Dressage-News

CAEN, France, June 23, 2014–Great Britain’s Gareth Hughes and DV Stenkjers Nadonna successfully tested the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games dressage competition arena Monday by capturing the stadium’s first equestrian event, the CDI3* Grand Prix, with a personal best score.

Carl Hester who rode his Nip Tuck to second place in the test event that will be followed later this week by the jumpers, declared the venue “superb” two months before the start of the Normandy Games.

“Fantastic stadium… hot, though,” Carl told dressage-news.com of the d’Ornano soccer stadium that has been converted to be the centerpiece of the WEG to host the Olympic disciplines of dressage, jumping and jumping phase of eventing.

“Footing excellent, stabling light and airy.

“Going to be superb.”

Gareth and the16-year-old Danish Warmblood mare owned by British equestrian photographer Kevin Sparrow and his wife, scored 72.757 per cent that eclipsed their previous best Grand Prix result of 72.213 per cent at Hickstead, England last year.

Team mates Carl and Nip Tuck placed second on 72.343 per cent with Denmark’s Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein third on 69.157 per cent.

The event was a test of both the physical competition facility and the infrastructure, including electronic scoring from the panel of seven judges–the same number as will make up the ground jury for the WEG itself.

The opinions of the riders, especially Carl and Nathalie, are critical for the organizers of the world championships held once every four years. Over the past 24 years, Carl has competed in four Olympics and two World Games while Nathalie has two Olympics and three world championships on her record.

Organizers had to wait until the soccer season was over to install the sand and fiber footing over the grass field of the stadium.

The 16 CDI3* dressage combinations from 10 nations were the first to compete on the new surface in the Grand Prix to be followed by the Grand Prix Special and the Freestyle Tuesday.

As many as 50 jumping athletes from 24 nations will compete after dressage on the same arena.

The d’Ornano Stadium is home to Ligue 1 football club Malherbe Caen but for the WEG will host the three Olympic disciplines of dressage, eventing’s jumping phase and jumping.

Results:

GRAND PRIX