Britain’s European Pony team gold medallist Rebecca Bell (16) played a starring role last month at the Vienna CDIP (17-20 September 2015) in her swansong as a pony rider. Rebecca and Valido’s Sunshine, the mare she partnered when helping Great Britain to historic team gold this year, celebrated the end of their partnership in the best of style achieving a win and two seconds, all with personal best scores.
The CDIP was an invitational event organised under the umbrella of the Longines Global Champions Tour at the Vienna Masters show in the Austrian capital. Rebecca was one of seven pony riders to receive an invitation from the Ahorner family to compete at the prestigious show, marking the end of her illustrious pony career with ‘Sunny’, her teammate of six years.
On the first day of competition, the 12-year-old mare and her talented young rider rode the test of their lives winning the pony team test. They scored a resounding 73.12%, taking them ahead of runners-up for Germany, Raphael Netz and Schierensees Don’t Do. Then in a twist of fate the celebrations that night were cut somewhat short as drama unfolded in the temporary stables. Following two days of hot weather, high winds picked up blowing the temporary stable block off its foundations and the ponies were evacuated to a yard nearby.
The efficient team at the slick show was soon on the scene and acted fast to get the equine athletes back on site and safely housed in the shortest possible time. Praising them, Rebecca’s mother Caroline said: “The organisers were unbelievable. They repositioned the stables and re-welded the roof structures overnight and the ponies were back in by 9am. They were amazing, also rescheduling the start of the individual test to 6.30pm.”
With the events of the night before behind them, the pony riders now faced the experience of riding in front of a capacity evening crowd in the stupendous setting of the Rathausplatz arena. Rebecca and ‘Sunny’ relished this opportunity showing what they’re made of by posting an emphatic 73.25%, though this time it was the German combination of Raphael and Schierensees Don’t Do who had the edge with their super score of 73.74%.
After a well-earned rest day came Sunday’s freestyle. Rebecca and Sunny gave an expressive performance to their tried and tested Tom Farnon produced freestyle using the emotive soundtrack from the animated film Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron. 74.37% was their score – another PB – putting them in a fabulous second spot behind Raphael. It was an emotional moment for Rebecca and a fitting way to wrap up her six year partnership with the wonderful Valido’s Sunshine
“I arrived home yesterday after the most incredible week competing with Sunny at our final show together, the Vienna Masters,” said Rebecca via her Facebook page. “To compete at such a venue alongside the Global Champions Tour, in which the top show jump riders of the world were competing and to be congratulated by some of my childhood show jump idols was an experience of a lifetime and I'm so grateful to the Ahorner family for the invite to compete. Sunny and I had an amazing week, winning a class and placing 2nd twice with personal best scores in every class. I am so proud of my gorgeous girl and this was such a high to go out on.”
Photo credit: Michael Graf
FEI Pony Team Test
1. Rebecca Bell and Valido’s Sunshine (GBR), 73.120%
2. Raphael Netz and Schierensees Don’t Do (GER), 72.094%
3. Lana Raumanns and Den Ostriks Dailan (GER), 72.093%
FEI Pony Individual Test
1. Raphael Netz and Schierensees Don’t Do (GER), 73.740%
2. Rebecca Bell and Valido’s Sunshine (GBR), 73.252%
3. Lana Raumanns and Den Ostriks Dailan (GER), 71.992%
FEI Pony Freestyle
1. Raphael Netz and Schierensees Don’t Do (GER), 76.292%
2. Rebecca Bell and Valido’s Sunshine (GBR), 74.375%
3. Liselott Marie Linsenhoff and Golden Girl (GER), 73.417%
For full results click here