Germany’s Felicitas Hendricks & Drombusch Claim Wellington CDI5* Grand Prix Freestyle, Countryman Frederic Wandres Takes Grand Prix Special on Bluetooth

11 months ago StraightArrow Comments Off on Germany’s Felicitas Hendricks & Drombusch Claim Wellington CDI5* Grand Prix Freestyle, Countryman Frederic Wandres Takes Grand Prix Special on Bluetooth
Felicitas Hendricks riding her Drombusch OLD to win the Global Dressage Festival CDI5* Grand Prix Freestyle, the highestrated dressage competition in the Americas. © 2024 Ken Braddick/DRESSAGE-NEWS.com

By KENNETH J. BRADDICK

WELLINGTON, Florida, Mar. 15, 2024–Germany’s Felicitas Hendricks and her Drombusch OLD claimed the biggest victory of the rider’s senior career by winning the Global Dressage Festival CDI5* Grand Prix Freestyle Friday night while countryman Frederic Wandres claimed the Grand Prix Special on Bluetooth OLD with a personal best score for Wellington’s top title for the third year in a row.

Felicitas, 23 years old, who first competed in Wellington as a junior rider a decade ago, posted a score of 77.425% on the 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding in the Winter Equestrian Festival’s centerpiece international arena under lights. It was the seventh win in eight starts this winter circuit for the reigning European Under-25 partnership. Among the pair’s successes this winter was on the German gold medal team in the Nations Cup.

Sweden’s seven-time Olympian Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén on Devanto was runner-up on 74.565% in the Freestyle. Germany’s Anna-Christina Abbelen on Sam Donnerhall placed third on 73.895%.

Frederic Wandres, competing the 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding Bluetooth in the first competition of the year scored a personal best 78.340% for the Special win. Among the goals on the return to Germany with his 2023 European Championship team silver medal mount are selection events leading up to the Paris Olympics.

USA’s Anna Marek, Pan American Games team gold medal rider who is based in the Ocala area community of Dunnellon, placed second on Fayvel on 70.617%.

Ashley Holzer of Wellington on Hansel was third on 70.149%.

The CDI5* carried total prize money of $150,000 (€138,000), the richest dressage competition in the U.S. 

Frederic Wandres of Germany on Bluetooth OLD completing the Global Dressage Festival CDI5* Grand Prix Special for the third title in three years of the premier dressage event in the United States. © 2024 Ken Braddick/DRESSAGE-NEWS.com

Frederic said the ride felt like the personal best that it was.

“It felt super, flawless, harmonious,” was the way he described it.

A mistake in the one-tempi changes in the Grand Prix that the pair won Wednesday night was a “wake up call” that made him angry with himself andpushed me even more for today that I said this should and will not happen again. And I also felt like where I could go for risk a little bit.

“We really invested here this season into working on some details and I think it worked out pretty good. I’m very, very happy that I was able to bring him (Bluetooth) here and to take the time with him. I spent a lot of time with my horses; it’s not only the riding, it’s grassing, grooming, cleaning, everything. And here I can really do that and so I’m very happy.”

Germany’s Olympic team selection competitions as with most countries occur in the next three months plus team coach Monica Theodorescu was in Wellington for this event.

Felicitas described the show as “super fun… the atmosphere was amazing.”

She bought Drombusch as a six-year-old from her uncle, Christoph Koschel, who is also her coach as he is of two of the three United States riders heading to the World Cup Final in Saudi Arabia next month.

“We thought he might be the right match and turned out to be right,” she said. “So it was a long way but it was a very fun and very, very rewarding way. And I couldn’t wish for a better dance partner and it’s even more special because we’ve gone all the way together.”

She and Drombusch head home next week with plans for the spring and summer, including the German championships at Balve in June.

Results:

CDI5* Grand Prix Freestyle
RankCompetitorScoreEHCMB
1.
Felicitas Hendricks (GER)
Drombusch OLD
77.245%78.90076.67576.60076.32577.725
2.
Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén (SWE)
Devanto
74.565%76.02574.55072.87575.02574.350
3.
Anna-Christina Abbelen (GER)
Sam Donnerhall
73.895%74.15075.07574.60072.77572.875
4.
Pablo Gómez Molina (ESP)
Ulises de Ymas
73.625%72.65074.77572.90074.25073.550
5.
Jan Ebeling (USA)
Jubi’s Tenacity
73.465%73.35073.65074.22572.45073.650
6.
Michael Klimke (GER)
Domino 957
69.315%67.10069.17569.75069.92570.625
7.
Erin Nichols (USA)
Elian Royale
68.725%67.07569.77569.57569.30067.900
8.
Monica Burssens (MEX)
Elfentanz
64.840%64.95064.20064.87563.60066.575
Find details on Equestrian Hub

 

CDI5* Grand Prix Special
RankCompetitorScoreEHCMB
1.
Frederic Wandres (GER)
Bluetooth OLD
78.340%80.95776.27777.55378.61778.298
2.
Anna Marek (USA)
Fayvel
70.617%72.55369.78771.17070.31969.255
3.
Ashley Holzer (USA)
Hansel
70.149%69.57471.06469.14971.48969.468
4.
Kevin Kohmann (USA)
Dünensee
69.702%69.78769.46868.72370.21370.319
5.
Naïma Moreira Laliberté (CAN)
Statesman
68.979%68.93668.40469.04367.87270.638
6.
Jennifer Williams (USA)
Joppe K
66.170%67.55366.48963.93667.44765.426
WD
Camille Carier Bergeron (CAN)
Finnländerin
withdrawn
EL
Maria Pais Do Amaral (POR)
Hot Hit OLD Campline
eliminated
Find details on Equestrian Hub