COMPETING under floodlights on Saturday evening, Ireland's Anna Merveldt and Esporim danced their way to a personal best score, as a combination, of 74.740% to place fourth in the Grand Prix Kür (Freestyle to Music) at the opening leg of the 2020/2021 of the FEI World Cup Dressage Central European League in Mariakalnok, Hungary.

The 11-year-old Lusitano stallion Esporim by Pagao, owned by Mario Greco, Giovanna Mazza, Anna's sister Lorli Higgins and her brother-in-law Michael, was really suited by the Spanish-themed freestyle programme.

Anna 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."

The top two podium places in Saturday's FEI World Cup class went to Germany. Friday's Grand Prix winner Jessica von Bredow-Werndl on Zaire E scored 84.890% for a double. Helen Langehanenberg and Damsey Frh placed second on a 83.865% total. Third place went to Dutch rider Thamar Zweistra scoring 78.750% with Hexagon's Double Dutch.

Sixth in Grand Prix

Merveldt and Esporim had earlier scored 68.413% for sixth place in the FEI World Cup Central European League Grand Prix on Friday in Mariakalnok.

The top podium place in the class went to Germany's Jessica von Bredow-Werndl on Zaire E scoring 77.891% for the win with fellow German rider Helen Langehanenberg and Damsey Frh in second on a 76.022% total. Thamar Zweistra and Hexagon's Double Dutch, representing The Netherlands, slotted into third on a score of 73.152%