Ferrer-Salat and Delgado Dance in the Rain to 2017 CDIO Aachen 4* Kur Victory

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2017 CDIO Aachen

Despite the pouring rain, Spanish Beatriz Ferrer-Salat and her 2015 European kur bronze medal winning Delgado won the Grand Prix Freestyle in the 4* tour at the 2017 CDIO Aachen on Saturday night 22 July 2016. It was no surprise when Beatriz Ferrer-Salat and the Westphalian-bred De Niro son, Delgado, claimed the bronze medal in the Freestyle at the European Championships here in Aachen in 2015, finally getting rewarded for her beautiful, correct classical riding and training of Delgado. Two years later the pair is still competing at the top of the echelon.

For the Aachen 4* Kur the pair was the absolute favourites and they certainly did justice to this role. The music for her freestyle choreography was composed especially to show off the advantages of her chestnut gelding in the best light: His amazing trot tour and exceptional submission. The Spanish rider who lives near to Barcelona presented all of her strengths this evening in spite of the pouring rain and was awarded a score of 78.275.

Maria Caetano on Coroado Second place went to a rider from her neighbouring country, Portugal’s Maria Caetano with the beautiful Lusitano Coroado (75.275). Jan-Dirk Gießelmann from Germany ranked third. His Real Dancer danced to a score of 75.125 to the melodies of Tom Jones.

The Austrian rider Belinda Weinbauer finished fourth with Söhnlein Brilliant MJ (74.975). During the performance of this pair, one got the impression that somebody had turned the tap on in the heavens above. It rained cats and dogs. But as Charlott-Maria Schürmann (fifth place) said: “We are pretty weatherproof. Burlington and I prefer the rain to humid, dry weather!” She had hoped her score would be a little higher than the 73.125 percent she was awarded. “But then we are here in Aachen and not on some field in Gelsenkirchen!”