Charlotte Dujardin produced a superb victory with Mount St John Freestyle before an ecstatic home crowd at the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2019/2020 Western European League qualifier in the Grand Hall at Olympia, London (GBR) tonight. And to put the icing on the British Christmas cake, her compatriots Carl Hester and Charlotte Fry lined up in second and third.

By Louise Parkes

It was an evening of great theatre, with Dujardin’s charming
10-year-old mare producing a stunning test for a mark of 87.520 to take
the lead when fourth-last to go, only for a technical hitch to delay the
scores of the three who followed. Still waiting
for the final result, the riders were all sent back to the stables
while Santa took over the arena for his Christmas Finale. But finally
the red carpet was rolled back out again, and it was Dujardin who led
the British victory gallop.

She was delighted with the performance of her mare who has clearly matured a great deal since showing her massive potential at last year’s FEI World Equestrian Games in Tryon, USA where she claimed two bronze medals. Freestyle’s freshness and freedom of movement, the elegance and height of her passage and the expressiveness of her extended canter were just some of today’s highlights. And the horse really seemed to be enjoying herself tonight, her big ears pricked as she gave her rider her full attention. 

“It’s only her third time doing that test, she’s very inexperienced at Freestyle and I’m so pleased with her. The atmosphere was buzzing, it was a full house and I could really feel it when I rode in. But she’s coping better and I couldn’t have asked any more from her!”

Charlotte Dujardin (GBR) Said the winning rider who, though still only 34 years old, is a legend of the sport following her world-beating career with the now-retired Valegro.

Her friend and mentor, Hester, followed her into the ring and put a
score of 84.470 on the board with a lovely performance with Hawtins
Delicato. “A personal best, I can’t believe that at my age!” laughed the
52-year-old who has long been a huge influence
in this sport. He was sitting back in the stable area when he learned
his result – “one of my girls texted me and said you got an amazing
score – it was a bit of a weird way to hear about it!” he added.

Fry was second-last to go, and the 23-year-old, who alongside
Dujardin and Hester was a member of the British side that finished
fourth at this summer’s FEI European Championships, produced a score of
82.620 with the 10-year-old stallion Everdale. This was
good enough to pip the final partnership, and last year’s Olympia
winners, Germany’s Frederic Wandres and Duke of Britain who finished a
close fourth with 82.550 this time around.

Hester said tonight that although he was happy with the way things
turned out today he realises he needs to put more pressure on himself,
because he continues to have big ambitions. “It was clear after the
Grand Prix test yesterday that this horse needs
to get out more. I know I need to get myself committed – this happens
before every Olympics!” said the man who has competed at five of them,
taking team gold with Uthopia at the London 2012 Games, and team silver
with Nip Tuck at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil.

Dujardin confirmed that she has both the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and
the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final 2020 in Las Vegas, USA in her sights
now. So her plan? “Just to carry on doing what I’m doing and see how we
go as we prepare for Tokyo. I’m hoping to
get to Vegas in April, so I’ll go to the qualifier in Amsterdam in
January and maybe another after that” she explained.

She was twice winner of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ title with
Valegro, taking her second title in Las Vegas in 2015. Today’s result
sees her move up to eighth on the Western European League table from
which the top nine will qualify for the 2020 Final,
so she may need another good result to ensure she makes the cut. 

There are still five legs of the Western European series left to go, the next taking place at Mechelen, Belgium on 29 December. 

Result here
WEL Standings here
Watch highlights here

Source: FEI
Photo: FEI