The 14th Internationaux de Dressage, organised by the Compiègne Equestre association, has started under the sun and a blue sky. Running until Sunday, the biggest names in international dressage will be competing in one of the eight categories scheduled at the Stade Equestre du Grand Parc. Although the CDIO5* and the eagerly awaited FEI Nations Cup does not start until tomorrow, the highlight of the first day, the CDI3* – Grand Prix Barriquand, saw victory for Germany’s Paulina Holzknecht partnering Entertainer Win T.
Paulina Holzknecht and Entertainer Win T were first to go in the CDI3* Grand Prix – Barriquand, held in the Decarpentry arena, and retained pole position throughout the class against 15 other competitors. With a score of 68.609%, the 26-year-old rider made her return to international competition at Compiègne following a break of several months at this level. “I’m very happy with my test. Entertainer was completely with me today. He did very good changes, which was one of the strong points of our performance,” explained the athlete after the prize-giving ceremony. “I’m pleased to be back here, the site is magnificent, surrounded by nature, it’s really lovely,” concluded the rider, who will be back in action tomorrow morning in the Grand Prix Special – ARC. In second place on exactly the same score (the collective scores separating the first and second places), Alexandre Ayache on Ruling Olivia, a mare in whom he has high hopes. “I’m very pleased with her progress, she’s performed everything easily, without forcing, but we didn’t quite make it through the piaffe-passage, which is one of her strengths,” said the French rider, who is also competing in the CDIO5* with Jolène. Spain’s Claudio Castilla Ruiz took third place with Jota Das Figueiras (68.348%).
CDIY: Mathilde Juglaret and Lightning Star add another victory to their name
The rising star of French dressage, eagerly awaited after her three podium finishes in Aachen early April (1st-3rd-1st), confirmed that she and her fabulous Lightning Star will be a future force to be reckoned with. By winning the CDIY Team Test- Engie Solutions today with 72.206%, Mathilde Juglaret finished well ahead of former World n°1, Micky Schelstraete who was partnering Venicia Old (70.343%). “We’ve made a lot of progress on the work in trot, it’s more cadenced, fluid and relaxed, and in canter, the pirouettes are our real strength. I’ve confidence in my mare, I know that when we’re going well, the points follow,” confided the rider, who is in her final year in Young Riders(18-21 years old). Third place also went to France thanks to Emeline Schevingt and Borderline 5 (69.019%).
CDI1*, CDIU25, CDIJ and CDICh, the Netherlands lay down their cards.
Out in force, the Netherlands took control of four of the seven categories this Friday. Their delegation included the World n°1 in the Children’s category, Floor Kulik, who with Bella Rosa achieved the excellent score of 81.950%, a long way ahead of her rivals. Britt Kikkert-Van Der Linde and Jerenzo Texel dominated the CDIJ (69.040%), while Lara van Nek on All At Once (70.427%) and Denise Nekeman with L’Unique STH (70.353%) took the lead in the CDIU25 and CD1* respectively.
FEI Nations Cup – Who will succeed the Danes?
8 nations will be in the starting blocks tomorrow for the eagerly awaited FEI Nations Cup in Compiègne, the only French stage of this international circuit. Germany, the Netherlands, and France are among the favorites, but with teams sometimes including new horse and rider combinations who are less experienced at this level of competition, a surprise may come from elsewhere*.
Winners of the circuit in 2023 and again in 2024, the Germans, who already won the first rendezvous at Wellington in February, are making no secret of their ambitions. “We are coming to Compiègne with an experienced team,” confirmed Monica Theorodescu, Germany’s chef d’equipe. “Raphael Netz is young but has a wealth of experience, having won numerous medals in U25s. Carina Scholz has competed in a large number of international Grand Prix and in the last World Cup final. Matthias Alexander Rath has ridden in several Nations Cups, while Frederic Wandres is a team gold medalist from the Paris Olympics. We’ve got good chance here, we’ve some very good horses, we need to stay focused and keep our objective in sight.”
For the home nation, France, team selector Jean Morel will be able to count on a team led by Pauline Basquin/Sertorius de Rima Z and Alexandre Ayache/Jolène, who were both present at Versailles last year, they are joined by two pairs making their debut at this level, Caroline Godin/Querida de Hus and Bernard Bosseaux/Rikadora Z. “It’s important to test new riders and see how the judges score them,” said the selector. ”Caroline and Bernard are performing very good tests at major national competitions, and the goal is for them to replicate that here at 5* level. Alexandre, for his part, is continuing to perfection his performances. A few adjustments still need to be made. As for Pauline, we don’t want to put too much pressure on the horse because he has already contributed a lot to the team and we want to be able to still count on him for a number of years yet. There are numerous events this year, which is a good thing for providing the next generation with experience and giving other horses and riders a chance. Tomorrow, the Netherlands and Belgium also have lesser-known teams, so it’s difficult to predict, but of course our goal remains a place on the podium.”
On Saturday: The CDIO5* and the FEI Nations Cup, Grand Prix Special and Freestyle in the CDI3*, and the continuation of classes for the younger generations.
*The nations competing in the Nations Cup are: Germany, Belgium, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, and the United Kingdom.