Salo, Piispa, Paloheimo and Hagelstam Claim Titles at 2022 Finnish Dressage Championships

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2022 Finnish Dressage Championships

Pony rider Roosa Salo, junior rider Matilda Piispa, young rider Veera Paloheimo, and senior Grand Prix rider Stella Hagelstam claimed the title in their respective divisions at 2022 Finnish Dressage Championships held in Kuopio, Finland, on 26 - 28 August 2022.

Each division rode two rounds - the team test and a freestyle, after which the points were totalled for the final ranking.

Youth: Salo, Piispa, Paloheimo

Sixteen combinations contested the FEI pony level championship and routinier Roosa Salo was unmatched, raking in her third pony title in her carer. Aboard the 11-year old gelding Sir Maximus Welshwarrior (by Sir Oldenburg x Sharock Silent Squadron) she won both rounds with 70.514% and 73.580%. The 15-year old Salo still has one year to go on ponies. The silver medal went to Iida-Maria Koponen on the 20-yea rold Caramba (by Constantin x Granulit) after posting 68.971% and 72.200%. Bronze was for Venla Lahtinen on the 13-year old Maskerade HE (by The Breas My Mobility x Wolkenstein II) who posted 66.857% and 68.945%.

Thirteen pairs campaigned at junior level and the 16-year old Matilda Piispa topped the board with the 13-year old Danish bred Skovens Rosselli (by Romanov x Solos Landtinus). She dominated both rounds with 69.364% and 73.705% for gold even though the pair is brand new, only having been together since June 2022.

Matilda Piispa and the Danish bred Skovens Rossell

The 16-year old Mila Pietarila and the 15-year old Danish bred Hestegaardens Michellin (by Michellino x Leonardo II) finished second with 68.121% and 72.310%, while the 18-year old Ellen Vuorinen and the 12-year old Finnish warmblood Hagels Tiffany (by Sternkonig x Havel) got bronze on 67.364% and 71.095%

The group of young riders was a bit smaller and the 20-year old Veera Paloheimo topped the board on the 19-year old professor Wolle Wolkenstein (by Wolkenstein II x Buenos Aires). After becoming Finnish junior champion in 2020, the duo, which trains with Ville Vauri, now captured the Young Riders' title with 67.441% and 70.565%. Wolle has been in the Paloheimo family for nine years and was previously competed by elder sister Ella. The 19-year old Pinja Jarvinen piloted the 11-year old Rhinelander mare Fahrenheit 44 (by Flatley x Lamoureux II) to silver with 65.118% and 69.350%. Pinja Kolehmainen and the 14-year old Dutch bred Dancing Queen (by Jazz x Gribaldi) got bronze with 64.765% and 68.155%

Seniors: Stella Hagelstam on Repeat

In the absence of her World Championship team mates Emma Kanerva, Mikaela Soratie, and Anna Tallberg, as well as Henri Ruoste who did not make the trip to Finland for the Nationals, Stella Hagelstam went on repeat and claimed another Grand Prix champion's title. Nine Grand Prix combinations gathered in Kuopio for the event.

Hagelstam and Emma Blundle's Finnish warmblood mare Kom Fairy Tale (by Furst Heinrich x Weltmeyer) won both rounds, even though the mare spooky in the Grand Prix, reacting to the noice of nearby traffic. They scored winning percentages of 67.739% and 73.965% for the gold medal. Hagelstam, who is pregnant with her second child, won the Finnish title for the sixth time and this on four different horses.

Anna von Wendt and the 20-year old Hanoverian Denzel (by Don Frederico x Wonderland) were the runners-up for silver on 67.522% and 71.650% Maria Pyykönen and the 12-year old Finnish warmblood Fürst Wild S (by Furst Fugger x Walt Disney) landed bronze with 65.782% and 69.980%.

