British riders were out in force over the weekend for the 2014 CDI Addington, held at Addington Manor, Buckinghamshire on 21 – 23 March 2014. Blowing the competition out of the water as only a very small field of non-British riders appeared to compete in Addington, the Brits cleaned up, claiming nine out of the 12 top spots on offer.
Kicking the competition off in fine style on the Friday was the Pony Team test, a class notorious for containing feisty young riders, chomping at the bit for the number one spot – and this CDI was no exception. With the top four combinations scoring no less than 70%, it was a class filled with quality and promise for the future.
14-year old European gold medallist, Phoebe Peters, led the way with her superstar partner, Tracy Peter’s 12-year old Danish gelding, SL Lucci, winning the class with an impressive score of 76.03% - 4% higher than second place’s Alexandra Hellings and her ride, Claire Williams’ eight year old stallion, Der Kleine Lorde (72.52%). Taking third was Rebecca Bell with Caroline Bell’s German mare, Valido’s Sunshine on 70.77% and Bethany-Rose Horobin took fourth with her own 16-year old chestnut gelding and Pony team regular, Gigolo (70.43%).
Not content with winning just one class over the course of the CDI, Phoebe Peters and SL Lucci stole the show once more in the Pony Individual test, boosting her score from the previous day with a whopping 79.19% - a personal best and 5% higher than Alexandra Hellings and Der Kleine Lord who scooped second with their improved score of 74.35%. Bethany-Rose Horobin and her pony, Gigolo, came third with 70.04% and this time it was Lara Kuropatwa and her family’s eight year old German stallion, Mister Snowman, who grabbed fourth place with their mark of 69.84%.
The top 15 combinations from the Pony Individual test qualified through to the Pony Freestyle where, to no surprise based on their current form, it was Phoebe Peters and SL Lucci who ran away with the top spot once more – this time on a gigantic score of 82.88%, the combination’s second best result to date (the first being 84.00% in the Freestyle at the Pony Europeans last year). 8% behind the winners were Alexandra Hellings and Der Kleine Lord with a personal best score of 74.88% and Bethany-Rose Horobin and her partner, Gigolo, took third with 73.42%.
“There was a great atmosphere at Addington” stated SL Lucci’s owner and Phoebe’s mum, Tracey Peters. “But this was only Phoebe’s third competition since last year’s Europeans in July and Lucci was very sharp! So, under strict instructions from Peter [Storr, Phoebe’s trainer], Phoebe focused on keeping Lucci calm and relaxed – and it paid off.”
“Feeling more confident after the Team test, Phoebe was really able to ride Lucci in the Individual test and the results were stunning”, explained Tracey. “She absolutely loved riding in that class. They’re such a secure partnership and can often make it look easy – but he’s definitely not the easiest pony to ride. It’s a really good start to the year, we’re so proud of the two of them.”
Speaking about last year’s successes – the multiple broken records and gold medals – and the pressure that can come with it, Tracey explained “Phoebe is pretty cool. There can often be huge pressure following a year like theirs in 2013 but, actually, she just loves rising to the competition.
We explain to her that she made history so many times last year. So, if anything, it should take the pressure off. You’ve done that, you’ve got your gold medals that you look at every night before bed; they can never be taken away from you – enjoy them! And hopefully they will happen again.”
Those who didn’t qualify for the Freestyle competed against each other in the consolation test, the Pony Team test. India Sheridan and Gaby Lucas’ 14-year old German gelding, Top Spot, came third in the class with 61.88% - a great achievement for the pair, particularly as it’s their first CDI together.
Charlotte Fry led the way for the Juniors, notching up wins in the Junior Team (70.95%) and Individual (73.07%) tests with her Dutch counterpart, Christine Graham and Leslie Connor’s 16-year old gelding, Remming. A member of the Sport England funded BEF Excel Talent Development Programme, Charlotte also grabbed fourth in the Team test (69.55%) and second in the Individual test (70.26%) with her second ride of the competition, Rosemary Shewen’s 10 year old KWPN gelding, Z Flemmenco.
However it was 16-year old Erin Williams who claimed the Junior Freestyle title, notching up a solid 76.13% with her family’s Hanoverian mare, Fleurie, pushing Charlotte and Remming into second place (74.63%). Fellow Junior and BEF Excel Talent Programme squad member, Chloe Vell, and her own Hanoverian mare, Kaja Di Valentina, also had a successful CDI after coming third in the Team test (70.05%), seventh in the Individual test (66.01%) and third in the Freestyle (70.79%).
The Young Riders created great excitement at Addington as they battled for the top spot in the Young Rider Team test. With only five marks separating the top three, it was Great Britain’s Olivia Oakeley who claimed the title on her own 13-year old Dimaggio gelding, Donna Summer (69.56%). Sweden’s Victoria Appleyard and her Oldenburg ride, Sir Willy, took second with 69.47% and GBR’s Emma Corbett stole third with her own 11-year old Westfalian gelding, Furst Diamantino (69.12%).
Olivia and Donna Summer also took second place in the Young Rider Individual test (70.18%), this time being pipped to the post by Victoria and Sir Willy (71.01%), and claimed third in the Freestyle with a strong score of £72.88%.
Addington wasn’t just about the youngsters, though, the Grand Prix attracted international superstars such as Charlotte Dujardin, Carl Hester and Sweden’s Olympic star, Minna Telde, to name a few. Riding Carl Hester and Sasha Stewart’s 13-year old Dutch stallion – and Carl’s 2012 Olympic ride – Uthopia, Charlotte grabbed the top spot with 76.78%, a personal best for the duo in the Grand Prix.
Not too far behind in second place was ‘Uti’s’ owner, Carl, riding Mrs J A Green’s 13-year old German stallion, Fine Time 13 with a strong score of 71.06%.
Great Britain’s Dan Sherriff and Nikki Crisp fought for third place, with Dan and his partner, 15-year old Westfalian stallion, Bayford Hall Dallaglio, just scraping third on collectives (69.44%). Whereas Nikki and her partner of 12 years, her own KWPN bay mare, Pasoa, settled for fourth (69.44%).
The pinnacle of the CDI and crowd favourite, the Grand Prix Freestyle, attracted the numbers on Saturday night. Charlotte and Uthopia stole the show, dancing their way to victory on 76.73% with Nikki Crisp and Pasoa not too far behind in second with 74.85. Carl and his ride, Fine Time 13, were just two marks behind, breathing down the necks of Nikki and Pasoa with 74.43%. Dan Sherriff and Bayford Hall Dallaglio concluded a successful CDI, scoring 72.98% and claiming fourth place.
Text by British Dressage, edited by Eurodressage
Photos © Risto Aaltonen
Related Links
Scores 2014 CDI Addington
Victoria Appleyard's Victorious Debut at the 2014 CDI Addington
Alexandra Hellings and Der Kleine Lord Make Their Mark at the 2014 CDI Addington