Judy Reynolds and Vancouver K scored 78.269% to place fourth in FEI World Cup Grand Prix Kür (Freestyle to Music) at Olympia, London this evening.

Reynolds is the new leader in the FEI Western European league on 45 points, greatly enhancing her prospects of qualifying for the FEI World Cup final in Omaha, Nebraska, USA next year. She is also the first Irish rider ever to attain this rank.

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Judy Reynolds and Vancouver K at Olympia tonight.

Judy performed her new freestyle programme for only the second time this year and surprised the large audience in the grand hall with a special festive version of the music.

“JP (Vancouver K) settled after the initial centre line sequence” said the Irish Olympian afterwards. “He was really with me after that and I am pleased with the score.”

Remarkably, Judy revealed that she only received the music two days before debuting the freestyle at the FEI World Cup qualifier in Stuttgart, Germany last month.  Speaking from Olympia, Judy said: “It is technically a very difficult freestyle test, I think the only way I could make it more difficult is to add in a tempis sequence on a curve!”

The fifth FEI World Cup qualifier on the Western European league was won by Britain’s Carl Hester and Nip Tuck on a score of 84.669% for the second year in-a-row. The reigning FEI World Cup champions Hans Peter Minderhoud and Glock’s Flirt from the Netherlands scored 81.88% for second place with Edward Gal and Glock’s Voice, also from the Netherlands, clinching third on 80.46%.

FEI World Cup – Western European League
Leading positions after round five London
1. Judy Reynolds (IRL) 45
2. Kristy Oatley (AUS) 44
=3. Marcela Krinke Susmelj (SUI) 41
=3. Fabienne Lutkemeier (GER 41
5. Isabell Werth (GER) 40

Colin McClelland