Laura Bechtolsheimer and Mistral Hojris Laura Bechtolsheimer was unbeatable in the grand prix and grand prix special at the 2007 Addington CDI, Bucks, 6-8 April, despite Mistral Hojris being “very explosive”.
The 12-year-old Danish gelding was competing at only his second international show since he was out of action for nine months after the World Equestrian Games last summer.
Laura, who is planning to compete “Alf” in his first freestyle at Hagen CDI in Germany in a couple of weeks, said: “It was like riding a rocket. We earned lots of nines and a couple of threes and fours. Once we have ironed out the tension and built up his trust and confidence, there will be no stopping him.”
Keri Bates and the 10-year-old bay mare Donna Parrina achieved the best British under-21 results. The pair, which is trained by Grand Prix rider Nicola Mc Givern, won the junior team and individual tests. Another Brit, Melissa Beer riding Celestial King, pipped Keri at the post in the junior freestyle.
Germany’s Carlotta Hassenburger and the 10-year-old palomino mare Dulcia dominated the three pony classes with high percentages. Best Brit in this section, Emily Harris and the 11-year-old bay stallion Don Joshi, also scored in the 70s, but had to be content with two third places and a fourth.
Austrian rider Markus Jungwirth and his 14-year-old bay mare Smart Cookie swept the board in the young rider classes. Britain’s Anne-Marie Perry and the 13-year-old chestnut gelding Forrest Fire finished second in the young rider team test. In the YR prix st georges, she took second with Palermo and third with Forrest Fire.
Britain’s Lara Griffith took the runner-up slot in the YR freestyle, but may have won the class if Warlock hadn’t stopped dead in the half-pass to relieve himself.
Press release by British Dressage
Photo Mistral Hojris - copyrighted Leanjo de Koster
So far it has been impossible for Eurodressage to obtain scores from Addington. Addington Manor's website is totally out of date and during the show weekend it is was even down. Furthermore, there are no scores online, not even one week post-show, nor does the organization reply to emails with a request for scores.