Great result for Wendi at Hartpury

Wendi Williamson and Dejavu MH in the CDI3* Grand Prix at Hartpury Festival of Dressage (Image: Libby Law)

In a top-class field, New Zealand rider Wendi Williamson has finished a very creditable seventh place on Dejavu MH.

The class was won by Rio Olympian Spencer Wilton and Supa Nova on a score of 78.820 with Richard Davidson on Bubblingh second on 73.160. Gareth Hughes and Don Carissimo were third on 73.080.  Wendi’s score was 69.20.

There were 31 entries in the class.

Wendi and Dejavu MH in action at Hartpury (Image: Libby Law)

In the first of the CDI classes – the Hartpury Equine FEI CDI Prix St Georges – Charlotte Dujardin held the lead from just second to go on Carl Hester’s Hawtins Delicato, winning on 76.632%. Kate Cowell and Samba Dancer nipped into second on 71.605% while Vicky Thompson Winfield completed the top three with Artist on 70.658%.

Charlotte said: “I was really super-happy until the flying changes, when we made a couple of mistakes. I came out really disappointed with myself, and Carl [Hester] was watching, so it was extra pressure! But the quality of the horse’s work is amazing and we were able to get a high mark still. He’s still green and this is all experience. He’s quite a character but has a lovely, workable temperament.”

Charlotte also dominated on Friday, leaving the rest of the field standing in both the classes she contested.  With two rides in the Elite Stallions Young Horse Prix St Georges, in which riders were competing for a spot in the final on Saturday night’s gala evening, Charlotte won on Mount St John Freestyle with 80.96 – more than 10% in hand over second-placed Daniel Greenwood who scored 70.39% with Lukien Von Tespeand.

Charlotte’s second win of the day was with another Mount St John horse, Mount St John Kom Fairytale in the Zamar FEI Intermediate I B with 74.04%. Becky Edwards and Headmore Delegate were second on 71.62%.

Charlotte said: “I’m so happy with her [Mount St John Kom Fairytale] – she is quite inexperienced for her age and has never been in an atmosphere like this. Today was her first-ever Inter I and she was a little bit tired after competing for two days in the heat. I’m excited about how well she behaves at a competition – she wants to do the job and is a Grand Prix horse for the future.”

And on day four, the Charlotte show kept on trucking: she claimed top spot in all three of the classes she competed in.

In an eventful last class of the day, which saw the Red Arrows fly overhead mid-test for Britain’s Levi Hunt, Charlotte claimed the top spot on Carl Hester’s Hawtins Delicato with 75.263%.

After producing a lovely test, of which Carl Hester said, “He was much more relaxed today, a mistake-free test and I am very pleased with his performance,” Hawtins Delicato decided to keep the crowds entertained with some airs above the ground in the prize-giving.

With qualifying places going to the top five from each class, there was hot competition in the semi-final ages classes. Charlotte Dujardin clinched the top spots in two of them, taking first and second in the Six-Year-Old class with Mount St John VIP on 8.60 and Gio on 8.44.

Riding her and Carl Hester’s Hawtins San Floriana into the lead with 8.68, Charlotte also won the Five-Yea-Old class.

The Four-Year-Old semi-final was a close-run affair, won by Kerry Mackin and Izonik with a mark of 8.60. Just behind them were Santo Del Ponca and Daniel Sheriff on 8.22.

Wendi Williamson and Dejavu MH at Hartpury (Image: Libby Law)
Hannah Comrie with her great mate Dejavu MH in the stables after his dressage test. (Image: Libby Law)
Team Williamson preparation – Wendi and Dejavu MH get ready for the CDI3* Grand Prix Dressage at Hartpury Festival of Dressage. (Image: Libby Law)
Warm-up action at Hartbury for Team Williamson (Image: Libby Law)
Wendi and Dejavu MH during the CDI3* Grand Prix prize-giving (Image: Libby Law)

 

 

 

 

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