PrintAugust 13, Gladstone, N.J.
Tina Konyot, North Stonington, Conn., increased her lead in the U.S. Selection Trials for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games by sweeping the second Grand Prix, the third of four tests in the Trials, with a 71.31 percent.
Although the No. 1 placing remained the same, the lower rankings had some changes—Todd Flettrich and Otto finished second on 69.78 percent, Pierre St. Jacques and Lucky Tiger moved up to third on 69.48 percent, and Catherine Haddad and Winyamaro stayed in fourth with a 69.14 percent. Nartan and Katherine Bateson-Chandler, who placed second in both the previous Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Special, were fifth (69.02%) today.
Though Konyot’s test wasn’t flawless—Calecto V missed a few one-tempis and some of his piaffe work wasn’t rhythmic—Konyot blamed herself for the errors today.
“He was there the best he could be,” Konyot said. “I didn’t ride the best extended trots today. Those were my weakest points. I was happy with my passage tour, but my piaffes were not their best. They were OK. They were acceptable. I just didn’t ride enough. He was quite fresh and feeling good.”
After last week’s Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special, Konyot gave a tired Calecto three days of easy work before putting him back together for this weekend’s competition. After Gladstone she plans on taking Calecto, a 12-year-old Danish Warmblood stallion (Come Back II—Bahera), home to her farm in Connecticut for a bit of breather before resuming training.
“We’ve only had one year in the Grand Prix, so we are a work in progress. We have a lot to make better, and we can make it better,” said Konyot. “I’m so happy I have tears in my eyes.”
After taking third in the last two classes at the Trials, Flettrich, Royal Palm Beach, Fla., was thrilled to move up to second in the second Grand Prix with Otto, although he’s still standing third overall after Konyot and Bateson-Chandler. Like Konyot, Flettrich said Otto’s test had some mistakes, which he mostly blamed on his own riding.
“I’m happy for the third day to be over!” Flettrich said. “I don’t usually make mistakes in my changes, and I had a mistake in the twos. I could kick myself. I thought my pirouettes were better.”
Otto, a 14-year-old Danish Warmblood (Rambo Dve 373—Jubel), recently returned from competing in Germany and is still recuperating from the travel experience. Flettrich will also take him home after Trials.
“He needs a little time to take it easy and go in the snaffle,” Flettrich said.
