Laura Bechtolsheimer and Mistral Hojris receive awards from Lisa Wells of Reem Acra Photo: Kit Houghton/FEI
Laura Bechtolsheimer (Mistral Hojris), Charlotte Dujardin (Valegro) and Carl Hester (Uthopia) took the top three places in the Reem Acra FEI Grand Prix freestyle at Olympia last night. Dressage fans at The London International Horse Show were treated to a very close competition with just 0.5% dividing the top three. All three British riders scored over 83%, making it the highest scoring World Cup qualifier of the 2011-2012 series so far. “The result was a dream come true for British dressage,” said Stephen Clarke, President of the Ground Jury. It was also an historic win for Laura and Mistral Hojris who became the first British winners of the Olympia World Cup qualifier since its inception in 2004 and the first Briton to win a World Cup qualifier freestyle. As you can see from the footage below of Laura’s routine to the Shadows’ music, she and Mistral Hojris (Alf) put on a great show and she was delighted with their performance which scored 83.975% “I had such a great ride. Alf was right on the button and to win at Olympia in, front of the home crowd at the end of a season is really special,” said Laura.
Charlotte du Jardin riding Valegro Photo: Kit Houghton/FEI
On Tuesday the British European gold medal team rookie, Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro won the Grand Prix on a personal best score of 81.40%. Last night, riding in only her second freestyle competition, Charlotte was second to Laura by a mere 0.275%, scoring 83.70% “He was a little bit hotter tonight and there were a few mistakes but I am still getting to grips with the freestyle. But just to compete here was last year one of my dreams,” said 25 year old Charlotte
Carl Hester and Uthopia Photo: Kit Houghton/FEI
In third place was Charlotte’s mentor Carl Hester and the Dutch-bred stallion, Uthopia scoring 83.45%. After Tuesday night’s Grand Prix, which Carl admitted was ring rusty, yesterday’s freestyle was mistake free and made the most of the black stallion’s powerful and floating extensions. With British rider Richard Davies in fourth place on 75.05%, the top placed non-British rider was the experienced German rider Nadine Capellmann on Elvis with a score of 74.60%. Interviews with Charlotte Dujardin and Carl Hester at Olympia below
