British para dressage rider, Heather Bennett, dominated the grade III category at Moorsele CPEDI*** in Belgium (24 – 27 April), winning two out of the three classes she entered. Competing away from British soil for the first time, Heather and her own ten year old Dutch mare, Zavailantika, started out strong in the grade III team test, posting an impressive score of 69.07% and stealing second place.
A former international show jumper, the BEF Excel Talent Programme rider discovered para dressage after a fall from her horse left Heather with limited sensation and weakness in her hands and legs, alongside limited mobility in her neck. However, unable to stay away from equestrianism, Heather’s hard work, determination and competitiveness has seen her forge a successful competition career as a para dressage rider.
By day two of the Belgian CPEDI, the pair had clearly become accustomed to international competition as they stormed the grade III individual test, scoring a solid 69.43% to take first place. Bringing out the big guns for their final class at Moorsele, Heather and Zavailantika rode to victory once more, claiming first place in the grade III freestyle with a whopping 73.85%.
Heather’s GBR team mates, grade IV riders Nicola Naylor and Tamsin Addison, also had a successful week. Riding her own eight year old stallion, Klein Roderijs Cocktail, Nicola and her equine counterpart attacked the grade IV team test, scoring a strong 66.04% and claiming eighth place. Riding in the same class, BEF Talent Excel rider Tamsin Addison and her own 11-year-old Don Primero gelding, Don Proviano, notched up a mark of 64.09% and settled in 12th place.
In the grade IV individual test, Nicola posted a score of 65.69% securing 11th place, whilst Tamsin and Don Proviano clutched 14th with their mark of 63.85%.
The top three team and individual test scores across all grades for each country were combined to establish the team placings. Scoring a solid 398.20%, Great Britain claimed eighth place; a great achievement for the three girls representing Team GBR at Moorsele.
For a full list of results, click here.
Team test – grade III
2nd– Heather Bennett with Zavailantika, 69.07%
Team test – grade IV
8th– Nicola Naylor with Klein Roderijs Cocktail, 66.04%
12th– Tamsin Addison with Don Proviano, 64.09%
Individual test – grade III
1st– Heather Bennett with Zavailantika, 69.43%
Individual test – grade IV
11th– Nicola Naylor with Klein Roderijs Cocktail, 65.69%
14th– Tamsin Addison with Don Proviano, 63.85%
Team result
8th– Great Britain, 398.20%
Freestyle test – grade III
1st– Heather Bennett with Zavailantika, 73.85%