Record Breaking Olympia Start for Charlotte Dujardin at Olympia!

by British Dressage

December 17, 2014

Record breaking Olympia start for Dujardin

Despite a hectic few weeks of awards, media and a stinking cold, Charlotte Dujardin made a winning start at Olympia tonight in the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Grand Prix, supported by Horse and Hound. The stress didn’t show one bit, nor the fact that Carl Herster, Roly Luard and Ann Bar’s Valegro hasn’t been in an arena since WEG in August as the duo were in flying form for a seven percent victory and…setting a new world record in the process with 87.460%.

It was the same top three 12 months ago with Dutch duo Edward Gal and Danielle Heijkoop in second and third respectively. Riding Glock’s Undercover NOP, Edward broke the 80% barrier with 80.12% despite following Charlotte’s rapturous applause from the near capacity crowd. Danielle partnered Siro NOP for 77.1% with all five judges agreeing on her third spot.

Carl Hester once again showed his brilliance with Jane de la Mare and his own Nip Tuck as at just ten (the youngest in the field), he found the Olympia atmosphere all a bit much. But he settled and Carl was pleased to with his score of 74.68% for fourth.
Next best Brit was Nikki Crisp and the evergreen Pasoa in 14th with 68.22% and they qualify for tomorrow night’s freestyle. Hannah Biggs scored 63.46% with her stallion Weltzin for 17th and just behind was Daniel Watson on his Olympia debut with Susie Farnon’s Fideramber, just 0.02% adrift on 63.44%. A top 15 finish was needed to go ahead to the freestyle.

A beaming Charlotte said; “Sport Personality was a huge honour for me to represent the sport and getting it recognised. But to get up on that stage in front of 12,000 people was the most nerve wracking thing ever. So tonight was a complete breeze! I used tonight as a schooling round after the long break after WEG. I just wanted him to enjoy it. To break another world record is fantastic; I don’t generally go in there to break a record, it just happens! To ride a special horse like him that tries his hardest every time is incredible.”