The two-day international dressage event held in Ruila equestrian centre in Estonia on 30 - 31 July 2016 culminated with a World Cup qualifier on Sunday. The Belarusian duo Hanna Karasiova and Arlekino won the Kur to Music with a score of 71.975%. Estonia's best was Dina Ellermann on Landy’s Akvarel. They placed second with 70.700%.
This important event in the Baltic area was complicated by weather conditions. Torrential rain interfered with the performance of the first pair, Ukrainian Anna Dyachenko and Gulliver as well as with Finnish rider Anna von Wendt on Denzel, who was the last on the starting list. Consequently, the Ukrainian athlete scored only 63.750 % , placing fifth. Von Wendt, however, managed to pull herself together and scored over 70 % in freestyle for the first time in her career. The result, 70.150 %, gave her the third place. Lithuanian Sandra Sysoyeva and Forvater were able to score 66.900 %, placing fourth.
Hanna Karasiova and Arlekino were the definite favourites for this qualifier. They won the Grand Prix on the first day with a decent result of 70.500%. In the freestyle Arlekino showed showed himself as a talented, high quality dressage horse. With a minor mistake in the test the pair scored 71.975%. Karasiova also won the previous World Cup qualifier in Ruila a couple of weeks ago with a result of 73.225 %.
Naturally, the winner was ecstatic. „We did very well. Those 1st rank points are very important to me because my goal is to qualify for the World Cup finals next year,“ she said. She thought her horse's performance in the Kur was rather good. „We made a mistake in the beginning and my horse was somewhat anxious after that, but we still managed to complete a pretty decent program.“
Lithuanian Sandra Sysoyeva and Furst won the CDI2* Intermediate I freestyle with 71.325%. Estonian Grete Hussar on Rohan Warrior was second, scoring 67.450%. Airisa Penele and Licenciado JF from Latvia were third with 66.400%.
Text and Photso © Kulli Tedre
Related Links
Scores: 2016 CDI-W Ruila
Estonian Federation Honours Dressage Personalities at 2016 Awards Gala
Logutenkova Takes Second Eastern European World Cup Qualifier in a Row, Wins 2015 CDI-W Siauliai
Larsson and Logutenkova Take the Trophies at the 2015 CDI-W Tallinn