placing 17^th with a score of 66.94%. Moving on to the Special, the pair attained 64.59% which put them in 13^th. Also competing in the small tour with her own nine year old gelding, Flavio, the pair made Britain proud with their 71.29% score in the Prix St Georges, placing them third and just under Dutch combination, Hans Peter Minderhoud and Zanardi (74.61%), and Danish duo Anders Dahl and Selten HW (75.53%).

The British U21s were well represented by the Juniors at Barcelona. 17-year old Becky Edwards, accompanied by Dr Margaret Cox’s 13-year old Portuguese stallion, Ufano II, attacked the competition in the Junior Team test achieving a solid score of 68.69% and placing them third on the leaderboard. In the same class, Alice Edmonds and her own 18-year old British gelding, Broadstone Jackanory, scored 64.87%, landing them in eleventh place.

In the Individual test, both combinations had settled in at the CDI4*, which reflected in the scores. Becky and Ufano grabbed fourth with 67.81% followed by a mark of 65.83% in the Freestyle. Alice and Broadstone Jackanory weren’t far behind in the Individual in sixth place with their mark of 67.24%, the pair also achieved 65.96% in the Freestyle – a great accomplishment when considering it’s their first time competing on international soil together!

“We had a great show and got on really well with Becky and her family”, exclaimed Alice’s mum, Helen, whilst on their way back from Barcelona. “We also had a lot of support from all the senior riders, who were really kind to the girls – it’s not every day that you train in the same arena as Carl, Spencer, Edward [Gal] and Hans Peter [Minderhoud]!”

Spencer and his second ride of the competition, Mary Baker and Carol Large’s 11-year old KWPN gelding, Doogie, worked well in the PSG coming sixth with a score of 69.26%. Seventh place went to fellow Brit Paul Friday and his small tour partner, Christine Trendell’s 11-year old Winston Bond, who racked up a strong score of 68.50% and 26-year old, Willow Kemp, also landed in the PSG top ten riding her own German gelding, Dragon Heart, with a mark of 67.86%.

Other British riders placed in the PSG include Nicola Gillespie Crolla and James Stewart’s 14-year old gelding, Fearless, who finished 27^th in the class on 61.40% and Kirsty Mepham with Rebecca Vinter and Anne Baldock’s Danish mare, Minain, who scored 61.03% placing them 30^th.

The Intermediate I marked great success for Henriette and Flavio, who notched up a strong score of 72.24% comfortably placing them in second under Danish representatives Anders Dahl and Selten HW (77.29%). Spencer and Doogie continued their run of good form with 70.95%, placing them fourth, followed by Willow and Dragon Heart in fifth (68.16%). Nicola Gillespie Crolla and Fearless moved up the leaderboard in this class to ninth with 65.63% and Kirsty Mepham, riding Minain, scored 63.95 landing them in twelfth.

Paul Friday was GBR’s sole representative in the Intermediate I Freestyle who, together with his Dutch counterpart Winston Bond, impressed the judges and attained a score of 71.78%, putting them in third.

Kirsty Mepham and her second ride of the week, middle tour partner Calderon – owned by Sally Hardwick – worked well in the Intermediate classes, achieving 63.86% in the Intermediate A and 67.46% in the Intermediate B.

Results of British riders

Prix St. Georges

3^rd– Henriette Andersen and Flavio, 71.29%

6^th– Spencer Wilton and Doogie, 69.26%

7^th– Paul Friday and Winston Bond, 68.50%

8^th– Willow Kemp and Dragon Heart, 67.87%

27^th– Nicola Gillespie Crolla and Fearless, 61.40%

30^th– Kirsty Mepham and Minain, 61.03%

Clasica 1

15^th– Alice Hurley and Deseado CCV, 61.56%

Clasica 2

7^th– Alice Hurley and Deseado CCV, 66.57%

Junior Team test

3^rd– Becky Edwards and Ufano II, 68.69%

11^th– Alice Edmonds and Broadstone Jackanory, 64.87%

Grand Prix

2^nd– Carl Hester and Dances with Wolves, 71.51%

17^th– Henriette Andersen and Louis D’Or, 66.94%

19^th– Spencer Wilton and Supernova II, 66.59%

Intermediate I

2^nd– Henriette Andersen and Flavio, 72.24%

4^th– Spencer Wilton and Doogie, 70.95%

5^th– Willow Kemp and Dragon Heart, 68.16%

9^th– Nicola Gillespie Crolla and Fearless, 65.63%

12^th– Kirsty Mepham and Minain, 63.95%

Intermediate A

6^th– Kirsty Mepham and Calderon, 63.86%

Intermediate I Freestyle

3^rd– Paul Friday and Winston Bond, 71.78%

Junior Individual test

4^th– Becky Edwards and Ufano II, 67.81%

6^th– Alice Edmonds and Broadstone Jackanory, 67.24%

Grand Prix Special

1^st– Spencer Wilton and Supernova II, 70.94%

2^nd– Carl Hester and Dances with Wolves, 70.78%

13^th– Henriette Andersen and Louis D’Or, 64.59%

Junior Freestyle

9^th– Alice Edmonds and Broadstone Jackanory, 65.96%

10^th– Becky Edwards and Ufano II, 65.83%

Intermediate B

4^th– Kirsty Mepham and Calderon, 67.46%

For full results, click here.