Spanish young rider Morgan Barbançon Mestre made a strong power statement beating Dutch professional riders at her official Grand Prix debut at the national competition in Uden, The Netherlands, on 16 October 2011. Aboard the 14-year old Dutch warmblood stallion Painted Black (by Gribaldi x Ferro) Barbançon scored 71.88% to outclass all competition.
The 2011 CDN Uden was a Dutch team selection event so a significant group of ambitious as well as professional riders gathered to ride themselves into the spotlight.
Spanish Morgan claimed highest honour and beat Dutch based Danish Olympic team bronze medallist Anne van Olst on Clearwater (68.87%) and Dutch Talent of the Year Diederik van Silfhout on Popeye (68.87%).
Judge Adriaan Hamoen told Het Sportpaard that, "it was a very beautiful test. It all looked incredibly easy. Everything was lightfooted and the piaffe and passage earned her an 8. She rode him front of her leg and scored many 8s."
Barbançon, who has been competing at Grand Prix level internationally in the Under 25 circuit, was ecstatic about her first classic Grand Prix victory.
"It was one of my best tests," she said. "I had no major mistakes, not even the one tempi's. He was really with me in the test and I could control most of the exercises. I only had a counting mistake in the zig zag."
Barbançon has recently been submitted to the Spanish A-team short list as a candidate for the Spanish Team for the 2012 Olympic Games, her major goal for next year. The 19-year old has taken a sabbatical from school to focus fully on dressage and her show career.
Part of her major strategy on the road to London is competing at the 2012 Global Dressage Festival in Florida in January 2012, where she would be coached by her trainer Anky van Grunsven. Definite arrangements have not yet been made though.
"Florida is warmer than Holland," she joked. "London would be my goal but I don't want to talk about it too much," she said in order to relieve herself from Olympic pressure.
Complete 2011 CDN Uden scores (Excel file)
Photos © Astrid Appels
Related Links
Spanish Dressage Committee Works Towards 2012 Olympic Games
Barbançon Leads Under 25 Competition in Aachen and Broholm
Morgan Barbancon Invincible in Under 25 Competition at the 2011 CDIO Saumur
Victorious Start of Painted Black's New Show Career under Morgan Barbancon