Day three of the NAF Hartpury Festival of Dressage showcased an array of international and national competition, with the NAF CPEDI3* Freestyle titles decided, Laura Tomlinson producing a memorable one-three finish in the LeMieux FEI Grand Prix, and Amy Woodhead continuing her outstanding week with victories in both the D&H Intermediate I and the Elite Stallions Young Horse Prix St Georges first round.
The CPEDI3* competition concluded in style as the Freestyle classes brought together technical precision, creativity and musical interpretation to produce a memorable finale to the international para dressage programme.
Great Britain's Mari Durward-Akhurst completed an impressive week by taking the Grade I Para Grand Prix Freestyle aboard Athene Lindebjerg with 78.114%. Having already secured the Individual title following victories in both Grade I Para Grand Prix Tests A and B, Durward-Akhurst added the Freestyle crown ahead of Elan Williams and Nalique on 74.020%, with Susanna Wade and Premier Royal Mint finishing third.
There was another British success in Grade II, where Jemima Green and the exciting Fantabulous completed a remarkable hat-trick of victories. Having already won both Para Grand Prix Tests A and B earlier in the week, Green secured the Freestyle title with a commanding 78.440%, completing a clean sweep of the Grade II classes. One of Britain's most decorated para dressage athletes, Lee Pearson, finished second aboard Breezer on 74.987%, with Sarah Suddaby and Hit Song completing an all-British podium.
Grade III produced one of the closest contests of the day as Erin Orford and LJT Nutbush danced to victory with an expressive freestyle scoring 75.167%. Ireland's Katie Reilly and Keystone Dawn Chorus pushed the winners all the way to finish just 0.307 percentage points behind on 74.860%, while fellow Irish rider Jessica McKenna and D.C.I Cerruti completed the podium on 71.580%.
In Grade IV, Nicola Naylor maintained the outstanding form that had seen her dominate earlier in the week, partnering Humberto Lto victory with 77.750%. Laura Scott and CEI Summer Days claimed second on 70.705%, ahead of Sara Louise Bates and Tango on 68.970%.
The highest score of the entire CPEDI3* Freestyle competition came in Grade V, where Sophie Wells and MSJ Gold Standardproduced a superb performance to break the coveted 80% barrier. Their winning score of 80.265% was rewarded unanimously by the international judging panel, with Flossie England and Sankro taking second on 66.895% ahead of Elizabeth McBurney and Bangalore C on 65.085%.
Laura Tomlinson delivered one of the performances of the day in the LeMieux FEI Grand Prix. Riding Full Moon II, Tomlinson produced the only test to exceed 70%, scoring 72.174% to claim victory before returning later in the class aboard Forest Hill to add third place on 69.087%. Splitting the two Tomlinson rides was Matt Frost and Kerouac, who secured second with 69.391%.
Amy Woodhead also enjoyed another memorable day at Hartpury with victories in both the D&H Intermediate I and the Elite Stallions Young Horse Prix St Georges qualifier.
Woodhead first headed the D&H Intermediate I aboard MSJ Viva Dannebrog, producing a polished test to score 73.529%. Laura Tomlinson and Ostmarks Digal finished second on 72.059%, while Louise Gallavan-Gelder and Fabergé TF claimed third with 68.382%.
The pair later returned to win the Elite Stallions Young Horse Prix St Georges, again aboard the talented eight-year-old Hanoverian mare by Vitalis. Their winning score of 72.941% topped a highly competitive field of young horses, ahead of Dannie Morgan and Fever Tree on 72.059% and Jody Haswell with Valentinio on 71.078%.
The qualifier also determined the combinations that will contest Saturday evening's prestigious Elite Stallions Young Horse Championship during the evening performance. Abigail Lyle and Sun Rose secured fourth place on 70.049%, while Kate Cowell (Samarkand), Jayne Turney (Vienna WD), Ruby Hughes (Fire Kracka) and Michael Eilberg (EDH Malakai) completed the top eight and booked their places in the championship final.
The D&H Intermediate I also welcomed Hartpury University alumna Annie Ho back to the venue where she studied Equine Business Management.
Elsewhere, Thursday evening's horse inspection signalled the start of the CDI competition, with all 47 horses presented for the CDI1* and CDI3* accepted to compete. International CDI action now gets underway on Friday as the festival enters another exciting phase of competition.
NAF CPEDI3* Freestyle Winners
Grade I: Mari Durward-Akhurst & Athene Lindebjerg – 78.114%
Grade II: Jemima Green & Fantabulous – 78.440%
Grade III: Erin Orford & LJT Nutbush – 75.167%
Grade IV: Nicola Naylor & Humberto L – 77.750%
Grade V: Sophie Wells & MSJ Gold Standard – 80.265%
Premier League Winners
LeMieux FEI Grand Prix: Laura Tomlinson & Full Moon II – 72.174%
D&H Intermediate I: Amy Woodhead & MSJ Viva Dannebrog – 73.529%
Elite Stallions Young Horse Prix St Georges: Amy Woodhead & MSJ Viva Dannebrog – 72.941%
