Ross-Davies takes Hesters place for 2007 European Championships
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Anna Ross-Davies and Liebling II will be on the British team for the 2007 European Dressage Championships in Turin, Italy, 30 August - 2 September. They are taking the place of Carl Hester and Lecantos, who were forced to withdraw after Lecantos knocked his off fore, bruising a tendon.
Anna received the news while competing at a national show in Thann, Germany. Three international judges of the highest level, O, had just awarded her 69.8% in the grand prix, putting her in second place.
Anna, who trains in Germany with Ulla Salzgeber, said: “I had just come out of the prize-giving when I had the call to say I was on the team. It feels like I’ve been put in a catapult. It is a great shame for the team to lose Carl, but I will certainly do my best.”
Anna and the 10-year-old 16.2hh Holstein gelding owned by Donald McTaggart only competed in their first international grand prix this year at the Spanish Sunshine Tour, where they beat Lecantos on one occasion.
Carl Hester has had a disappointing few weeks. His former ride and three-times national champion Legal Democrat was put down last month at the age of 22. Carl was on the team with Marcia Kelsey’s Dutch-bred gelding in 1999, finishing 13th at the European Championships, and they were national champions from 1997 to 1999.
There was another British success story at the Thann show. Jane Gregory, who has also been training with Ulla Salzgeber, rode Lucky Star to finish sixth in the grand prix with 67.8% and then went on to take second place in the grand prix special with an impressive 70%
