Dutch world number one Grand Prix rider Adelinde Cornelissen set her seal on the 2012 CDI Mechelen Kur to Music victory on Friday afternoon 28 December 2012. Aboard her 15-year old Dutch warmblood gelding Parzival (by Jazz x Ulft) Cornelissen has abdicated Anky van Grunsven as Queen of the Kur. So far unbeatable in the freestyle to music, except by Charlotte Dujardin, Cornelissen wields the axe of power when it comes to riding to music.
The showdown between the number 1 and number 3 of the FEI World Ranking was witnessed by approximately 10,000 visitors in Mechelen. Tension built in the freestyle test when Helen Langehanenberg and the 12-year old Westfalian stallion Damon Hill (by Donnerhall x Rubinstein) made her appearance in the ring. It turned out this wasn't going to be her lucky day. Just after she had started her test the music suddenly stopped due to a techincal problem. Langehanenberg had to walk for five minutes; not an ideal situation and intolerable for a CDI 5* dressage show. Helen obviously lost her concentration for a moment but instantly regained her confidence and picked up the kur where she left off. After saluting the judge at C she got a standing ovation from the crowd and a super score of 85,87%.
Adelinde could not afford herself an easy ride. After finishing second in the Grand Prix and being beaten by long time rival Langehanenberg on a technical level, Cornelissen needed to prove that she and Parzival are the number 1 combination in the world for a reason.
"The judges had warned me that harmony is good to have but it shouldn't affect the power that Parzival can demonstrate. I gave them what they had asked for," Adelinde stated after winning the test with 88.575%. The sound system in Mechelen continued to fail with Nadine Capellmann's ride but with Cornelissen it got fixed. "This was one of my best tests ever but I would really love to hit the 90% once. It is a small difference but it is hard to close this gap," she admitted. "Apart from bribing the judges, the only solution I see is to work hard and improve myself every day, inch by inch," Adelinde joked.
At the press conference after the class Mechelen show director Peter Bollen stated that, "we will absolutely make sure this will never happen again" when he was questioned about the double failing sound system.
Text and Photos © Astrid Appels - No Reproduction Allowed
Related Links
Scores: 2012 CDI Mechelen
Damon Hill Edges Out Parzival in 2012 CDI Mechelen Grand Prix
Langehanenberg and Damon Hill Win 2012 CDI Mechelen Grand Prix
Langehanenberg and Rohjuwel Win 2012 CDI Mechelen Prix St Georges