Warwick McLean and Hendrix 11, pictured here at a previous event. Image: Lukasz Kowalski.
Warwick McLean on the podium at CDI Sint-Truiden
By Equestrian Life
Australian dressage rider Warwick McLean has finished on the podium with Hendrix 11 at CDI Sint-Truiden in Belgium.
Warwick and 15-year-old Westphalen gelding Hendrix 11, by Blur Hors Hotline and out of a Donnerhall mare, scored an impressive 68.064% in the CDI3* Grand Prix Special to place third.
First place went to Sweden’s Malin Wahlkamp-Nilsson riding Sam 1108 (71.043%), while second place went to Lina Uzunhasan of the USA riding Furst Fabelhaft UZN (69.213%).
Warwick and Hendrix also finished sixth in the Grand Prix on 67.152%, a result that means they have now fulfilled the FEI Minimum Eligibility Requirement (MER) for the Paris Olympics. The FEI MER requires combinations to have achieved a minimum of 67% twice during the qualification period, by both an L4 judge and as an average from all judges, in two CDI3* (or higher) Grand Prix tests. Warwick and Hendrix received their first MER score at Lier CDI3* in March.
To be considered for Australian dressage team nomination ahead of the Paris Olympics, riders must meet (among other things) Competition Criteria, which forms part of Australia’s Nomination Criteria. This Competition Criteria requires riders to have achieved two scores “approaching or exceeding” 69% in Grand Prix Tests at a CDI3* or above and have demonstrated experience in a minimum of two Grand Prix Special Tests at CDI3* or above (between 1 January 2023 and 24 June 2024). Greater weight is placed on performances this year.
Warwick and Hendrix have demonstrated experience in the Grand Prix Special and will now be looking to post Grand Prix scores closer to 69% before the nomination deadline in June.
Warwick and Hendrix have a long partnership together, with Warwick training the gelding from a young horse through to Grand Prix level. In 2022, they were shortlisted for the Australian FEI World Championship team.
Full results from CDI Sint-Truiden can be found here.
Published 9 April 2024.
READ THE LATEST NEWS ARTICLES HERE
