Organisers of The London International Horse Show have today confirmed that double world champion Lottie Fry will be taking part in this year’s FEI Dressage World Cup at the renowned London Show which runs from 15 – 19 December.
The Show will host FEI World Cup action in three disciplines, including the FEI Dressage World Cup Grand Prix and Freestyle to Music supported by Horse & Hound on Thursday 15 December and Friday 16 December respectively. In addition, the adrenaline-fueled Extreme Driving supported by Karen and Hugh Scott Barrett will take place on Thursday 15 December and the FEI Driving World Cup presented by Martin Collins Enterprises by Eurofip International will take centre stage on Friday 16 December and Saturday 17 December.
FEI DRESSAGE WORLD CUP
Heading this year’s dressage field is double world champion and London International Horse Show ambassador Lottie Fry. Fry, who last week was named the Peden Bloodstock FEI Best Athlete at the FEI Awards, will bring the magnificent Everdale, her Olympic team bronze medal-winning partner from Tokyo last year. Based in The Netherlands with her mentor and trainer Anne van Olst, Fry will be returning to compete in her home country for the first time since her FEI World Championship victory in Herning and is sure to be the crowd favourite.
Ahead of her appearance at the Show, Fry said: “I am so excited to be returning to The London International Horse Show this December. I love competing in front of my home crowd, it is always so special, and the atmosphere is incredible. It will be the best way to end an amazing year.”
Joining Fry are numerous other British Dressage superstars, including her FEI World Championship teammates Gareth Hughes and Richard Davison. Hughes has amassed over 60 national and international titles over the last 10 years. Last year he was the British team reserve at the Tokyo Olympic Games and won FEI European Championship team silver. Most recently he was crowned British national champion and will be looking to continue this impressive form in London with his FEI World Championship mount Classic Briolinca.
Davison, who brings his trusted partner, Bubblingh, to the Show will be looking to improve on his impressive performances last year, where he came fourth and fifth in the Freestyle to Music and Grand Prix supported by Horse & Hound respectively. Fellow British riders Emile Faurie who rides Bellevue and Andrew Gould who brings Indigro will also compete and will be looking to add their names to the stellar list of home winners.
A strong representation from Germany will be making the trip across the English Channel to London, including Ingrid Klimke and Helen Langehanenberg. Spectators are sure to be delighted to welcome Klimke to The London International Horse Show for the first time. The German is no stranger to success on British soil having had numerous top five placings at Badminton and Burghley. The former Olympic Eventer is now following in the footsteps of father, Olympic Dressage rider Reiner Klimke, and won team bronze at the FEI World Championships this summer as well as winning the FEI World Cup Qualifier in Zakrzow last month and Stuttgart just over 10 days ago. Langehanenberg, the world No. 20, also comes to the Show on impressive form with a number of top placings this year such as placing third in the prestigious Grand Prix Special in Aachen.
Representing Canada is Naima Moreira Laliberte, who won team gold at the Pan American Games in 2019 and represented her country at the FEI World Championships in Herning this year. Moreira-Laliberté, the daughter of the co-founder of the Cirque du Soleil, will be sure to put on a show for the London crowds. The sole French dressage entry comes from Morgan Barbançon, who is sure to come to London full of confidence after her impressive victory in Grand Prix Freestyle to Music in the FEI World Cup Qualifier held in Motesice. Joining this strong roster of riders is Singapore’s Caroline Chew, who impressively balances competing at the very top level of the sport along with career as a Solicitor.
Dutch rider, Hans Peter Minderhoud, will also be coming to the Show along with Australia’s Simone Pearce, Northern Ireland’s Abigail Lyle, Spain’s Alejandro Asencio Mendez and Belgium’s Laurence Vanommeslaghe, completing this year’s FEI Dressage World Cup supported by Horse & Hound entries.
For a full list of entries for the FEI Dressage World Cup supported by Horse & Hound, please click here.
DRIVING FORCE IN LONDON
International Driving returns to London on Friday 16 December and Saturday 17 December, with the top three FEI ranked World Four-in-Hand Drivers in attendance.
Multiple London International Horse Show winner and world No.1, Boyd Exell (AUS) will be hoping to repeat his victory from last year. He will be the one to beat this year and comes to the Show having won every FEI competition he has taken part in since April. This impressive run of results includes an individual gold medal at the FEI World Championships in Herning and most recently the FEI Driving World Cup Qualifier in Stuttgart.
Koos de Ronde, the current world No. 2, will be wanting to go one better at the Show this year following on from his second placing last year. The Dutchman, a multiple championship medal winner has all the knowledge and skill to be a top contender in London this year. Compatriot and world No.3 Bram Chardon will be looking to follow in his father’s footsteps to win the prestigious FEI Driving World Cup Qualifier at The London International Horse Show.
Home favourite and always one to provide excitement to the action, Dan Naprous will be competing as well as participating in the display of his own Devil’s Horsemen’s in the daily performances. Rounding off this year’s impressive line-up are Chester Weber, the most decorated driver in the United States, the in-form Dries Degrieck (BEL) and France’s Benjamin Aillaud.
For a full list of Driving entries, please click here.
