The 2013 CDI Minsk was a huge success this year boasting the organisation of no less than three international dressage events ( CDI3*/CDI-J/CDI-YH) on 11-14 April 2013. The small township of Ratomka is situated near Minsk, Belarus, and is well-known in Eastern European equestrian world for its Republic Olympic Equestrian and Breeding Centre, the largest in Belarus. For years Ratomka has hosted international dressage events.
Since 2011 competitions were held in a new modern indoor arena built with the support of the Belarusian government. Wojtek Markowski, International 5* dressage judge from Poland and President of Ground Jury at this year's CDI, gave a high mark to the quality of the arena. He said that "the facilities of the arena are so high that it can host the Central European League World Cup Dressage Final."
Wojtek Markowski also stressed the increased level of horses participated in the show, especially in the young horses and juniors classes.
For a long time Ratomka hadn't’t received such a large number of participants in dressage. The 2013 CDI Minsk featured 100 horse and rider combinations from 4 countries. Estonia, Poland, Russia and Belarus came to battle it out.
The talented 25-year old Belarusian rider Katsiaryna Varchenia and Redford, a 16-year old Latvian gelding (by Homers x Draugs) owned by the Republic Olympic Equestrian & Breeding Centre, won the Grand Prix CDI3* with 66,128%. Belarusian’s Svetlana Yevshchik and her 12-year old Latvian gelding Gulbis (by Gudvils x Daion) won the Grand Prix Special CDI3* with 65.146%.
Russian's Polina Afanasieva rode Nikolaj Aristov's 9-year old German bred Laetare (by Lord Loxley x Lancer II) to the victory in the Grand Prix Freestyle CDI3* with 69,250%.
Anastasia Lefler from Russia and the 5-year old Le Jeune (by Limbus x Carthago) emerged victorious with a 79,200 % in the Preliminary Test for 5-y.o. horses on the first day of the competition. Estonian rider Dina Ellermann succeeded to interfere in the battle for the victory between Belarus and Russia. Dina and the 5-year old Estonian bred Donna Anna (by Don Schufro x Heslegards Weltmeister) topped the class in the 5-yp Finals Test with an astounding score of 81,600%. Belarusian dressage rider Katsiaryna Yafremava and her 6-year old German bred Frodo (by Friedensritter x Weltmeyer) took out the classes for 6 y.o. horses. Scoring almost the same mark of 73,800 (Preliminary test) and 73,900% (Final) they were the winners of the classes for 6-y.o. horses.
In the Small Tour Belarusian pair Hanna Karasiova and the 7-year old Latvian gelding Arlekino (by Aromats x Gudvils) scored a 68.316% for victory in Intermediaire I and 70,700% in Intermediaire I Freestyle.
The talented junior rider from Russia, Anna Aristova, blitzed the field to claim first spots in all three junior classes aboard Shania, a 10-year old German mare (by Show Star x Dream of Glory).
by Natallia Rubashko
Photos © Daniil Karabko
Related Links
Scores 2013 CDI Minsk