Laura Bechtolsheimer led the cavalry-charge, as British riders sensationally claimed the top four places in the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2011/2012 qualifier at Olympia in London, Great Britain tonight. Riding Mistral Hojris, the horse with which she claimed three silver medals at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Kentucky, USA last year, the 26 year old rider scored 83.975 to pip fellow-countrywoman Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro, while 2011 European silver medallist, Carl Hester, slotted into third with Uthopia. And, rounding up the host-nation whitewash, Richard Davison steered Hiscox Artemis into fourth.
“I’m thrilled”, said Bechtolsheimer, “we won the Grand Prix here last year, but we have never won the Freestyle, and this is such a special show – the home crowd are great. It means everything to have won this competition!” she added.
A strong British result always looked on the cards following yesterday’s Grand Prix in which Dujardin and Valegro headed another British rout. On that occasion, Bechtolsheimer and her 16 year old chestnut had to accept second-best as the young lady who swept to centre-stage of international Dressage at this summer’s FEI European Championships was the only one of the 20 starters to break the 80% barrier when scoring 81.40 with her super-talented nine-year-old. Hester again finished third ahead of Davison, while Germany’s Nadine Capellmann and Elvis VA were the first of the visitors in the line-up when finishing fifth. They slotted into the same spot again tonight.
(Source: FEI/Louise Parkes)
Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2011/2012 – Standings after Round 4 at Olympia, London:
- Tinne Wilhelmsson Silfven SWE – 52
- Patrick Kittel SWE – 41
- Richard Davison GBR – 38
- Valentina Truppa ITA – 33
- Hans Peter Minderhoud NED – 32
- Isabell Werth GER – 32
- Helen Langehanenberg GER – 30
- Catherine Haddad USA – 26
- Marc Peter Spahn BEL – 24
- Sebastien Duperdu FRA – 23
- Christa Laarakkers NED – 22
- Siril Helljesen NOR – 22
- Rose Mathisen SWE – 22
- Aat Van Essen NED – 21
- Laura Bechtolsheimer GBR – 20
- Jenny Schreven NED – 20
- Ulla Salzgeber GER – 20
- Sidsel Johansen DEN – 19
- Mikaela Lindh FIN – 19
- Peter Gmoser AUT – 17
- Mary Hanna AUS – 17
- Charlotte Dujardin GBR – 17