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Wednesday July 23, 2008

Euro Update: 2008 Barret and Alcatraz Win CDI Hartpury Big Tour

Richard Barrett and Alcatraz cruised to victory in the grand prix and grand prix special at the 2008 Hartpury CDI in Gloucestershire, 16-20 July. This is Richard’s second season in grand prix with the 16-year-old 17.3hh bay gelding owned by Claire Bailey, an environmental lawyer from New York.

Photo courtesy: CDI Hartpury

“My wife Nicky rode him originally, but he was a bit big and strong for her. He was so consistent and relaxed this weekend. He is more than capable of doing everything; I just have to ride properly. He has taken me to places I have never dreamt of and I am incredibly grateful to have the ride on him,” said Richard, who is sponsored by Baileys Horse Feeds and Belstane Marketing.

Last year’s grand prix special winner, Nicola Jourdain and Saint Swithens headed the grand prix freestyle this time. It was the 14-year-old 16.2hh gelding’s second international win and best international score, 68.65%.

Nicola enthused: “It was the nicest feeling he has ever given me in a test. He was a real pleasure to ride.”

Carl Hester dominated most of the remaining classes. He won the prix st georges, intermediaire I and intermediaire I freestyle with Sarah Tyler-Evans’s eight-year-old 16.1hh Dutch-bred stallion T Movistar, winning the latter with 73.67%.

He won the FEI four-year-old test with Nip Tuck, whom he owns jointly with Jersey-based friend Jane De La Mare. Having bought the 16.3hh Dutch-bred gelding among a bunch of yearlings “for nothing”, Carl was particularly pleased with this result.

Carl then won the national intermediaire I with Ellen Bennett’s Damino, a 10-year-old gelding by Davignon II. Ellen is another Jersey-based friend and Carl entered the horse for their first competitive outing at the last minute so his owner could see how they had progressed since Carl started riding him three months ago.

Yvonne Losos de Muñiz, who rides for the Dominican Republic and is the 2003 and 2007 Pan American Games bronze medallist, went back home for business and gave Carl her 17hh Hannoverian stallion Bernstein to ride. After only riding him for seven days, Carl won the national grand prix class.

“Bernstein is a lovely guy and reminds me of Giorgione [Carl’s ride at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics]. It was great to get all the horses out in one great big bash to see how they are getting on and find out what we need to work on,” said Carl, who was full of praise for the show’s organisation and atmosphere.

Paralympic-bound Lee Pearson and Gentleman headed the CPDI freestyle challenge while Lucy Barclay rode Barntown to win all tests in her Grade, 1b - team, individual and freestyle - a feat also achieved by grade III rider Emma Kent and Gentle II.

View Scores and more Photos on Eurodressage

Van Silfhout and Rothenberger Win 2008 European Junior and Young Riders Championships

Sanneke Rothenberger and Diederik van Silfhout won Kur Gold at the 2008 European Junior and Young Riders Championships in Azeitao, Portugal, July 14-20, 2008. Van Silfhout was not the favourite gold -- that was individual test gold medal winning Lotje Schoots -- but Schoots' boyfriend Diederik rose to the top and claimed the kur gold medal. Aboard Ruby, Van Silfhout scored 75,850%, well ahead of silver medallist Kirsten Sieber on Charly and bronze medallist Boaventura Freire on Derby L. Schoots landed a fifth place after several spooks from mare Reine B in her freestyle ride. The junior kur gold medal went to Sanneke Rothenberger, who racked in three gold medals at the Championships. The silver for Thea Felicitas Muller and the bronze for Michelle van Lanen.

View full reports, scores and photos on Eurodressage

Related Links
Yvonne Losos de Muñiz Shines on 2007 Spanish Sunshine Tour
British Dressage Riders Dominate 2007 Sunshine Tour
Schutte, Truppa, De Ridder and Van Lanen Win Gold at 2007 European Junior/Young Riders Championships