The organizers of Jumping Amsterdam chose to program the dressage Kur to Music in the evening hoping to attract a sold out crowd. Around 8 p.m. the greenhouse-like looking indoor arena was packed to 98 percent.
The dramatic score of Ulla Salzgeber's Kur easily made the German rider stand out after several rides with musical scores that were less than exciting. Salzgeber simply shocked with the lovely soundtrack on which her young Russian beauty danced. Wall Street, who lost strength and impulsion from behind at the end of his performance, still left an impression. "Her seat is so strong and correct" commented one upper level judge watching from the stands. The combination ended up on a fourth spot with 74.06%.Heike Kemmer and Albano, a twelve year old Oldenburger gelding by Argentinus x Grundstein I, moved into third position, scoring 75.56%. Kemmer is currently having a great season with her two horses Caesar and Albano. The 37 year old professional dressage rider is the manager of the famous stallion station Amselhof in Walle, Lower Saxony (Germany), and trains with Johan Hinnemann.
Arjen Teeuwissen who rode to music with the sounds of castanets, a type of freestyle introduced by the German Klaus Balkenhol at the 1994 World Equestrian Games in The Hague and often used by the Spanish team riders who found that the castanets had an excellent beat for their Andalusians' movements. Teeuwissen was again a crowd-pleaser with the KWPN gelding Gestion Goliath showing brilliant piaffe-passage transitions and canter and trot extensions. "My horse was more obedient to my aids and he trusted me more in the freestyle, "Teeuwissen explained afterwards. Arjen, who lives in 's Gravenwezel, Belgium, with his boyfriend Frank Garritsen, received 76.29% and moved into second place.
The custom made freestyle of prima donna Anky van Grunsven, known as the West Side Story Kur, remains to outdo all other compositions. Maybe it's because Gestion Bonfire drills the exercises out of his head, or that van Grunsven has been known to play the music day in and day out at her barn in preparation. There was hardly a point to be remarked in the immaculate test of van Grunsven and Bonfire. This resulted in an 82.29% score, a new victory and a standing ovation from the crowd. The panel of judges, which was formed by Uwe Spenlen (GER), Francis Verbeek (NED), Stephan Clarke (GBR), Leif Thornblad (SWE) and Wim Ernes (NED), unanimously placed the Dutch pair first for the second time during a weekend owned by Anky.
Saturday 4 December 1999: Gestion Bonfire Unbeatable
After a five month break Dutch national sports hero Anky van Grunsven and Gestion Bonfire made a thrilling reentry at the CDI- World Cup Qualifier in Amsterdam. The almost 17 year old Oldenburger gelding by Welt As x Praefectus xx seems to be undamagable on the legs or even in his head. The bay gathered a total of 78.54%, a mark of which once was said to be unreachable. Van Grunsven didn't even felt a breeze of competition in her neck as second placed Ulla Salzgeber followed her in a far distance with 72.88%.
The European silver medallist rode her second Grand Prix horse Wall Street, an inexperienced Russian gelding who impresses with his shoulder freedom. Rising hit Albano, an Oldenburger gelding by Argentinus, captured the third spot under German B-frame rider Heike Kemmer. Certainly mentionable was the Australian Ricky MacMillan, a dentist by profession, who stormed to a 7th position among the European top riders. The Australian dressage talent from "down under" rode Crisp, an 11 year old Hanoverian gelding by Consul.
The Intermediaire I freestyle was easily won by Van Grunsven and Gestion Joker who set for 71, 94%. A noticeable fact was that two Cocktail descendants made their debut at PSG/ Inter I level. Dutch sub-top ride Edward Gal rode a beautiful competition and placed twice second at that level. He brought the 7 year old chestnut stallion Kapuccino with him. Coby van Baalen's daughter Marlies enforced a strong presence with KWPN approved sire Inspekteur (by Darwin) establishing a 69.49% performance. The young Van Baalen is attending the Warendorf Riding Academy in Germany in pursuit to become a professional dressage rider like her mother. Second Cocktail son in the Intermediaire I was Klister, a young stallion who came into the spotlight as a 5 year old that represented the KWPN studbook at the 1997 World Championships for Young Dressage Riders in Verden. Leida Strijk rode a strong Prix St. Georges test but had to give in some points in the freestyle.
Friday 3 December 1999: Anky van Grunsven opens CDI-W with double win
With a 70.79% win in the FEI St. Georges test, Anky van Grunsven highlighted again her highly dominant position on the international turf in the the fourth World Cup qualifier of the season at the RAI in Amsterdam. The Dutch leading dressage rider left second placed Edward Gal behind her with more than 2%. Riding her newest hit, the Hanoverian gelding Gestion Joker (by Prince Tatch xx) Anky proves once again to be unbeatable tank girl due to perfection and accuracy in her test.
After the important Intermediaire I victory at the CDI in Aachen (GER) mid June, Joker has been trained into one of the most promising mounts on the dressage scene. For the first time Anky's able to present a prospect with whom she can seriously form a threat for her German contestants.
Besides claiming victory in the competition, Anky hauled in her tenth sponsor on the opening day of the competition. Swiss watch company Favre Leuba signed a contract in which they promised to donate a serious amount of money and a collection of high quality design watches as their new marketing strategy. Favre Leuba, who already sponsored Formula 1 racer Jos Verstappen, sees the features of its watches visualized in Anky's show qualities and character. On Saturday December 4th, the Amsterdam competitions will accelerate the warp speed as the FEI Short Grand Prix and Intermediaire I freestyle will be ridden.