-pixels-events-.jpg){kind=tracking}
On Sunday 12th of April, the Pôle International du Cheval invited the best para-dressage riders of the Deauville CPEDI*** to perform one last test: the Freestyle. Judged as much on technique as artistic ability, the competitors thus engaged in one last battle under the eyes of the judges and public.
Elected « Best rider of the competition », the Singaporean Laurentia Tan, who was already remarked upon last year, made the fabulous Ruben James 2 waltz yet again in the Grade Ia. Their duet notably dazzled the judges and allowed them to attain the highest score-79%. An unequalled performance despite an excellent appearance from a very competitive British couple Anne Dunham and her appaloosa, LJT Lucas Normark. The latter therefore had to settle for second place with an overall score of 75.9%, followed by Richards Snikus and his 7 year old gelding, King Of The Dance (73.85%), who showed remarkable consistency throughout the competition.
A big fight in Grade Ib between Ireland and Denmark. Kate Kerr Horan and Caroline Cecilie Nielsen, who, riding respectively Arlande and Leon, fought hard for the second spot on the winners podium. Caroline Cecilie Nielsen, who already the previous day took silver in the Individual Championship test, scored 70,750% only a few hundredths more than her rival, who with 69,70% had to be happy with third place. No surprise at the top, Rixt Van Der Horst riding the excellent son of Gribaldi, Uniek NOP once again made everyone agree by riding a test scoring 78.25%.
Only man to beat the ladies today, the celebrated Pepo Puch, gold medal winner at the last World Equestrian Games in Normandy allowed the Austrian nation anthem to be heard in the big indoor arena of the Normandy “Pôle” thanks to his floating and elegant Fine Feeling S (78.40%). He equally finished second in the events’ “Best rider” challenge. Chasing them, Nicole Den Dulk riding Wallace managed to repeat her previous days performance to take second place (74.75%) in front of the Irish rider Breda Bernie and Master Mexico, 3rd in the final placings (69.10%).
In the Grade III, Susanne J. Sunesen associated with the daughter of Quite Easy, the breathtaking Thy’s Que Faire, who by showing extremely good technique right from Friday in the Team test, made a successful bid of 72.80% to take first place for the third consecutive time. Heather Bennet/Zavalantika (2nd – 70.3%) and Ilona Goes/Zalisto (3rd- 69.9%) completed the podium in this « Prix Conseil Général du Calvados ».
Victorious yet again in the Grade IV, the British representative Sophie Wells will certainly not have had any regrets about crossing the channel with Valerius, not only winning her three classes she also won team gold in the Nations Cup and was third in the “Best rider” challenge. The second and third places in the Grade IV Freestyle went to Frank Hosmar/Alphaville NOP (75.25%)and Line Kongersgaard/Laponio (70.55%).
“It is yet again a really excellent Deauville CPEDI*** which comes to a close”, said Eric Estrier, Chairman of the event : “The competition celebrated its’ 5th anniversary this year and I really wish to thank our closely knitted team of efficient and reactive volunteers who allow us to run this competition at international level. Also, a huge thank you to our sponsors, without their help and support for this project, none of this would be possible. We could not have dreamed of a better preparation for the European Championships, which we are organising from the 18th to the 20th of September 2015.” The appointment is made…