The Netherlands' Adelinde Cornelissen and Parzival stormed to victory in the third leg of the 2010/2011 World Cup Dressage series in Stockholm, Sweden this afternoon.
The 31-year old rider who suffered such deep disappointment when eliminated on her first appearance at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky in September after Parzival bit his tongue, bounced back with a performance that had "winner" written all over it. And it was a special moment as Cornelissen celebrated her third consecutive victory at the Swedish venue where she also topped the Freestyle line-up in 2008 and 2009.
On yet another great day for Dutch dressage, nine-time World Cup Dressage champion Anky Van Grunsven produced a lovely Freestyle test from Painted Black to secure runner-up spot ahead of Edward Gal and Next One in third. Germany's Isabell Werth, winner at the first two legs of the series in Odense, Denmark and Lyon, France did not compete this afternoon but still heads up the series leaderboard going into the next round at Olympia in London in December. However the Dutch contingent look set to pose a serious threat to the leading pack in the coming weeks.
LED THE WAY
It was Helen Langehanenberg, reserve rider for the German dressage team at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, who led the way at the halfway stage after racking up a score of 72.10 with an impressive performance from Damon Hill NRW. The 28-year old rider first competed this stallion when her tutor, Ingrid Klimke, broke her shoulder in 2005 and subsequently topped the World Championship for Young Dressage horses with him. And today the partnership showed further promise in their very first World Cup class together, the 10 year old horse displaying exceptional gentility in his elegant extended trot and light and lively canter-work to earn artistic marks of over 70 per cent from all five judges.
Their target-score remained in place until German counterparts, Matthias Alexander Rath and Sterntaler-Unicef, put 74.40 on the board with a smooth and fluid test but, fourth-last into the arena, Edward Gal further raised the bar with a score of 75.05 from Next one with which he won both the Grand Prix and Freestyle at the 3-Star show in Oslo, Norway last month.
"He was a little bit tense today, I guess he is not used to being photographed so much!" said the Dutchman who has earned superstar status in the sport of dressage following his extraordinarily successful partnership with the record-breaking stallion Totilas which was sold to Germany in the immediate aftermath of their triple gold medal winning success at the World Equestrian Games™. "Towards the end he could relax and he did a good job. I´m pleased” said Gal whose trademark precision and soft riding style was very much in evidence once again today.
SWEPT HIM ASIDE
His lead was short-lived however as Van Grunsven swept him aside with a great performance from Painted Black. Wonderful canter half-pass, fabulous extended trot and the ability to stay in rhythm to their score, even in walk, saw them register a mark of 81.15 and threw down the gauntlet to the remaining two riders.
"This is one of my best Freestyles ever with Painted Black! We had one little mistake in the extended canter, but except that everything went just the way I wanted!" said the very pleased multiple champion afterwards.
However Cornelissen and Parzival were well up to the challenge, the powerful chestnut's lovely balanced pirouettes, easy canter changes and big, open canter half-pass building up to the strong finish that put 83.85 on the board to leave the result in no doubt - Sweden's Patrik Kittel and Scandic having to settle for fourth place with a score of 74.75 when last into the ring.
"It's really good to be back!" said Cornelissen afterwards. "Kentucky didn't go the way I planned it but Parzival was in great shape then, there's no question about that, and he's back in great shape again now" she added. She said she gave him a break after their disappointing early departure from Kentucky - "and then I slowly built him up again with training. This is our first competition since then and he was really calm and relaxed today - he was a happy athlete!" she added. Now she plans to take him to Olympia in London in December and she has the qualifiers in Amsterdam, The Netherlands in January and Gothenburg, Sweden in February in her sights for the new year. "I'm hoping to get to the final in Leipzig - that's my goal" she pointed out.
The next leg of the 2010/2011 World Cup series takes place at Olympia, London 14-15 December.
Facts and Figures:
Stockholm staged the third leg of the 2010/2011 World Cup Dressage series.
Today's winner, Adelinde Cornelissen from The Netherlands, previously won the World Cup qualifier at the same venue in 2008 and 2009.
The Ground Jury for today's competition was as follows: At E - Ann Gribbons, At H - Gustaf Svalling, At C - Leif Tornblad, At M Vincenzo Truppa, At B - Annette Fransen Iacobaeus.
There are 10 qualifying rounds before the final which takes place in Leipzig, Germany 27 April to 1 May 2011.
Quotes:
Today's winner, Adelinde Cornelissen (NED) “It was really good today, I haven't really practiced my Kur since Kentucky”.
Adelinde Cornelissen, talking about having to leave the arena with Parzival during the prize-giving today - “I was asked to take Parzival to the prize giving, and I wanted to, for the crowd, but it was too much for him..."
Patrik Kittel, Sweden who placed fourth with Scandic - "I´m pleased with Scandic today. It´s getting better and better:”
Leif Tornblad (Judge at C) - "It was a pleasure judging here today”
Western European League Calendar 2010/2011:
1 Odense (DEN), 21-24 October
2 Lyon (FRA), 27 October - 1 November
3 Stockholm (SWE), 26-28 November
4 London Olympia (GBR), 14-15 December
5 Frankfurt (GER), 15-19 December
6 Mechelen (BEL), 26-30 December
7 Amsterdam (NED), 20-23 January
8 Neumünster (GER), 17-20 February
9 Göteborg (SWE), 24-27 February
10 's-Hertogenbosch (NED), 24-27 March
FINAL Leipzig (GER), 27 April - 1 May
by Louise Parkes
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2010-2011 World Cup Season