British Grand Prix rider Wayne Channon aced the Grand Prix Special at the Sunshine Tour CDI today winning the class with an impressive 72.080%. Channon has been in tough duel with German Alexandra Simons-De Ridder
the past two weeks at the Sunshine Tour in Vejer de la Frontera, Spain. Aboard the 12-year old KWPN stallion Lorenzo CH (by Ferro), Channon placed first in Special with all five judges, of which two have O-status. Simons de Ridder received 69.960% for her ride on the bay Hanoverian Wellington (by Wanderer).
Last week, Channon won the Grand Prix, while Simons de Ridder claimed victory in the Intermediaire II and Special. This week, the German former Olympian won the Inter II and Grand Prix, but had to experience the superiority of her British opponent today in the Grand Prix Special
"He was super today," said a thrilled Channon. "We got very good marks in all the movements and Lorenzo really wanted to do the test. He was with me and easy to ride. I just had to set him up to do the moves."
Head of the jury Francis Verbeek-Van Rooy was equally enthusiastic about Channon's ride. "In the Grand Prix both of them could have won; they were very close, but in the Special Channon very clearly was the winner," Verbeek commented. "The horse has improved tremendously. He has much more power and his piaffe-passage is brilliant and very clear in the rhythm. This horse developed in a very positive way."
A small glitch in the two tempi changes could not prevent the British duo from continuously receiving 8's and 9's from the panel of judges. Simons-de Ridder scored well on her highlight movements, which are the pirouettes and the extended trot, but because of a small hiccup at the beginning of the test she did not push her horse to brilliance.
"She rode her entire test too hesitatingly," Verbeek explained. "This horse needs much more show experience, and was tight in the neck sometimes. But, overall they make a very appealing combination."
Showing ground covering traversal movements and wonderful extensions in trot and canter Channon solved the miscommunication that occurred between him and his horse in the Special (69.240% - 2nd place) the first week of the Sunshine Tour. "Last week was a bit of a surprise. We hadn't done the Special for over a year and Lorenzo was anticipating my aids. Today, he was waiting for me and he really felt super," Channon explained.
With one more show week to go, the 2005 Sunshine Tour in Vejer is about to wrap up. Channon is definitely on a roll and is looking forward to the final week of competition. "It's a great learning experience. Each week I can see which strategy works better for my horse," Channon stated. "Lorenzo knows his job, I just need to find the optimal way to make him ready and fresh. He is now getting two days off before picking up work again on Wednesday, so that he's hot to trot on Friday."
Channon's short term goal is earning a place on the British Dressage Team for the 2005 European Dressage Championships in Moscow. Therefore, he needs to ride excellent Grand Prix scores at four outdoor CDI's this spring. The average of his Grand Prix score at these four shows will count as qualification mark. By achieving 71.375% and 71.280% at the Sunshine tour, Channon is well on his way for a berth on the team.
Photo copyrighted: Dirk Caremans
Related Links
Scores 2005 Sunshine Tour CDI Week Two
Scores 2005 Sunshine Tour CDI Week One
Ferro-Lorenzo CH Pas de Deux at 2005 KWPN Stallion Licensing
Wellington Wins 2004 Otto Lorke Preis