GBR riders take Doha by storm

GBR braved the heat and topped leader boards, as four British superstars made the four thousand mile trek to Qatar to compete in Doha’s CDI5* (2 – 7 Mar 2015).

Dressage darling, Carl Hester stormed to victory in the grand prix with his own and Jane de la Mare’s 11-year-old Don Ruto gelding, Nip Tuck (pictured). With 21 combinations vying for the top spot and €10,000 prize, Carl faced stiff competition from the likes of Sweden’s Patrik Kittel, British-based Danish rider, Anders Dahl and fellow Brit, Henriette Andersen to name a few. However, his impressive score of 72.60% ensured his success and first place position on the leader board. Henriette, who was riding her own and Jennifer Charlesworth’s 12-year-old Jazz-sired gelding, Warlocks Charm scored 65.22% to place 17^th.

Keeping fans updated via his Facebook, Carl exclaimed: “Really exciting to have won the GP today at the amazing Al Shaqab in Doha! Although Barney spooked at every flower he was brave enough to wear the winner's rug in the lap of honour!”

Going through to the grand prix freestyle, Carl and Barney – as Nip Tuck is known at home – moved to the beat of their WEG music and danced their way to second place with a strong score of 76.72%, the pair missed out on first by less than one per cent (the freestyle title was taken by Patrik Kittel and his ride, Watermill Scandic on 77.25%). Henriette and Warlocks Charm – or, as his friends call him, Ted – contested in the grand prix special. Scoring a solid 66.96%, the pair grabbed second place – not too shabby for their first competition of 2015!

Two of dressage’s most successful Paralympians represented GBR in the para dressage. Lee Pearson, accompanied by his own 11-year-old KWPN gelding, Zion, won a trio of classes at the Arabian competition, echoing their performance in their last international competition at the World Equestrian Games.

Scoring an impressive 77.33%  in the grade Ib team test – with one judge giving the duo a huge score of 79.40% – Lee and Zion took their first title. Natasha Baker contested in the grade II team test with her own, Lorraine Baker and Christian Landolt’s 14-year-old Polish gelding, Cabral, coming second to the Netherland’s Rixt van der Horst with a solid 74.85%.

Lee and Zion went on to take the grade Ib individual top spot with 75.40% and the grade Ib freestyle title with a whopping 78.16%, showing that the future is bright for this dynamic duo. Natasha also racked up impressive marks in the grade II individual and freestyle classes. Scoring 72.23% in the individual test and 74.00% in the freestyle, the pair placed second and third, respectively.

Speaking through her Facebook, Natasha revealed how proud she was: “So, so pleased with my main man, could not have done more. Such a harmonious, lovely test that was performed spot on time to the music and a very close finish with top 3 on 74%. The Dutch judge loved it and had me in first with 76+% but unfortunately the other two didn't agree!! I ended up 3rd with 74.04%, my lowest freestyle mark and one of my best tests, but that's dressage!!”

For full results, click here.

Results

Class P2: Grade Ib team

1^st– Lee Pearson with Zion (GBR), 77.33%

Class P3: Grade II team

2^nd– Natasha Baker with Cabral (GBR), 74.85%

Class P7: Grade Ib individual

1^st– Lee Pearson with Zion (GBR), 75.40%

Class P8 Grade II individual

2^nd– Natasha Baker with Cabral (GBR), 72.23%

Class P12: Grade Ib freestyle

1^st– Lee Pearson with Zion (GBR), 78.16%

Class P13: Grade II freestyle

3^rd– Natasha Baker with Cabral (GBR), 74.00%

Class D1: Grand prix

1^st– Carl Hester with Nip Tuck (GBR), 72.60%

17^th– Henriette Andersen with Warlocks Charm (GBR), 65.22%

Class D2: Grand prix special

2^nd– Henriette Andersen with Warlocks Charm (GBR), 66.96%

Class D3: Grand prix freestyle

2^nd– Carl Hester with Nip Tuck (GBR), 76.72%