Individual medals for the CDIO Nations Cup were presented following the I-1 Freestyle and Grand Prix Freestyle competition, part of the week's featured "Friday Night Stars" event in Wellington. Both freestyles were judged as one class to crown the individual champions of the CDIO Nations Cup.
The top three in the CDIO competition all scored within one percent of each other, with Adrienne Lyle and Wizard taking the top podium position for their score of 75.800%. Matute Jr. wasn't far behind with Don Diego Ymas; the pair scored a 75.325%. Tina Konyot and Calecto V finished with a 75.200%.
Tuny Page of Stillpoint Farm was extremely pleased with how the class played out, using the format tested for next year's Pan American Games for both the team and individual competition. The format may have been unusual, but Page believed it brought out the best in the sport. "It is an unusual situation to have I-1 and grand prix compete against each other, but in this instance I honestly think the cream rose to the top. My sense of it is that the judges are really satisfied with the results that they got," Page commented.
Page was also very happy with the turn out of the crowd and their enthusiasm for the sport. "It's a really great synergy between the riders and the audience. These three riders elicited a huge response from the audience, and that speaks to the truth of what they had - tremendous harmony and huge risk. Risk that they pulled off, so I say bravo!" Page remarked.
While sponsoring the entire circuit has been incredibly rewarding for Allyn Mann of Adequan®, the Stillpoint Farm CDIO Nations Cup competition was in a league of its own. "The element of the Nations Cup just takes it to another level. I think of Robert Dover and his vision for us going down the road. The excitement of the competition for the individuals and for the teams. We are just thrilled to be a part of it, and I am just so overwhelmed by the gratitude that people have shown us for being just a little piece of the puzzle. I think it takes a community of people to make this work, and I'm just so humbled to be a part of it," Mann commented.
Having two American riders medal individually on the heels of a USA victory during team competition was the perfect ending for United States Dressage Chef d'Equipe Robert Dover. "I have been unbelievably proud of all of our riders throughout the Nations Cup," Dover remarked. "Debbie MacDonald is the best person and the best coach a group of people can have and she and I together make a really strong team, with all the coaches and all the staff, everyone that has come here from the USEF. Debbie and I and the other coaches are determined, along with our federation, to move this country not just to a medal podium, but to the highest one."
It's been some time since Lyle and Wizard have attempted the Grand Prix Freestyle, but it was plain to see during their performance that both rider and horse were more than happy to be riding their test. "I was thrilled with my freestyle," Lyle beamed. "[Wizard] is very spicy. He is very hot-headed, especially in the freestyle, so we've actually been making a plan on how to build up to this. We got him out, walked him around, put him back, got him out again, trying to ease him into it. He actually felt super rideable, probably the most rideable he's felt in a freestyle. I'm so thrilled with him. He felt powerful and expressive, but he still stayed with me."
She continued, "I love my music. It's fun, it's exciting, it gets the crowd going. He's got a lot of personality when he gets out there, and the crowd's always into it, they're whooping and hollering, and he builds on that and I do too, and I just think it's fun to ride to!"
Adrienne Lyle in her winning podium presentation with Equestrian Sport Productions' Michael Stone, Allyn Mann of Adequan, Tuny and Charlotte Page of Stillpoint Farm, Cora Causemann of ESP, and President of the Ground Jury Anne Gribbons Lyle also expressed her gratitude to the Thomas family, her long-time supporters and owners of Wizard.
"Thank you to the Thomas family. They've been my sponsors for nine years, eight years with Wizard. If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't have any of the chances that I have had in my career. They have been incredible," Lyle expressed.
Matute Jr., who competed at the FEI Intermediaire-1 level, did not dwell on the fact that he was going up against riders capable of more complicated movements, instead focusing on the great feeling he got out of Don Diego Ymas. "Grand prix has a lot of harder movements, a little more risk. Overall harder to ride, a harder tour. I was super pleased with my score. The ride was phenomenal. I think I got pretty much all out of Don Diego. It was fantastic. I couldn't ask for anything more. No complaints!" Matute Jr. grinned.
Friday evening's class was only the third freestyle Don Diego Ymas and Matute Jr. have performed and the first time either had ever competed under the lights. Despite some initial nerves, Matute Jr. agreed that the increased atmosphere was a lot of fun for both of them. "He actually likes it. I think he likes the people watching him and the pressure of everyone watching. I think we both like it actually," Matute Jr. explained.
He continued, "This was our third freestyle. Our cleanest, our most pushed to the limit. I think it was our best freestyle so far, and I think the pirouettes with one hand was the highlight of the test today."
Konyot admitted that she and Calecto V can have trouble accepting anything but first place, but she was very pleased to see her younger counterparts on the podium on Friday.
"I think it's the first that I am so thrilled to be third actually," Konyot laughed. "I mean I always want to win, but I am so excited and so happy. First of all, the young man, I am overwhelmed just watching him ride, the family, the overall feeling of it was so happy. When we drove in here this evening to see all the people and excitement, all revolving around dressage, here in South Florida where I was born and raised. It's just an amazing feeling," Konyot remarked.
Matute Jr. concluded the evening by honoring his father, Juan Matute Sr., whom he credited with his success. After a touching speech expressing his gratitude, he removed his silver medal to place it around his father's neck.
Addressing his father, Matute Jr. said, "I want to thank my dad. This medal, I know it was me in the ring, but he is the reason I am here. He is my number one coach. Everything I know and everything I have learned is because of him. So this medal is for you. It's yours!"
Photos © Sue Stickle
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