The 40-year old German Olympic individual rider Anabel Balkenhol made it a double at the 2012 CDI-W Stuttgart grabbing the Grand Prix Special victory on Sunday 18 November after winning the CDI4* Grand Prix earlier on the weekend. By scoring 75.933% Balkenhol bagged the victory and a 7,200 euro purse.
The winner of the team bronze medal at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Lexington was highly pleased with her Hanoverian gelding Dablino (by De Niro x Wanderbusch II). "Dablino was very, very relaxed yesterday but lacked a little concentration today which is why we made a small mistake in the passage," Balkenhol explained.
Klaus Balkenhol, who coaches his daughter as well as Stuttgart World Cup Qualifier winner Helen Langenhanenberg, proudly added, “for me personally it was a fantastic weekend as both Helen und Anabel won all their classes." Anabel stated “I didn’t ride the World Cup because we’re in a transition phase at the moment. In January I’ll be starting a new freestyle with Dablino."
The runners-up in the Grand Prix Special were Austrian Victoria Max-Theurer (Austria) and her 10-year-old Hanoverian mare Blind Date (by Breitling W x Donnerhall). She took home a 6,200 euro purse after being awarded 75.022% by the judges.
German Olympic team silver medallist Dorothee Schneider rode the 11-year old Westfalian mare Forward Looking (by Fidermark) to a third place with 72.200%.
Photos © Barbara Schnell
Related Links
Scores 2012 CDI-W Stuttgart
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2012-2013 World Cup Circuit
Anabel Balkenhol Sweeps CDI4* Grand Prix at 2012 CDI-W Stuttgart
