Tag Archives: Adelinde Cornelissen

Olympic Rider Adelinde Cornelissen Quits Rio 2016 after Horse Falls Ill

Cornelissen and Parzival won a silver and a bronze medal at London 2012.

(CNN) A Dutch dressage rider’s Olympic dream is over after her horse fell victim to an insect bite at Rio 2016.

Adelinde Cornelissen shocked fans by quitting the Games mid-test after her horse Parzival contracted a fever the day before the event.

Cornelissen and Parzival, who won individual silver and team bronze together at London 2012, retired from the individual Grand Prix Wednesday after only a handful of movements.

And it’s likely to have been Parzival’s final Olympic performance because the Dutch warmblood gelding is 19 years old.

Cornelissen took to Facebook and explained she pulled out of the Games over concern for Parzival’s welfare.

The day before the event, she said her horse’s head was swollen and Parzival had developed a fever, the exact cause of which is still unknown.

Cornelissen said the Dutch team had asked to alter the starting positions of the team to give the horse another day to recover but the request was refused by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI).

On the day of the event, Parzival was deemed well enough to compete by FEI vets but during the test, Cornelissen realized something was not right.

“In the arena he felt totally empty and I decided not to continue. He did not deserve this,” she said.

“In order to protect him, I gave up… My buddy, my friend, the horse that has given everything for me his whole life does not deserve this… So I saluted and left the arena.”

http://edition.cnn.com/2016/08/11/sport/dressage-rider-rio

Story by Claire Corkery, CNN

“I am not much of a follower of sporting events so the Olympics fall under that umbrella of disinterest and of no concern (except it is difficult to live in the Greater Houston area and not hear about the local, gold winning Simones, hurrah).  But this week I did sit up and take note of a particular competing duo that stepped up and stood above the crowd, not because of what they did but instead because of what they did not do.  An Olympic rider decided NOT to compete for the safety and well-being of her sick horse.  Now THAT was something that touched me all the way down to my toes and back again: an athlete with a heart that was by far, much bigger than any ego.  I am forever moved.

“My hat is off to one of the biggest winners of the summer Olympics in Rio, Ms Adelinde Cornelissen – thank you for showing us what a REAL winner looks like and for reminding us to continue to act from the heart, even when it hurts.  You will always be the biggest Olympic winner, ever!” ~ R. T. Fitch

https://rtfitchauthor.com/2016/08/14/feel-good-sunday-olympic-rider-adelinde-cornelisse-quits-rio-2016-after-horse-falls-ill/

The Dutch Master, Parzival, Reigns Supreme for Cornelissen in Lyon

Two-time series champions, Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival NOP, won the second leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Western European League at Lyon, France tonight. (FEI/Pierre Costabadie)

Lyon (FRA), 31 October 2014 – The great Dutch master, Jerich Parzival, claimed maximum points for The Netherlands’ Adelinde Cornelissen at the second leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Western European League in Lyon, France tonight. Belying his 17 years, the big chestnut gelding who carried his rider to a double of series victories in 2011 and 2012 and who was runner-up at the opening leg of the series in Odense, Denmark two weeks ago, produced a lovely performance to post the highest score of 80.300 in the Grand Prix Freestyle. But the Dutch duo, who also claimed team and individual Freestyle bronze at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy two months ago, were closely followed by Germany’s Fabienne Lutkemeier and D’Agostino FRH in runner-up spot while another former FEI World Cup™ Dressage double-champion, Germany’s Ulla Salzgeber, slotted into third with Herzruf’s Erbe.

There were some very bright lights shining tonight, with an eye-catching performance from fourth-placed Danielle Heijkoop and Kingsley Siro for The Netherlands and a strong result for Sweden’s Patrik Kittel partnering the promising 10-year-old mare Deja who finished fifth.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the season so far, however, has been the emergence of Denmark’s Agnete Kirk Thinggaard and the 11-year-old Jojo AZ as a real force to be reckoned with. The pair, who finished fourth in the Dutch Championship earlier this year, lined up sixth in round one at Odense, and they showed that was no fluke when doing exactly the same this evening when, once again, they left some very big names in their wake.

Such is their success-rate of late that they now share the top of the Western European Leaderboard alongside tonight’s winners with a total of 37 points to date.

Sporting ambition

The Danish rider combines her sporting ambition with a great deal of common sense, and the 31-year-old, who has only returned to competition after an eight-year absence while rearing her three young children, set tonight’s first serious target with a mark of 77.400 when last to go before the judging break.

Together, Thinggaard and Jojo AZ presented a Freestyle that was a pleasure to watch, including rock-solid piaffe, seamless transitions and tremendous symmetry with the musical score. Last time out they finished sixth behind Hans Peter Minderhoud and Glock’s Flirt. Tonight the Dutch pair had to settle for ninth place despite some very nice work from the 13-year-old mare.

And Thinggaard remained at the head of affairs until Patrik Kittel threw down a mark of 77.850 with Deja, thanks in no small measure to the Swedish rider’s proficient production of clockwork passage. With three now left to go, Germany’s Salzgeber raised the bar when posting 79.325 with Herzruf’s Erbe, the horse with which she finished third at the Reem Acra Final in Leipzig, Germany in 2011. But she was immediately demoted by Cornelissen and Parzival who bounced through their always-captivating routine and finished with their usual flourish to score 80.300.

Only Lutkemeier and D’Agostino could spoil their party now, and the German pair very nearly succeeded when earning a mark of 80.050 for a lovely test during which the 14-year-old gelding maintained an attractive outline.

