Hester hailed at Hickstead CDIO3*

Team GBR’s Carl Hester took the top title at the Dressage at Hickstead hosted CDIO3* competition in West Sussex. After placing first and second in the Nations Cup grand prix with Jane Green’s 13-year-old German stallion, Fine Time 13 and Aram Gregory’s 12-year-old Donnerschwee-sired gelding, Dances With Wolves, Carl continued his fantastic run of form by entering Dances With Wolves (pictured) in his first ever grand prix freestyle – and winning it.

With their huge score of 77.42% - over three percent above Sweden’s Mads Hendelio Witz and Weihenstephane who took second place – it’s great news for both Carl and Team GBR as Golly, as Dances with Wolves is known at home, was recently named reserve for the upcoming World Equestrian Games in August. The dynamic duo also took the grand prix special title with a strong score of 71.92% with Carl’s other ride, Fine Time 13, claiming fifth place on their 70.96% mark.

“Delighted with both horse’s results at Hickstead,” exclaimed Carl via his Facebook. “So lucky to have a great back up for WEG. Golly won his first kur with 77%, a big relief at he is not a music fan!”

Trainer and international rider, Sarah Millis had reason to celebrate when she topped the leader board in the inter I with her own ten year old chestnut gelding out of Rubinia, Furst Rubin. Sarah and ‘Rubin’ lead the way in an exciting competition that saw the duo gain a score of 69.73%, just 0.05% above second placed – and fellow Brit – Maria Eilberg with Penny Pollard and Hermione Black’s 11-year-old Royal Diamond stallion, Royal Concert (69.68%).

Kicking the competition off in fine style was UK-based Danish rider Anders Dahl and his wife, Fiona Bigwood’s ten-year-old US-bred gelding, Selten HW. Newly-wed Anders and his 17hh partner stole the prix st georges title with an impressive 76.42%. GBR rider Charlie Hutton and Charlotte Dunkerton’s 12-year-old Diamond Hit gelding, Douglas IV took third with 71.94%, followed closely by fourth placed Michael Eilberg with Julie Deverill’s ten year old Dimaggio-sired mare, Half Moon Dynasty (71.73%).

17-year-old Lucy Pincus came top of the youngsters, taking the title in the junior team test with her score of 68.42%. Riding her father, David Pincus’s eight year old Don Schufro gelding, Sheepcote Don Calisto, the pair have experienced a great run of form this year with a Charles Owen Advanced Medium Winter Championship title included in their 2014 accolades.

The duo also posted a score of 67.50% in the junior individual test, placing them second under class winners and Spanish representatives Anna Comas Margarit and Fuerstenau who beat the British twosome by just 0.08%. Moving on to the junior freestyle test, Lucy and her partner of three years scored a solid 66.62%, landing them in fourth place. British riders Ruth Hole with Rachel Murray’s 11-year-old Gribaldi-sired gelding, Winnetou G.E.P. and Emily Hedger riding her own 18-year-old Donnerschlag gelding, O’Donner, placed second and third respectively (68.70% and 68.07%). It was Spain’s Jesus Alphonso Ramirez Benitez on Dehli who took first with their mark of 69.07%

For full results, click here.

Picture courtesy of Spidge Event Photography. For pictures of the full Hickstead CDIO3* event, click here.

