Superb fourth place finish in Hungarian World Cup for Irish Dressage rider Anna Merveldt

A fantastic performance from Ireland’s Anna Merveldt and Esporim saw them take fourth place overall in last night’s (Saturday) FEI World Cup Dressage Freestyle To Music Grand Prix at Mariakalnok in Hungary.

Ireland’s Anna Merveldt and Esporim

After finishing sixth in the Grand Prix at the same venue on Friday, Merveldt and Esporim produced their best ever score as a combination [74.740%] in the Freestyle when ninth to go of 14 competitors and speaking afterwards Merveldt said:

“Between breaking my arm and COVID-19, I’m delighted to be back competing. I moved from Italy to Germany in March and started riding Esporim again in early April.  This was his first time competing under floodlights and I’m really pleased with the freestyle performance this evening.  He was a little ‘over motivated’ in the Grand Prix yesterday but today he was much calmer. He is a little star.”

Victory in the Freestyle Grand Prix went to Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl on Zaire E with a score of 84.890% ahead of another Germany rider, Helen Langehanenberg with Damsey Frh in second on 83.865%. Third place went to Dutch rider Thamar Zweistra with Hexagon’s Double Dutch who scored 78.750%.