last updated on June 25, 2013 12:49

Video click here !  http://youtu.be/PxGeLWgGszA

Charlotte Dujardin and her Olympic ride Valegro led team GBR to victory in the second fixture of this year's four leg FEI Nations Cup series at Rotterdam (NED), 19 – 22 June.

Together they produced the biggest score across all nations for the team competition with 82.191% in the CDIO5* Grand Prix, leaving Valegro unbeaten on the world stage since January 2012.

Along with team mates Carl Hester (Fine Time IV), Gareth Hughes (DJ Stenkjers Nadonna) and Daniel Watson (Fideramber), Charlotte and 'Blueberry' contributed to an average team score of 74.624% which left team GBR ahead of the second placed Dutch team (73.035%). In third place was Sweden, who produced an average of 69.29% despite only presenting a team of three riders.

26 competitors represented a total of seven nations for the Nations Cup Grand Prix class at the Dutch venue – Belgium, Denmark, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Sweden and Great Britain.

Charlotte and Valegro also reigned victorious in the individual CDIO5* Freestyle class, producing a score of 87.425% to take first place ahead of Edward Gal with Glock's Undercover on 86.075%.

Charlotte and Valegro riding their CDIO5* GP Freestyle test, courtesy of Equireport 2013)

Charlotte said "I'm really happy. Obviously there were a few blips, but Valegro has not been out since December" she explained. "His last competition was at Olympia, so to come here and perform the way he did, and with such confidence, was brilliant. I had a really good ride, but I know there are a few things I need to sharpen up" she added.

It was a fantastic second leg to the Nations Cup for Great Britain following an unfortunate start to the series at Vidauban last month when one of the three team members Sarah Millis had to withdraw her ride HP Frontier.

This time four combinations crossed the channel to ride for team GBR and all started.

Along with Charlotte in the team Grand Prix class, Carl Hester posted 71.532% on Fine Time IV, Gareth Hughes bettered his own score by 4% from the same show last year with DJ Stennkjers Nadonna (70.149%) and Dan Watson produced an international personal best with Fideramber on 67.830%.

Alongside the Nations Cup Grand Prix class at Rotterdam there was also a Special and Freestyle to make a full complement for the CDIO5*, along with Grand Prix and Special classes for the CDI3*.

In the CDIO5*, team GBR all went individually on their Nations Cup rides. For the Special, Dan Watson and Fideramber took tenth place on a score of 65.833% whilst in the Freestyle Charlotte and Blueberry topped the class on 87.425% ahead of second placed combination Edward Gal and Glocks Undercover (86.075%). Carl and Gareth took fifth and tenth place alongside Charlotte with 74.525% and 71.750% respectively.

In the CDI3*, Olympians Carl (Dances with Wolves) and Charlotte (Uthopia) contested for both the Grand Prix and Special – Charlotte taking second and Carl third place in each class.

On both occasions neither Brit could beat Dutchman Edward Gal and his ride Glock's Voice to the top spot, the combination were nearly five percent ahead of Charlotte and Uthopia in the Grand Prix Special with a score of 77.063%.

The next Nations Cup leg takes place during the CDIO5* fixture in Aachen, Germany, on 27 June and it will be the Dutch who arrive at the third leg with the advantage. They remain top of the league table following their victory at Viduaban, four points ahead of second placed Sweden and eight points ahead of third placed Great Britain.

The 2013 series will conclude during a Grand Prix freestyle on Sunday 4 August at Hickstead CDIO3* following Grand Prix classes for the preceding three legs at Vidauban (FRA), Rotterdam (NED) and Aachen (GER).

Nations Cup Team Results:

1. Great Britain 74.624%
Fideramber (Daniel Watson) 67.830, Fine Time 13 (Carl Hester) 71.532, DV Stenkers Nadonna (Gareth Hughes) 70.149, Valegro (Charlotte Dujardin) 82.191

2. Netherlands 73.035%
Blom's Wynton (Madeleine Witte-Vrees) 68.404, Glock's Tango (Hans Peter Minderhoud) 69.681, Uzzo (Patrick van der Meer) 69.766, Glock's Undercover (Edward Gal) 79.660

3. Sweden 69.291%
Weihenstephaner (Mads Handeliowitz) 63.447, Lennox (Cecilia Andren Dorselius) 68.660, Don Auriello (Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven) 75.766

4. Denmark 68.638%
My Lady (Mikala Munter Gundersen) 67.426, Loxana (Maria Anita Andersen) 68.170, Jonstrupgardens Raneur (Lisbeth Seierskilde) 68.362, Mariett (Lars Petersen) 69.234

5. Germany 68.113%
Nymphenburgs (Johanna Von Fircks) 68.043, Der Hit (Benjamin Werndl) 67.383, Darjeeling 5 (Stephan Koberle) 68.915

6. France 67.986%
Talitie (Pierre Subileau) 65.277, Florentino (Karen Tebar) 67.128, Noble Dream Concept (Marc Boblet) 67.213, Riwera de Hus (Jessica Michel) 68.574

7. Belgium 66.730%
Wipsy V Heihof (Delphine Meiresonne) 66.128, Pari Lani (Wim Verwimp) 66.277, Wodan (Francoise Joux-Hologne) 66.149, Vradin (Simon Misslaen) 67.766