Dutch Adelinde Cornelissen set another benchmark victory in the Western League World Cup circuit, which continued today with the Grand Prix at the 2012 CDI-W Amsterdam. Held at the RAI conference centre in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, the World cup qualifier Grand Prix featured a field of twenty-two European riders. Cornelissen and her 15-year old Parzival (by Jazz x Ulft) were supreme.
The Grand Prix class was judged by Mariette Sanders (NED), Jacques van Daele (BEL), Stephen Clarke (GBR), Wim Ernes (NED) and Susie Hoevenaars (AUS) who all placed Cornelissen unanimously first. The Dutch duo had no problems with any of the FEI movements, but the walk was quite conservative, earning her sevens both in the extension and collection, and the rider lost the passage on the finals stretch of the centerline. They scored 80.936% which put them leagues ahead of the second placed pair.
"It's just like it goes more automatically each time," said Cornelissen. "There still are a few little things, but he's super on form and gets better every day. If we could show that in the ring; I'll do that in London," she quipped. Judge at C, Stephen Clarke, commented that "if it all looks so easy then it's really good straight away."
German Helen Langehanenberg presented an improved Damon Hill NRW in Amsterdam. The Westfalian licensed stallion (by Donnerhall x Rubinstein) made his come back after the 2011 European Championships and has gained strength in the passage. The supple liver chestnut is a textbook example of elasticity and swing and is always nice and soft in the contact with the bit. They scored 75.213% to finish second and got a 10 for walk.
"It's the first time we got that (mark) in the Grand Prix," a beaming Langehanenberg told ST.Georg. "He felt super. Of course there were a few small things, but he was willing, on my aids and wanted to go for it."
German Isabell Werth and her 11-year old Rhinelander gelding El Santo (by Ehrentusch x Rhythmus) finished in third position with a 73.872% earning test. The chunky bay was not entirely through in the rein back and still struggles with the piaffe. The trot extensions and half passes were outstanding. A major mistake in the single tempi changes affected the score considerably as the movement has a coefficient of 2.
"I'm in an in-between phase with El Santo," Werth told Dutch magazine Horses.nl. "I have trained him a lot at home and focused on the piaffe. Now it's time to see how he does in the show ring. Many things went right today, but there were also some mistakes. I'm looking forward to tomorrow to see how the kur goes."
After withdrawing Sisther de Jeu from the 2011 CDI-W Mechelen at the end of December, Edward Gal returned to the ring in Amsterdam and rode a remarkably relaxed Sisther de Jeu, which kept the lid on the cooker and was able to halt for a change. The zig zag was a bit sloppy but overall the combination produced strong work in the piaffe and passage as well as in the canter tour. With 73.617% they stayed right behind Werth in fourth position.
Norwegian Siril Helljesen and her 10-year old Danish warmblood mare Dorina (by Don Schufro x Ragtime) were on great form in Amsterdam and completed the top five in a very strong field with 72.957%. Judge Ernes even had the pair second with 74.681%. The combination was rock solid and received stiff 7.0 to 8.0 scores throughout the test. The rein back could have been more obedient.
Photo © Digishots.nl
Related Links
Scores 2012 CDI-W Amsterdam
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2012 World Cup Finals & Qualifiers
