With four of the World’s Top 10, including the number 1 and World champion, Great Britain’s Charlotte Fry, the 12th Internationaux de Compiègne dressage event (from the 4th to the 7th of May) offers an exceptional line-up. The promise of top level competition and a rendezvous which France is facing with very real ambitions.
Charlotte Fry & Glamourdale in 2022
For several years the CDIO5*, Compiègne’s international dressage competition, has become one of favourite events for the World’s best dressage riders. The 2023 edition confirms the attractiveness of this event, playing host to one of the stages of the prestigious FEI Nations Cup circuit. Since the beginning of the year, few competitions in the World can boast such a line-up. At the top of the list is the new queen of the discipline, Great Britain’s Charlotte Fry, World number 1 and winner of the individual World champion title last summer in Herning (Denmark). The 27 year old rider will be leaving her fabulous Glamourdale at home, but she will be present in Compiègne’s arena with Dark Legend, a 15 year old with whom she participated in a World Cup final last year and who is familiar with this French show-ground taking third place in the 3* Grand Prix both in 2022 and 2021 and winning the Nations Cup in 2019. ‘’It’s a competition that I particularly appreciate, the site is superbly renovated, the arenas are perfect and there’s always a very good atmosphere, recalled the World champion during her last visit. All the riders will tell you the same thing!’’
Charlotte Fry will be leading a British team in which spectators will also be able to discover the young (18 years old) Annabella Pidgley. No stranger to podiums in European junior competitions, Pidgley has been partnering Vamos Amigos since the beginning of the year, this 11-year-old gelding was Denmark’s Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour former ride, and the horse with whom she was awarded the excellent score of 89.411% at the last World Championships (and an individual silver medal behind… Fry).
Denmark, Team World champions, Great Britain, but also Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands to battle in the Nations Cup
Competition will be extremely fierce. Three other riders in the World’s top 10 will be present at the Grand Parc equestrian stadium. Denmark’s Carina Cassøe Krüth, ranked n° 5, will be competing on her mare Heiline’s Danciera, with who she won two stages of the World Cup during the winter as well as taking team gold at the last World Championships. Patrik Kittel from Sweden, currently ranked n°7 is entering with his top horse Touchdown. Watch out also for the Dutch Dinja van Lierde, n°4 in the rankings (bronze medal at the World Championships with Hermes N.O.P.), who will be bringing her young but already very effective Hartsuiker. Collectively probably a step below, Belgium, third last year here, will be counting on Larissa Paulius, fourth last weekend in Fontainebleau with Flambeau, and Portugal (4th in the 2022 Nations Cup), on Maria Caetano and Hit Plus.
France has no complexes and dreams of a podium
With such a huge amount of competition in the Nations Cup, it is going to be an intense fight to reach the top step of the podium which was occupied by Sweden last year in front of Spain and Belgium. Sixth in 2022, France intends climb a few places and even has the ambition to get close to the podium. ‘’Our riders are working towards it, explains Jean Morel, France’s dressage team selector and chef d’équipe. They’ve been working hard all winter. We’re lucky to have a Nations Cup of this level in France. We’ll be lining-up our best team at Compiègne with horses that are already competitive and which have been showing form over the last few months. All our horses are capable of crossing the symbolic 70% mark, and despite a few details needing improvement, the whole picture is very positive. Taking part is good, but we’d like to climb in the placings and why not even take a place on the podium.’’
Leading the French team will be France’s best performing pair since the beginning of the year, Corentin Pottier and his son of Totilas, Gotilas du Feuillard who were 9th in the World Cup in Basel and 6th in the Grand Prix at the recent CDI 5* in Fontainebleau, achieving scores over 72% each time in the Grand Prix. Alongside him will be Morgan Barbançon (n° 26 in the World rankings), the best French rider over the last few seasons who will be competing in Compiègne with Bolero, and the rider from the Cadre Noir at Saumur, Pauline Basquin, with Sertorius de Rima Z IFCE. Alexandre Ayache, partnering Jolène, will also be present, but as individuals.
With four months to go before the European Championships in Riesenbeck (Germany, from the 4th to the 10th of September), but also just over a year before the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the Internationaux de Compiègne are a precious indicator for all the nations.
Excellent fields in the in both the CDI 3* and youth classes
A considerable number of riders entered in the CDIO5* will also be taking part in the CDI 3*, most of them with up and coming horses that are already performing well. Classes for the youngest riders are also looking exciting with, in particular, in the CDIP (ponies), the presence of Germany’s Lilly Marie Collin and Mia Allegra Lohe, respectively n°2 and n°3 in the World. In the juniors, Belgium is coming forwards as favourites with two riders in the top 20 (Clara Collard and Anna Peeters). In the CDIY (Young Riders), Mado Pinto, the World n°11 with Hot Bit de la Gesse, will certainly be carrying French hopes. Finally, in the CDIU25 (under 25s), the Netherlands will have the advantage with the World n°11, Daphne van Peperstraten.
AND TO CONCLUDE, THE GREAT SANTI SERRA
At the end of classes, on Sunday the 7th of May in the afternoon, Santi Serra, the World-renowned equestrian artist will once again amaze spectators. A wonderful finale to three days of great sport. In his show, Santi Serra will be showcasing his love for horses, dogs and birds. As always with the spanish artist, often called the magician, the whisperer, …, it’s going to be fascinating !
Free entry throughout the 3 days
Exhibitor’s village and catering on-site
Free parking