The Irishwoman recorded an impressive ninth place finish in the FEI World Cup Freestyle Grand Prix at Salzburg, Austria.

Merveldt and the 12-year-old gelding Esporim produced an excellent score of 73.705% when drawn second to go of 13 combinations.  The score kept the Irish competitor in second place until the midway point of the competition.

German Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera BB took victory on a score of 87.960%. Her compatriot Isabel Werth was second with Weihegold Old on a score of 84.720%.

Western European League Table

Anna Merveldt’s result yesterday now moves her up to equal fifth place on the Western European League table on 26 points. The top nine combinations will qualify for the World Cup Final.

One final qualifying round remains, at ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands, in March.

The 2021 FEI World Cup Dressage Final will take place in Gothenburg from March 31st to April 5th.

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Merveldt and Esporim finished third in Saturday’s Grand Prix at the same venue, and went one better in yesterday’s Freestyle to take second place overall with an impressive score of 73.650%.

It left the Irish combination just behind French rider Morgan Barbancon and Sir Donnerhall II OLD who took victory with a score of 76.575%. Austria’s Christian Schumach and Donna Karacho, who had finished ahead of Merveldt on Saturday, had to settle for third place behind the Irish rider this time when scoring 73.600%.

Anna Merveldt and Esporim’s previous best placing in a World Cup came at Mariakalnok in Hungary back in June when they finished fourth.

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Blake, riding Don’t Touch Du Bois, dominated the second phase of the Power and Speed competition as the 11-year-old mare clocked 26.893 seconds to win ahead of Australian Rowan Willis with Wellington Grandorie, who finished in 27.419 seconds. American Daniel Geitner and Vesta De Lavardin were third in 28.404 seconds.

Anna Merveldt and the 11-year-old stallion Esporim, with a personal best score in Grand Prix Special of 71.426%, were fourth in the CDI4* Grand Prix Special at Achleiten, Austria, a competition won by Germany’s six-time Olympic Gold medallist, Isabel Werth, with DSP Quantaz on a score of 80.149%.

Irish competitors will be represented at international shows this weekend, across the USA and Europe.

In showjumping, Irish riders will be in action as St Tropez Grimaud (FRA), Opglabbeek (BEL), Vilamoura (POR), Royan (FRA), Traverse City Michigan (USA), Bonheiden (BEL), Ste Cecile (FRA), Tryon North Carolina (USA) and San Giovanni In Marignano (ITA).

Ireland will also be represented in dressage at Grote-Brogel (BEL), in endurance at Ehrhardt South Carolina (USA) and in driving at Buehl (GER).

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Allen, riding the nine-year-old gelding Lafayette Van Overis, claimed the top prize of €6,350 in the 1m50 speed contest in France.

The Irish rider was almost two seconds ahead of American runner-up Jessica Springsteen with Volage du Val Henry, with Brazil’s Yuri Mansur taking third place with Casaktie in a class which attracted 54 starters.

In Dressage, Ireland’s Anna Merveldt and Esporim were fourth overall in Friday’s CDI4* Grand Prix at Achleiten, Austria.

The Irish combination produced a score of 69.544% when last of nine competitors to compete.

Last week Merveldt and Esporim were also fourth in the FEI World Cup Dressage Freestyle To Music Grand Prix at Mariakalnok, Hungary.

Victory in today’s competition went to Germany’s Isabel Werth and DSP Quantaz on a score of 78.152%.

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