Charlotte Fry and Glamourdale (GBR) flew to victory during the fourth leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Western European League at the London International Horse Show. With their flying-themed Freestyle, the black stallion soared to great heights, adding Freestyle victory to their Grand Prix win with an impressive score of 89.170%. Becky Moody (GBR) and Jagerbomb claimed second place with 86.410%, while Isabell Freese (NOR) and Total Hope OLD completed the podium on 81.695%.
The London arena, traditionally decorated entirely in Christmas style, was filled with a festive crowd dressed to match, enthusiastically cheering on their home favourites. After an all-British top three in Friday’s Grand Prix, expectations for the Freestyle were high.
Strong performances before the break
Two combinations delivered strong Freestyle performances before the break, securing their places in the prize-giving. First to impress was Marieke van der Putten (NED) with Kuvasz RS2 (owned by RS2 Dressage Center de Horst). The black stallion, a son of today’s winner Glamourdale, showed some tension in the Grand Prix, but in the Freestyle Van der Putten guided him through a fault-free test to score 76.420%, earning seventh place.
Twenty-two-year-old Moritz Treffinger (GER), contesting his first FEI Dressage World Cup™ season after claiming the U25 European Championship title earlier this year, partnered Cadeau Noir (owned by Gestüt Bonhomme GmbH & Co. KG). His boldly ridden Freestyle earned 75.395% and eighth place.
British favourites take centre stage
After the break, the focus shifted firmly to the British combinations and the atmosphere inside the ExCeL London arena quickly reached fever pitch. Sadie Smith (GBR) led the way with Swanmore Dantina (owned by the athlete). The reigning British champions have relatively limited international Grand Prix experience, but Smith presented a beautifully ridden Freestyle, allowing her mare to perform with confidence and relaxation throughout. Despite a few minor errors in the tempi changes, the pair scored 76.900% for sixth place, a new international personal best.
When Charlotte Fry and Glamourdale (owned by the athlete and Van Olst Horses) entered the arena, the venue fell silent. The reigning FEI Dressage World Cup™ champions had been untouchable in Friday’s Grand Prix and left no doubt about their superiority in the Freestyle. Glamourdale’s last competition had been the FEI Dressage European Championship in Crozet (FRA), where he scored well but was not quite at his peak. In London, however, he was back in top form. Their new flying-themed Freestyle, which was premiered at the Europeans, earned 89.170%.
Fry: “This is one of Glamourdale’s best ever performances. He loves the crowd here and the support was just amazing today, Glammie really rises to that. The crowd seemed to love our new Freestyle. The way he felt today was just the most incredible feeling.
"We both really got our confidence back here; I think we finished this year on the highest of highs.”
Charlotte Fry
(GBR)
Moody delights with festive Freestyle
The crowd had little time to recover before Becky Moody (GBR) and Jagerbomb (owned by the athlete and Jo Cooper) entered the arena. The ever-smiling British athlete had created a special Christmas-themed Freestyle for the occasion.
“We tried to have a little bit of fun with the music, it was really cool,” she said afterwards with a smile. Jagerbomb produced a steady performance in a technically demanding test featuring numerous transitions and difficult combinations. Their score of 86.410% secured second place behind Fry.
Moody added: “I’m incredibly lucky to have such a phenomenal horse, he has a heart of gold.”
Freese back on the podium
German based British athlete Susan Pape (GBR) followed with the eye-catching chestnut mare Harmony’s Giulilanta (owned by the athlete and Harmony Sporthorses). Dancing to the sounds of Tom Jones, the pair delivered a fault-free Freestyle, with the mare showing impressive technique in piaffe and passage. Their score of 79.805% marked a new personal best, leaving them just outside the top three.
Isabell Freese (NOR) and Total Hope OLD (owned by Lone Boegh Hendriksen, Øivind Bache and Paul Schockemöhle) had finished second in London last year and repeated that strong form with another podium finish, taking third place. While the stallion had been slightly distracted in the Grand Prix, he was fully focused in the Freestyle.
Freese: “I’m super happy today, he was much better than yesterday. We managed to ride without mistakes. He’s a breeding stallion, so warming up with other horses isn’t always easy for him. I’m really proud that he was fully concentrated as soon as we entered the arena.”
Dujardin just misses out
Expectations were also high for the final athlete of the day. Charlotte Dujardin (GBR) received a warm welcome from the crowd with Alive and Kicking (owned by the athlete, Ulrike Bachinger and Carl Hester). After a razor-sharp Grand Prix performance that earned second place on 76.544%, a few mistakes crept into the Freestyle, in two piaffes and the transitions leading into them. The score of 79.230% left her outside the top three and just behind her compatriot Pape.
World Cup standings
Following the London qualifier, Raphael Netz (GER) remains at the top of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Western European League standings. Becky Moody made the biggest move up the leaderboard and now sits third with 37 points.
The series continues on 28 and 29 December in Mechelen (BEL), so don’t miss a hoofbeat.