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Grand Prix
Dutch National Champions Adelinde Cornelissen and Parzival headed the opening class of Olympia The London International Horse Show winning the grand prix World Cup Dressage qualifier. The Dutch combination – winners of the first World Cup Qualifer at Stockholm – headed off the British duo of Laura Bechtolsheimer and Mistral Horjis but by just 1%. Parzival a bright chestnut by top Dutch grand prix stallion Jazz impressed with his huge paces, off the floor piaffe and flying changes. “He was quite spooky and didn’t give me the easiest ride but a year ago he would have turned tail and run so I was glad that he gave me his trust and stayed with me,” said Adelinde. Laura Bechtolsheimer, a member of the British Olympic team this year was happy with her score of 74.87. “We gained a good result in Stuttgart which gave me a lot of confidence,” said Laura. “I’m really looking forward to tomorrow night’s freestyle although he can be a bit buzzy and not the easiest in the music.” British rider Carl Hester and Donald Taggart’s Liebling II made their indoor debut to take sixth place. “I was glad to get that one out of the way” said Carl who was first of the sixteen competitors. “I’ve never been first before and it was rather nerve wracking but I am very happy with him and now looking forward to tomorrow.” Carl’s compatriot Richard Davison and his new grand prix ride Artemis were not only making their World cup debut but also a debut at the level scoring just under 65% to stand 10th. “I am delighted with him – especially that final halt. He has so much more to give and we definitely have another gear and I am really excited by him,” said Richard. (Source: Olympia Horse Show) Grand Prix Kur to Music
Dutch rider Adelinde Cornelissen scored her second World Cup win in as many competitions, taking the FEI World Cup qualifier at Olympia. Adelinde and the chestnut Parzival scored a victory with 80.75%. The 11-year-old Parzival showed his off-the-floor piaffe and passage as well as impressive half-passes and extended trots to the music of ‘Twisting the Night Away’. “Yesterday he was a little spooky, but today he was more relaxed and I could really ride the test. He was perfect – even in the prize giving – it was almost a miracle,” said Adelinde, a former English teacher who gave up teaching to concentrate on riding last year. Parzival is her only Grand Prix ride although she has three more young horses – two of whom are also by Jazz. The combination came to the fore at Aachen this year, as runner-up to World Champion Isabell Werth. Adelinde’s compatriot and Olympic silver medallist Hans Peter Minderhoud moved to the top of the FEI World Cup Western league ranking after gaining points for second place. Hans rode his Hong Kong horse, Nadine, an elegant Dutch-bred mare who is by Anky Van Grunsven’s former grand prix stallion Partout, to a compilation of orchestral pop hits of the seventies. “She doesn’t really like the indoor arenas but she relaxed when she heard her music,” said Hans who hopes to qualify for the final in Las Vegas next spring. British based Finnish rider Kyra Kyrklund – third in the final last year – produced an accomplished routine to a new programme of music based around The Verve’s Bitter Sweet symphony to take third place. Laura Bechtolsheimer was the highest placed British rider in fourth place scoring 75.3% - a personal best for freestyle. Laura rode to a country-western-blues music composed and played by brother Felix. Mistral Hojris – at 17 hands high the tallest horse in the competition – just managed to contain himself in the atmospheric arena. “It is a tough arena and ‘Alf’ got a little hot and therefore the test wasn’t ideal, but not then not every arena suits every horse,” said Laura. |
2008 CDI-W London - 16 - 18 December 2008