Photos © Iita-Maria Ahtiainen

Results - 2022 Finnish Dressage Championships

Pony Riders (top 12 only)

1. Roosa Salo - Sir Maximus Welshwarrior - 70.514 73.580 ---- 144.094
2 Iida-maria Koponen - Caramba - 68.971 72.200 ---- 141.171
3 Venla Lahtinen - Maskerade He- 66.857 68.945 ---- 135.802
4 Sini Shemeikka - Caramel Grey - 66.37168.890 --- 135.261
5 Antonia Niemelä - Hunsingo's Twister 4 Wpb - 66.086 68.640 ---- 134.726
6 Sara Kivinen - Pin Rock's Cardamine - 65.400 69.000 ---- 134.400
7 Coco Roine - Sibbo - 65.314 67.425 ---- 132.739
8 Aino Sellman - Don't Call Me Babe - 65.200 67.150 ---- 132.350
9 Halla Suonvieri - Okkie - 65.114 67.190 ---- 132.304
10 Veera Vesto - United Colours - 64.371 67.505 ---- 131.876
11 Amanda Prittinen - Roman - 64.600 66.375 ---- 130.975
12 Minttu Polin - Pin Rock's Starlight - 63.914 66.925 ---- 130.839

Junior Riders

1. 1 Matilda Piispa Salo - Skovens Rosselli - 69.364 73.705 ---- 143.069
2 Mila Pietarila - Hestegaardens Michellin - 68.121 72.310 ---- 140.431
3 Ellen Vuorinen - Hagels Tiffany - 67.364 71.095 ---- 138.459
4 Mette Kauppila - Donna Lottchen- 65.667 71.035 ---- 136.702
5 Ruut Mantela - Mandela - 65.697 68.415 ---- 134.112
6 Oona Ylirautia - Farjana - 66.243 67.460 ---- 133.703
7 Emma Liikanen - Capac - 66.182 67.445 ---- 133.627
8 Senni Tolonen - Royal Dandy - 64.818 68.555 ---- 133.373
9 Coco Roine - Kameo - 65.727 65.905 ---- 131.632
10 Maya Dean - Kanu - 61.727 65.885 ---- 127.612
11 Anniina Kolu - Damgårdens Fergie - 61.212 63.990 ---- 125.202
12 Peppi Kokko - Helios - 64.515 56.350 ---- 120.865
13 Oona Ylirautia - Marshall Lightfoot - 61.303 0.000 ---- 61.303

Young Riders

1. 1 Veera Paloheimo - Wolle Wolkenstein - 67.441 70.565 ---- 138.006
2 Pinja Järvinen - Fahrenheit - 65.118 69.350 ---- 134.468
3 Pinja Kolehmainen - Dancing Queen - 64.765 68.155 ---- 132.920
4 Johanna Similä - Mein Freund - 63.029 69.350 ---- 132.379
5 Camilla Aarnio-wihuri - Saint Clou - 62.912 67.230 ---- 130.142
6 Riia Tuominen - Santo Subito - 63.088 66.925 ---- 130.013
7 Eevi Ilves - Forajido Iv - 64.529 63.275 ---- 127.804
8 Juho Forsman - Lope De Vega - 62.912 64.430 ---- 127.342

Seniors Grand Prix

1 Stella Hagelstam - Kom Fairy Tale - 67.739 73.965 ---- 141.704
2 Anna Von Wendt - Denzel - 67.522 71.650 ---- 139.172
3 Maria Pyykönen - Fürst Wild S - 65.782 69.980 ---- 135.762
4 Sirpa Degerth-káldi - San Diego - 65.239 68.495 ---- 133.734
5 Siiri Kyrö - Kyrö Hot Flow - 64.674 67.975 ---- 132.649
6 Pilvi Tuominen - G-renzo - 63.065 66.605 ---- 129.670
7 Kira Kanerva - Sandora - 61.565 66.155 ---- 127.720
8 Nora Svensk - Lammehaven's Zadin - 62.696 63.180 ---- 125.876
9 Tiia Hyysalo - Betty B T- 61.239 63.385 ---- 124.624