Brits second to Danish team at Hickstead

Denmark has won the final leg of the FEI Nations Cup Dressage series at Hickstead (19 July),with the host nation once again having to settle for the runner-up spot.

Strong start

It was the Danish team’s second successive victory at the Sussex venue.

The competition was held over three days, and the final team scores were calculated by combining the Grand Prix (all riders), Grand Prix Special (two riders) and Grand Prix Freestyle (two riders) on the final day.

The Danes fielded a team of just three riders, which left no room for error. They made a strong start, however, taking second and third place in the Grand Prix, courtesy of Anders Dahl and Wie-Atlantico de Ymas (70.700%) and Sidsel Johansen and Alibi D (69.540%).

Grand Prix debut

Carl Hester and Wanadoo won the class with 73.160%. However, it was the horse’s Grand Prix debut and the pair was not on the team.

Alice Oppenheimer produced the best British score to take fourth place with Headmore Delegate. Team-mates Henriette Andersen (Warlocks Charm) and Hayley Watson-Greaves (Rubins Nite) were sixth and eighth, while Spencer Wilton (Numberto) was further down the scoreboard in 27th place.

Saturday’s Grand Prix Special was won by Sidsel (70.529%), with Alice taking the runner-up spot (70.235%) and Sweden’s Maria Von Essen coming third on Ferdi (69.196%). Spencer was the second rider competing for Britain in this section and came ninth (64.216%).

As Sidsel was the only Danish rider to compete in the Special, her team was in last place going into the Freestyle. However, their final performance was enough to win the overall competition.

Double for Carl

Carl Hester once again took individual honours (76.975%) in the Freestyle, with Anders Dahl just two marks behind him (74.850%) to come second. Fellow Dane Sune Hansen’s was eighth on Charmeur (70.650%).

This time Hayley and Henriette rode for Britain, claiming fourth and sixth places. Sweden’s Malin Hamilton (Fleetwood) and Ebba von Essen (Yantuge) finished third and fifth.

This put Denmark at the top of the leaderboard with 140.683 just ahead of Britain on 139.563. Sweden was third on 138.932 and South Africa, fourth with 131.968.

‘Super-happy’

Anders Dahl was the only member of the Danish team who was also on the 2014 winning side.

“I thought from the start we had a chance, we had good horses and riders and Sidsel went really well all week, winning the Special and third in the Grand Prix,” said Anders, who is married to British dressage rider Fiona Bigwood and lives close to Hickstead.

“I was also super-happy with Atlantico, who was second in the Grand Prix behind Carl, and again today in the Freestyle. This is one of the biggest achievements of his career.”

With the FEI Nations Cup Dressage 2015 pilot series now concluded, the provisional results show Germany as the new champions, followed by Sweden and the Netherlands, who share the joint-runner-up spot.

Other classes

Alongside the Nations Cup event was the Hickstead CDIO and British Young Horse Championships.

The CDIO Intermediaire Freestyleon the Saturday saw Maria Eilberg and Royal Concert take the title (76.050). Alice Oppenheimer was second riding Sir Soccrates (74.625) and Ruth Wells was third with Valerius (73.975).

Thursday 16 July

CDI Young Riders Team Test: Amy Schiessl and Mr Mercury, Britain

MAGISTER DOSKA CDI Junior Team Test: Charlotte Dicker and Sabatini, Britain

CDI Pony Team Test: Amber De Groot and Rhyfedd Spike, the Netherlands

Friday 17 July

CDIO Intermediaire I: Becky Moody and Carinsio, Britain

CDI Young Riders Individual Test: Amy Schiessl and Mr Mercury, Britain

CDI Junior Individual Test: Christina Ballester Bergada and Senator, Spain

CDI Pony Individual Test: Angus Corrie-Deane and Hagelkruis Valentijns, Britain

CDIO Intermediate A: Kate Cowell and Rockefellar, Britain

Saturday 18 July

CDIO Intermediaire Freestyle: Maria Eilberg and Royal Concert, Britain