Aachen Press Release -- As expected there was no beating Dutch secret weapon Totilas in the Grand Prix Spécial at the 2010 CDIO Aachen. Edward Gal and Totilas won the class with a score of new World Record score of 86.458 percent.
“Totilas amazes me at every show, every time he performs a little bit better. It is such a great feeling and I can count myself lucky to have such a horse,” beamed Edward Gal after his victory. For the first time Totilas managed to score over 86 percent in the Grand Prix Spécial.
The 10-year-old KWPN stallion danced to victory with a score of 86.458 percent ahead of his fellow team member Adelinde Cornelissen, who got a 82.542 percent for her ride with the Jazz son Parzival. “I am so happy that Parzival was so well-concentrated here,” said the Dutch rider, who gave up her career as a teacher in favour of the dressage sport.
Third place was claimed by the British rider, Laura Bechtolzheimer with the Danish-bred Michellino son, Mistral Hojris. The pair finished on a score of 79.375 percent. “Aachen is a special stadium, which is always good for a surprise. I am very pleased that everything went so well, apart from a few small rider faults,” the 25-year-old rider stated.
The best German rider was Isabell Werth who ranked fourth with Satchmo (76.417 percent). “Satchmo has shown great improvement in the course of the season. I am very satisfied with him,” said the rider from Rhineland.
The team newcomer Christoph Koschel came sixth with the Finnish-bred Donnerhall son Donnperignon with a score of 74.33 percent. “It really is something else riding here as a team member. When you enter the arena, you can cut the atmosphere with a knife, which I found incredibly motivating. You can feel the the crowd is behind you,” commented Koschel, who won his first advanced dressage class at the age of 15.
The Dutch team won the Nations Cup with a total score of 236.140. In addition to Edward Gal and Adelinde Cornelissen their team comprised of Imke Schellekens-Bartels, who finished seventh herself. “I am very happy about this victory in Aachen. It is always very difficult here, almost like competing in a World Championships,” explained the Dutch national coach, Sjef Janssen.
Germany finished second with a total score of 219.665. “We are delighted that our super star Isabell Werth is back,” Chef d’équipe Ullrich Kasselmann, remarked happily, The third team member in addition to Isabell Werth and Christoph Koschel was Matthias Alexander Rath with Sterntaler-Unicef. Once again the Sion son striked in the final piaffe on the centre line. “Naturally I am very worried about this exercise, because it rarely goes right,” commented Matthias Alexander Rath.
Great Britain ranked third (Laura Bechtolzheimer/Mistral Hojris, Fiona Bigwood/Wie-Atlantico de Ymas, Emile Faurie/Elmegardens Marquis) ahead of Belgium, Spain and Canada.
-- Aachen press release
Photos © Astrid Appels
Back to the 2010 CDIO Aachen index