The team competition got underway on Saturday with the CDIO5* Grand Prix which belonged to Berkshire-based Olympian Spencer Wilton (44) with his Rio silver medal partner, Super Nova II. In the final quarter of the start list, Spencer and ‘Neville’, Jen Goodman’s De Niro x Weltmeyer 14-year-old, took the class with 75.32% ahead of Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg with the 15-year-old stallion, Damsey (Dressage Royal x Ritual).
Hayley Watson-Greaves and her long term partner Rubins Nite placed eighth with 71.52%, and the relatively new combination of Gareth Hughes and Anne Keen’s Don Carissimo earned 70.40% for 13th. Daniel Watson and Amadeus, Nicola Naylor’s Olivi x Sandro Hit gelding, also did a great job. They pair were awarded a creditable 68.06% for 22nd.
In pole position overnight, the team pulled out all the stops on Sunday to maintain the advantage. Spencer and Neville just get better and better. Again, they performed with great conviction, this time winning the Grand Prix Special by a 5% margin with a new PB of 78.35%. And Gareth Hughes and ‘Darcy’ finished seventh in line with a solid 70.07%.
On to Sunday afternoon’s freestyle, the conclusion of the team competition. Dan and Amadeus posted a solid 71.17% for 13th, and last to go, Hayley and ‘Squeaks’, were justly awarded 75.32% for an expressive performance to their Chris Lever composition. Hayley finished an impressive third behind Helen Langehanenberg and Patrik Kittel. And so, our four riders did themselves proud, taking their place at the top of the podium ahead of runners-up, the Netherlands, and Sweden in third.