Para riders dazzle at the first day of the Festival of Dressage

Hartpury’s Festival of Dressage got off to a winning start with some fantastic International Para Dressage on the first day of the festival (Wednesday 4 July). 

The sun was shining as the event kicked off with the FEI CPEDI3* International Para Team Test Grade V. Sophie Wells stormed ahead of the competition on both rides and clinched the top two spots. Two great rides saw her take first place on C Fatal Attraction with 73.674% and second place on Gladstone with 69.997%. Charlotte Cundall came a close third on Bam Bam with 68.116%.

Isobelle Palmer’s beautiful ride on Touchdown M saw her win the Grade IV with 70.825%. Nicola Greenhill and Marcelle Ward were hot on her heels as they competed for the runner-up spots. Nicola Greenhill placed second on Betty Boo with 68.875% and Marcelle Ward placed third on Dornroeschen with 68.425%.

Natasha Baker won the Grade III on Mount St John Diva Dannebrog with 73.794%, just beating Erin Orford who took the runner-up spot on Dior with 72.118%. Amanda Shirtcliffe came third on New-Princess with 68.294%.

Lee Pearson and Styletta took to the arena for the Grade II and claimed a comfortable win with 73.485%. Georgia Wilson saw off the rest of the competition and secured the runner-up spots with two brilliant rides on Chico III with 71.697% and Midnight Z with 70.909%. 

Lee Pearson said: “I’m delighted to win the Grade II on Styletta. It was a hot day but she performed well in a very athletic test. I’m incredibly proud of her.”

Sophie Christiansen and Amazing Romance were on top form as they scooped the winning position in the Grade I with 72.357%. Diane Green and Susanna Wade were in close competition as they battled for second and third place. Diane just pulled ahead on Gunstones Pride to finish second with 70.179% while Susanna Wade came a close third on D Artagnan III with 69.393%.

With three areas full of dressage competition, this morning also saw the Equine Construction, NAF M Power Advanced Medium 92 and the Equine Construction and Baileys Horse Feeds Advanced Medium 98 get underway. 

Sam Rahmatalla riding Hawtins Falerno won the Advanced Medium 92 and came top of the gold section. Darren Hicks was runner-up in the overall test on Hemisphere II with 72.43% but took the top spot in the silver section. Ruth Edge came third on Falcon II with 71.76%.

Emily Harris riding Freya F.S.T won the Advanced Medium 98 and the gold section with 72.24%. Lizzie Murray rode her way into the runner-up spot on Ulyssa with 71.18%, followed by Calum Whitworth riding on Faydirmie ZH with 69.47%.

Lara Butler riding Unique VIII won the Cavalor FEI Intermediate II with 71.10%. Maria Eilberg riding Sarotti came second place with 69.69% and Serena Pincus came third on Sheepcote Fantasia with 67.89%

Winners of the Fairfax Saddles FEI Prix St Georges class 1a were Gareth Hughes on KK Dominant with 73.95% in first place, closely followed by Charlotte Dujardin on Briso II with 73.43%. Winner of the class 1b was Laura Tomlinson on Fallatijin Van Kairos with 73.38% followed by Michael Eilberg on Daltrey with 70.48%.

It was a day to celebrate our students’ success as three Hartpury students put in great performances across the board. Well done to Lucy Pincus, Mia Mordecai-Smith and Sarah Jorgensen who competed in the Equine Construction, NAF M Power Advanced Medium 92 and the Equine Construction, Baileys Horse Feeds Advanced Medium 98.

Full results from the Festival of Dressage can be found on the results page. Results will be uploaded live each day, so keep an eye on the page.

Want to come and see some dressage? Entry is free tomorrow (Thursday 5 July) and tickets for Friday, Saturday and Sunday (6-8 July) cost £6 per day. You can buy your tickets on the Hartpury online shop.

The Gala Evening on Saturday promises to be an exciting event. World-renowned dressage composer Tom Hunt will be at Hartpury showing us how he creates the perfect musical compilation for a dressage freestyle.

We won’t be live streaming the gala evening this year, so make sure you get your tickets. You can buy them on the Hartpury online shop. Tickets cost £16.50 and include day entry. 

Under 16’s and parking is free all week.