Magic in Amsterdam at 2006 World Cup Finals

As Anky van Grunsven left the arena after the freestyle that was to ensure her hat-trick FEI World Cup victory in a row with Salinero, and historic eighth victory overall, the Amsterdam audience erupted.

Performing to the ‘L'Esprit Chanson’ programme created by Cees Slings and Victor Kerkhof, the undisputed doyenne of freestyle and her 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding carried out a beautiful test that nearly matched their record-breaking score at the final qualifier at Indoor Brabant and brought the home crowd at the Final to their feet.

“I liked everything about today”, said van Grunsven. “So far, it was the best test Salinero has ever done. He was relaxed but still going for it.” Chairman of the Ground Jury Vincenzo Truppa commented: “I was so moved during Anky’s performance that I gave a 10 for the interpretation of the music. The top three riders gave us top sport, and so did the organisation. Thanks to them the 2006 World Cup Final was magic”.

In second place, Germany’s Isabell Werth and Warum Nicht FRH just got the edge over Sweden’s Jan Brink and Bjorsell’s Briar. Werth, after her 81 per cent score with the ten-year-old Warum Nicht, said: “I was really happy with Hannes. He is on such a high level now. The mistake in the two -time changes was my fault - I asked a bit too quick and he was surprised. His attitude is fantastic, he has grown so much, now I just hope we can grow even more together, step by step.”

Jan Brink gained his highest yet World Cup Final placing, and was very happy with it. He commented: “The sport today is so close, so tight. Even small mistakes are enough to make a difference. I was happy today, but felt Briar was better in the grand prix, he was even more in front of my leg. We had some small mistakes, so perhaps I pushed a little too much. But Briar has been so steady in maintaining a high level I can’t be other than very happy with him.” He appreciated an often rare chance to watch the competition. “Anky was great”, he enthused.

Edward Gal’s fourth place represented a much improved performance over his and Lingh’s mistake-ridden grand prix. Although understandable riding more tentatively since Lingh was discovered to have a bruise on his side after Thursday’s test (although this responded well to cooling treatments), this was more back to form for the Dutch pair. On 79 per cent, they took a clear lead going into the first break. Compatriot Imke Schellekens-Bartels finished fifth with the light -on-her-feet mare Sunrise three percent in arrears but still showing there is more to come. Just a fraction behind, Germany’s Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff and her Hanoverian mare Wahajama- UNICEF also produced some harmonious and elegant movements.

The atmosphere was abuzz, but poor Laurens van Lieren took the brunt yet still showed the great partnership he has with Hexagon’s Ollright. After one mistake, a huge crash of crockery disturbed everyone’s, let alone Ollright’s concentration, but he was back, listening, without delay. The strength of the pair’s partnership recorded a 75 per cent score and an honourable seventh place in their first FEI World Cup Final. “I love my horse even more after today” said van Lieren, “the way he can back to focus was amazing.”

After the longest journey of all the main finalists, Arlene Page, representing the US on her first flag-bearing trip and her first European show, caused everyone to sit up and take notice with a super grand prix performance on the just 10-year-old Wild One. While they had a major mistake in the first part of their freestyle, this pair showed they are a force to be reckoned with. The former event rider commented: “It has been an honour to be a guest of this truly amazing organisation. When we arrived on Tuesday the place looked nothing like it does now, which is every inch an amazing international show. OK, in my freestyle, once we had one big mistake we had to climb out of the hole, but Wild One did. It was my goal to come here and make it into the first final, and introduce my horse to the world.” Page certainly achieved that.

FEI Dressage Committee Chairman Mariette Withages added: “This was a great final, with a super atmosphere. And all the horses looked like ‘happy athletes’.”

By Bernadette Faurie
Photos © Astrid Appels

Back to the 2006 World Cup Finals Index