Ruoste Wins 5* GP Kur, Visser Takes GP Special at 2022 CDI Doha

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2022 CDI Doha

On the final day of dressage competition at the 2022 CDI 5* in Doha, Qatar on Saturday 26 February 2022, Finnish Henri Ruoste took highest honour in the Grand Prix Kur to Music, while Dutch Tommie Visser steered his horse to the trophy in the Grand Prix Special.

Ruoste Aces the Kur

Finland's Henri Ruoste and his own and Jochen Arl's Belgian warmblood gelding Kontestro DB (by Contendro x Cassini II) aced the Grand Prix Kur to Music with their signature Top Gun freestyle after the class proved to be a roller coaster for his Dutch rivals. Ruoste posted 84.245% for the victory.

A delighted Ruoste said “Everything just came together here tonight. Conditions in the arena at Al Shaqab are perfect for both riders and horses. Weekends don’t get much better than this! A big thank you to the organizers.”

The winner of the Grand Prix class, Sweden’s Patrik Kittel and the Swedish warmblood Touchdown (by Quaterback x Sack), were edged out by his friend Ruoste. Touchdown finished second with 83.89%

Hans Peter Minderhoud of the Netherlands, rode Dream Boy (by Vivaldi x Ferro) to third. The obedient black KWPN stallion had an unusual bobble in the piaffe, rearing in the first piaffe pirouette after his halt at entry. The judges responded to this by scoring the piaffe 6 to 7.5 on average, which brought Minderhoud's final score to 81.93%, good for a third place.

Holland's hero of the 2021 CDIO Aachen, Dinja van Liere on the KWPN stallion Hermes (by Easy Game x Flemmingh), had an off day in the freestyle, with the licensed stallion refusing to go. They were rung out.

Visser Wins GP Special

Tommie Visser, of the Netherlands, put in a strong performance on Genesis Begijnhoeve (by Jazz x Silvano) to take first place in the Grand Prix Special class. He scored 71.787% for the win.

Belgium’s Charlotte Defalque, on Botticelli (by Vivaldi x Koss) placed second after posting sensational CDI personal best scores this weekend in Doha. She was also 8th in the Grand Prix with 71.326%

Germany's Jill Hollweg-de Ridder riding Whitney (by Wolkenstürmer x Fortissimo) finished third.

Local favorite Wejdan Majed Al Malki again had fans hanging on her every move on 17-year old PRE stallion Mango Jacaro (by Rondeno IX x Endrino), after her history-making appearance on the second day as the first Qatari dressage rider to compete in five-star competition. Al Malki, who is training towards qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics and future World Cups, was presented with a special award during the event, in recognition of her groundbreaking achievement.