Class 1: CDIO Prix St Georges

1^st Anders Dahl and Selten HW (DEN), 76.42%

3^rd Charlie Hutton and Douglas IV (GBR), 71.94%

4^th Michael Eilberg and Half Moon Dynasty (GBR), 71.73%

5^th Matt Frost and AMD Don Rosso II (GBR), 71.52%

6^th Sarah Millis and Furst Rubin (GBR), 70.57%

7^th Maria Griffin and DJ (GBR), 69.94%

Class 7: Young Rider Team Test

1^st Victoria Appleyard and Sir Willy (SWE), 68.99%

2^nd Rebecca Edwards and Ufano (GBR), 68.50%

3^rd Philippa Corbett and Saphier V. H. Overwater (GBR) 66.49%

5^th Robyn Smith and Foold UZ (GBR), 65.88%

6^th Fiona Brennan and Lou Wega (GBR), 65.57%

7^th Olivia Towers and Donovan ZF (GBR), 65.26%

9^th Georgia Davis and Richmans Manta (GBR), 64.60%

Class 10: Junior Team Test

1^st Lucy Pincus and Sheepcote Don Calisto (GBR), 68.42%

4^th Ruth Hole and Winnetou G.E.P. (GBR), 64.05%

6^th Emily Hedger and O’Donner (GBR), 63.28%

7^th Jessica Wade and Lord Nelson (GBR), 63.24%

8^th Chloe Wren and Luderitz (GBR), 62.83%

9^th Ellen McCarthy and Casual (GBR), 60.54%

10^th Joanna Thurman-Baker and San Piko (GBR), 57.79%

Class 2: Intermediare I

1^st Sarah Millis and Furst Rubin (GBR), 69.73%

2^nd Maria Eilberg and Royal Concert (GBR), 69.68%

6^th Beverley Brightman and Gutsherr II, 66.55%

7^th Beverley Brightman and Hexagons Platina van Lange Wee (GBR), 65.92%

Class 8: Young Rider Individual Test

1^st Rebecca Edwards and Ufano (GBR), 69.03%

2^nd Fiona Brennan and Lou Wega (GBR), 68.77%

3^rd Olivia Towers and Donovan ZF (GBR), 67.80%

6^th Shannon Rule and Disco Diamond (GBR), 65.74%

7^th Georgia Davis and Richmans Manta (GBR), 65.65%

8^th Philippa Corbett and Saphier V.H. Overwater (GBR), 65.13%

Class 11: Junior Individual Test

1^st Anna Comas Margarit and Fuerstenau (ESP), 67.58%

2^nd Lucy Pincus and Sheepcote Don Calisto (GBR), 67.50%

3^rd Ruth Hole and Winnetou G.E.P. (GBR), 66.66%

5^th Joanna Thurman-Baker and San Piko (GBR), 65.83%

7^th Ellen McCarthy and Casual (GBR), 65.00%

8^th Emily Hedger and O’Donner (GBR), 64.34%

9^th Chloe Wren and Luderitz (GBR), 63.50%

10^th Jessica Wade and Lord Nelson (GBR)

Class 3: Intermediare Freestyle

1^st Anders Dahl and Selten HW (DEN), 78.32%

2^nd Charlie Hutton and Douglas IV (GBR), 74.05%

3^rd Michael Eilberg and Half Moon Dynasty (GBR), 74.02%

4^th Maria Griffin and DJ (GBR), 69.57%

5^th Matt Hicks and Excaliber (GBR), 69.25%

6^th Matt Frost and AMD Don Rosso II (GBR), 69.22%

7^th Alice Oppenheimer and Boadicia (GBR), 69.15%

9^th Kirsty Mepham and Minain (GBR), 66.95%

Class 5: Grand Prix Special

1^st Carl Hester and Dances With Wolves (GBR), 71.92%

5^th Carl Hester and Fine Time 13 (GBR), 70.61%

Class 6: Grand Prix Freestyle

1^st Carl Hester and Dances With Wolves (GBR), 77.42%

Class 9: Young Rider Freestyle

1^st Victoria Appleyard and Sir Willy (SWE), 73.47%

2^nd Rebecca Edwards and Ufano (GBR), 72.25%

3^rd Olivia Towers and Donovan ZF (GBR), 68.25%

4^th Fiona Brennan and Lou Wega (GBR), 67.67%

5^th Robyn Smith and Foold UZ (GBR), 67.35%

6^th Georgia Davis and Richmans Manta (GBR), 66.62%

7^th Philippa Corbett and Saphier V.H. Overwater (GBR), 64.87%

8^th Amy Schiessl and Mr Mercury (GBR), 64.85%

Class 12: Junior Freestyle

1^st Jesus Alphonso Ramirez Benitez and Dehli (ESP), 69.07%

2^nd Ruth Hole and Winnetou G.E.P. (GBR), 68.70%

3^rd Emily Hedger and O’Donner (GBR), 68.07%

4^th Lucy Pincus and Sheepcote Don Calisto (GBR), 66.62%

5^th Joanna Thurman-Baker and San Piko (GBR), 65.80%

7^th Jessica Wade and Lord Nelson (GBR), 65.55%

8^th Chloe Wren and Luderitz (GBR), 63.40%

10^th Ellen McCarthy and Casual (GBR), 60.35%