Posted: 15th July 2014 | Back to news feed
The shining and rising stars of dressage from all around the world put on a dazzling display at this year’s hugely successful Hartpury international Festival of Dressage.
Record entries saw 300 riders from 19 nations compete in more than 40 dressage and para-dressage classes over five days of outstanding equestrian sport and thousands of people followed the action from every corner of the globe – either in person or on the Festival of Dressage website and Facebook and twitter pages.
With the pinnacle of the Festival – Saturday’s Gala Evening – being livestreamed for the first time on Hartpury’s YouTube channel, 841 dressage enthusiasts tuned in to watch the high level competition and the showcase of stallions and up and coming dressage horses, along with the 700 spectators on the night.
An impressive 11,700 people have also already watched the video of world number one, Charlotte Dujardin, from Newent, lighting up the opening day’s proceedings. She rode a stunning test on Barolo to take top spot with 74.30% in the Corse Lawn Hotel FEI Prix St Georges 1a.
On the same day, Charlotte’s Great Britain team-mate, Michael Eilberg won the Corse Lawn PSG 1b with 73.68% on the fabulous Farouche – with 6000 people having watched the video – and he claimed another win in the Baileys Horse Feeds FEI Intermediate II on Woodlander Dornroeschen.
The para-dressage took centre stage on the second day with a full line-up of Great Britain’s Paralympians taking the team crown ahead of Canada, Brazil and France. In the FEI Para Individual Championship Grade 1a, Sophie Christiansen and Janeiro 6 put in a stunning test to take first place on 77.870 and Sophie Wells took the top two spots in the Grade IV before finishing in sixth place in an able-bodied international dressage class.
London 2012 Olympic gold medallist, Hartpury’s own Equine Academy coach Carl Hester opened his winning account on the second day riding Fine Time 13 in the Le Mieux Grand Prix on. He also rode Nip Tuck to victory in the Grand Prix event and the pairing put in another impeccable performance to take the honours in the Cushionbed FEI CDI Grand Prix Special on the final day.
Dane Anders Dahl managed an incredible four Festival wins, taking top spot in the FEI CDI Prix St Georges, the CDI3* Dressage Deluxe FEI CDI Intermediate I and the Andrew Bowens FEI CDI Intermediate I Freestyle on Selten HW as well as riding Wie-Atlantico de Ymas into top spot on the Gala Evening in the Superflex FEI CDI3* Grand Prix freestyle.
It has also been a fabulous festival for Gloucestershire’s dressage stars. While Hester and Dujardin stole some of the headlines, talented riders Daniel Greenwood and Lauren Wollen finished in the top two in the Shearwater PIDH Five-year-old competition, Callum Whitworth won the Four-year-old section and Lucy Cartwright won the Lovington Ice Advanced 100 in the Premier League.
Greenwood also won the Shearwater Young Horse Five-year-old Championships and fellow county rising star, Callum Whitworth, won the Four-year-old Championships. Hayley Watson Greaves on the Baileys Horse Feeds FEI Premier League Grand Prix Freestyle with former Hartpury student Stef Eardley in third place.
Another county rider, Charles Hutton, also had an excellent Festival – finishing second behind the outstanding Dahl in the Andrew Bowens and in the Dressage Deluxe, while Gloucestershire’s Christian Landolt was pipped by the indomitable Michael Eilberg in the FEI Prix St Georges Class 1b.
Rosie Scott-Ward, Director of Equine at Hartpury, said: “With record entries and so many people following all the action on social media as well as coming through the gates, this year’s Festival was our biggest and best yet.
“There were so many spectacular performances from riders and teams from all over the world over five days of outstanding equestrian sport - the standard of competition was incredibly high.
“While the best of Britain’s dressage and para-dressage riders have undoubtedly wowed the crowds, including Gloucestershire’s established up and coming dressage stars, it has truly been an international occasion.
“The support of our sponsors is absolutely crucial to the continued success of the Festival and a big thank you goes to them as well as to all the Hartpury staff and students who gave up so much of their time and worked so hard to make this year’s Festival such an outstanding event.”
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