Carl Hester and his up-and-coming grand prix star Nip Tuck took their performances to a new level at the Hartpury CDI3* in Gloucestershire last week, 9-13 July 2014.
Carl and Nip Tuck (pictured), the towering 10-year-old he co-owns with Jane de la Mare, rode a confident grand prix to score 74.60%, and their first international big tour victory. The Dutch-bred son of Don Ruto, known fondly as ‘Barney’ at home, is clearly on the same wavelength as his rider, and his energy flowed - accomplishing a powerful, composed test to belie his low mileage.
The attractive bay, who made his grand prix debut just a few short months ago, is on an uphill trajectory and looking every inch an interesting international horse.
Danish rider Anders Dahl, who’s based in the UK, earned second place with his fiancée Fiona Bigwood’s former ride Wie Atlantico De Ymas. The pair scored 69.45% ahead of third-placed Brit Henriette Andersen with her own and Jennifer Charlesworth’s Warlocks Charm, an 11-year-old by Jazz. The British combination scored 68.72%.
Carl and Barney went on to compete Sunday and yet again they came up with the goods. The pair scored 73.52% in only the horse’s second ever grand prix special. Again, the horse looked very able, operating well throughout the challenging piaffe-passage elements of the test. The runners-up spot went to Katherine Bateson Chandler and Wellnetta for the USA who scored 66.45%.
The grand prix freestyle was headed by Anders Dahl and the reliable Wie Atlantico De Ymas. They scored 73.52% ahead of Hannah Biggs’ and Weltzin (69.77%).
The small tour was dominated by Anders Dahl and the captivating Selten HW, fiancée Fiona’s outstanding ten-year-old son of Sandro Hit. Anders and Selten won the prix st georges with a resounding 74.31%, the inter I with 74% and the inter I freestyle with 78%.
Results
Grand Prix
1st Carl Hester and Nip Tuck (GBR), 74.60%
2nd Anders Dahl and Wie Atlantico De Ymas (DEN), 69.56%
3rd Henriette Andersen and Warlocks Charm (GBR), 68.72%
Grand Prix Special
1st Carl Hester and Nip Tuck (GBR), 72.45%
2nd Katherine Bateson Chandler and Wellnetta (USA), 66.15%
3rd Lesley Peyton-Gilbert and Garuda K (GBR), 66.02%
Grand Prix Freestyle
1st Anders Dahl and Wie Atlantico De Ymas (DEN), 73.52%
2nd Hannah Biggs and Weltzin (GBR), 69.77%
3rd Roland Tong and Pompidou (IRL), 69.75%
Prix St Georges
1st Anders Dahl and Selten HW (DEN), 74.31%
2nd Gareth Hughes and Samba Hit III (GBR), 72.05%
3rd Maria Eilberg and Royal Concert (GBR), 70.15%
Intermediate I
1st Anders Dahl and Selten HW (DEN), 74.00%
2nd Charlie Hutton and Douglas IV (GBR), 72.78%
3rd Vanessa Way and Don Archie (NZL), 69.68%
Intermediate I Freestyle
1st Anders Dahl and Selten HW (DEN), 78.00%
2nd Charlie Hutton and Douglas IV (GBR), 75.60%
3rd Gareth Hughes and Samba Hit III (GBR), 73.90%
For full results click here