Brits on Form
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
British riders were out in full force at Saumur CDI in France, 20-23 September 2007. Steph Croxford won the grand prix freestyle on Mr President V (pictured) with an impressive 74.7% after taking the runner-up slot in the grand prix. Newly-crowned national champions Spencer Wilton and Dolendo finished second in the grand prix special with 70.88% and Spencer was also well placed in the small tour, winning the intermediaire I freestyle with Collo V on 70.7%.
Steph, who was on her first international trip abroad with her three-month-old daughter Annabelle, took 36 instead of 12 hours to get to the show after her lorry broke down 5km from the show.
“The competition was the easy bit. He was on fire – my little warrior was on a mission. I have never had such a bond with a horse; it’s like putting on a pair of comfy shoes. Since I’ve started competing him again after having my daughter, we lost the plot for a couple of shows, but we’re back – we become one,” said Steph, who ended up doling out a lot of wine bottles to thank all the fellow competitors who helped her get to the show.
Spencer was brought back “down to earth” after Dolendo was spooky in the grand prix, but it did not take him long to forgive the 13-year-old 17.1hh Donnerhall gelding.
“It was his first indoor show since this show last year. He gave me such a nice feeling at the nationals last weekend, I expected the same here and was not on the ball enough. In the special, I got my backside into gear and he was great,” said Spencer.
In the small tour, Spencer rode Jane Clark’s 14-year-old Collo V by Corofino. Spencer’s trainer Carl Hester competed the 18.2hh grey at Hartpury CDI in July, finishing fourth in the prix st georges just two weeks after the horse came over from America to be sold.
“He hadn’t been competed for a while and we had a space on the lorry, so we took him. I made an expensive mistake in the PSG and not knowing him let me down in the inter I [they finished fourth in both tests],” said Spencer.
The combination won the inter I freestyle despite Spencer not having ridden through the test before.
“Because of the nationals, I hadn’t had the time – I didn’t have a clue how the freestyle would work out. He is such a gentleman.”
British-based Danish rider Mette Assouline won the intermediaire II with Enzian with Lizzie Murray and Catherston Springsteen taking second.
Visit www.cadrenoir.fr for the full results.
