Laura Tomlinson, Lone Bang Larsen and Anabel Balkenhol were the top three riders of the Grand Prix Special at the 2013 CDI Hagen and qualified for the 2013 Meggle Championship. Laura Tomlinson and her 18 year-old Olympic horse Mistral Hojris repeated her success of the Grand Prix and booked her second trophy of the weekend.
"He is on great form," said the Olympic team gold and individual bronze medallist brightly, "and I’ve noticed how long the old, classic Special is, I was really glad I had a small break in the pace." In the Olympic year the shorter and a slightly different Olympic Grand Prix Special test was ridden.
Danish dressage rider Lone Bang Larsen was delighted with Fitou L (by Florestan), who took fourth place in the Grand Prix and did significantly better in the Special. Coached on the scene by Danish team trainer Rudolf Zelinger, Bang Larsen made a smashing come back to the international show scene after a baby break and an injury of her horse.
German Anabel Balkenhol peformed outstandingly on her Hanoverian Dablino FRH to finish third. At one point achieving the pair was scoring more than 80 percent but then the sensitive gelding spooked from the clicking cameras. “"Our pirouette went badly then," said Balkenhol, "but that’s just something you’ve got to live with."
Photos © Astrid Appels
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