PART OF PRESS RELEASE
A great start for the 12th Internationaux de Dressage of Compiègne. Even though the CDIO5* and it’s FEI Nations Cup only starts tomorrow, Saturday the 6th of May, spectators have already been able to applaud the stars of the discipline with wins by the World n°2 Charlotte Fry in the CDI3* and the CDI 1*, Lilly Marie Collin in the CDI Pony and that of France’s Mado Pinto in the opening class of the CDIY, a category for under 21s. Yet again, the Grand Parc equestrian stadium is promising a weekend of top level sport and will be brought to close on Sunday afternoon with a show by the great Santi Serra. Admission is free
In particular there were two riders eagerly awaited at this latest edition of the Internationaux de Dressage of Compiègne: Great Britain’s Charlotte Fry, the World n°2 (after 4 months at the top from January to May 2023) and the n°7, Sweden’s Patrik Kittel, who lead his team to victory in the Nations cup in 2022. Entered today in the CDI3*, these top of the bill riders delighted the public by taking 1st (75.783%) and 2nd (73.826%) places respectively in the Engie Solutions Grand Prix. Partnering Lars van de Hoenderheide, with whom she recently won the 3* Grand Prix and Freestyle at 's-Hertogenbosch, the new star of the discipline has already made her mark this year at Compiègne: "Lars was fantastic, this is his best performance to date. It’s his first outdoor international and he behaved really well. Even if it's only the 3*, there was already a very good atmosphere, and I think he’ll have felt it. Above all I want him to gain experience and enjoy competing. As for myself I’m also looking forward to the Nations Cup tomorrow. Everdale is in great form and we’ve lined up a team that’s younger but with lots of potential’."
The Grand Prix also signalled the return of Well Done de la Roche CMF to Compiègne. Patrik Kittel's favourite partner, with whom he won the 5*CDIO in 2021 as an individual and helped the Swedish team to victory in the Nations Cup here in both 2018 and 2019, was returning to the competition arena following nearly two years off. "I’m so happy to be able to be back with Well Done," said the rider. ‘’His first 5*Grand Prix victory was here at Compiègne in 2019! I love this event, I’ve been coming here for many years now, and it’s always a real pleasure. We’ve seen the site, which is really magnificent, evolve, and the public always turn-up, what more can you ask for?" Behind them, Germany’s Matthias Alexander Rath, who has been very successful in recent months, took third with his son of Totilas, the stallion Thiago GS (73.500%)
CDI 1* - Charlotte Fry Again
Not content with having already won the CDI3*, Charlotte Fry showed the extent of her talent by hoisting her young recruit Jackson to the top of the class. A son of her champion Everdale, with whom she will be competing in the 5*CDIO, the 9-year-old KWPN was impressive and exited the arena on 75.529%. ‘’I’m so proud of Jackson!" said the British rider, "This is really his very first outdoor competition, everything is new for him. The weather wasn’t on our side with rain and even a storm, but he was exemplary. I really enjoyed riding him’’. Switzerland’s Andrina Suter was second with Briatore NRW on 73.971% and Denmark’s Anna Kasprzak on Everian L, third having scored 72.471%.