Lutkemeier and her horse have enjoyed a great year, following team gold at the FEI European Championships in Herning, Denmark in 2013 with team gold at this summer’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™. And the rider, who was reserve for the London 2012 Olympic Games, particularly enjoyed her success tonight as it came just three days after her 25th birthday. “D’Agostino gave me the best birthday present!” Lutkemeier said. “He was really super. He hadn’t done a Freestyle since last May, at the German Championship, so I’m really happy with how we finished! I rode the Special all the time coming up to Caen, but I always love competing in Freestyle and I was happy with him the whole way through his test today,” she added. She continued, “This is his first show indoors and he was really concentrated, really good in the flying changes and the pirouettes particularly – I’m very, very happy!”

Reflected

Cornelissen, meanwhile, reflected on how things turned out for her over the last few days. It wasn’t completely plain-sailing with Jerich Parzival under the Lyon lights. “I know he is very experienced and really knows his job, but he was quite spooky yesterday in the Grand Prix and not full of confidence. I think the light in the arena was a bit different or something, but he turned into his old Jerich Parzival spooky self yesterday, so today I hoped he would be better and he was – a lot better and much more confident!”

To some extent, however, his renewed confidence created its own problems today. “I could ride forward a lot more, he was going so well I wanted to let him go when he was happy to do it, but as a result I got a bit ahead of my music so that wasn’t perfect,” Cornelissen explained.

She talked about how she keeps this great horse in such good shape at this late stage in his career. “I try to do as much of his work outdoors as I can, on the race-track and in the woods, doing piaffe and passage, that’s how I train him now rather than in the arena, although of course sometimes you have to go in the arena, especially before a competition. He’s top fit at the moment,” she pointed out.

He certainly looked in great form tonight, and well on the road to challenging for his third Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage title when the 2014/2015 Final arrives in Las Vegas, USA in six months’ time.

For further information on the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 leg at Lyon, France, go to website www.equitalyon.com or contact Press Officer Daniel Koroloff, Email daniel@blizko-communications.com, Tel +33 611 021812.

The next leg will take place at Stuttgart, Germany on Saturday 22 November. For details of the German fixture, visit http://stuttgart-german-masters.de or contact Press Officer Joerg Klopfer, Email joerg.klopfer@in.stuttgart.de or Tel +49 7119 5543128.

Detailed result here.

Facts and Figures:

Lyon, France presented the second leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Western European League tonight.

The League takes place over 9 competitions, and the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Final will take place at Las Vegas, USA from 15-19 April 2015.

Tonight’s winners were The Netherlands’ Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival.

The judges for tonight’s competition were: At E, Ghislain Fouarge NED; At H, Christof Umbach LUX; At C, Isabelle Judet FRA; At M, Stephen Clarke GBR; At B, Katrina Wuest GER.

Yesterday’s preliminary Grand Prix was also won by Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival who scored a back-to-back double of Reem Acra victories in 2011 and 2012.

Tonight’s winning horse, Jerich Parzival NOP, was the oldest in the competition at the age of 17.

The youngest horse was the 10-year-old Swedish-bred mare, Deja, ridden by Sweden’s Patrik Kittel into fifth place.

Third-placed Ulla Salzgeber is a two-time FEI World Cup™ Dressage champion. Partnering the great Rusty, she came out on top at Aarhus in Denmark in 2001 and at ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands in 2002.

Quotes:

Adelinde Cornelissen NED, talking about her plans for Jerich Parzival: “My next plan is to do Stockholm at the end of November and then give him a bit of a break in December and January – to break the winter season in two – and see how he is then.”

Fabienne Lutkemeier GER: “It was a great pleasure to be part of the (world championship winning) team in Caen, and it has been a wonderful 12 months for me, Aachen was great this summer too. My next target is the Reem Acra leg in Stuttgart in three weeks’ time.”

Full standings here.

FEI YouTube: http://youtu.be/W1ax_909XS0

Reem Acra FEI Hub http://fei.org/fei/sponsors/reem-acra-and-fei gives access to extensive information about the series.

FEI World Cup™ Dressage, the only worldwide series in this discipline, is now in its 29th season. The series, created in 1985, comprises four leagues: Western European, Central European, North American (including Canada) and Pacific (Australia, New Zealand, Asia). Each FEI World Cup™ Dressage qualifier consists of a Grand Prix test, which in turn is a qualification for the Freestyle to Music competition, where league points are accumulated towards places in the Final. Judged on both technical and artistic merit, the FEI World Cup™ Dressage combines art, sport and partnership between horse and rider at the highest level and consistently proves a winning formula with audiences all over the world.

By Louise Parkes

Media Contacts:

At Lyon:

Daniel Koroloff
Press Officer
daniel@blizko-communications.com
+33 611 021812

At FEI:

Grania Willis
Director Press Relations
Email: grania.willis@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 142

Malina Gueorguiev
Manager Media Relations
Email: malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 133

Dutch Dominate at Rotterdam as Cornelissen and Parzival Show Sparkling Form

The Dutch team won the third leg of the FEI Nations Cup™ Dressage 2014 pilot series on home ground in Rotterdam today. L to R: Edward Gal, Hans-Peter Minderhoud, Adelinde Cornelissen and Danielle Heijkoop. Photo: FEI/Dirk Caremans.

Rotterdam (NED), 19 June 2014 – Dutch riders had it all their own way when coming out on top by a significant margin at the third round of the FEI Nations Cup™ Dressage 2014 pilot series on home ground in Rotterdam (NED) today. This leg attracted teams from seven nations, with many fielding developing sides, but The Netherlands’ Chef d’Equipe, Wim Ernes, sent out the foursome that may possibly represent their country at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Normandy, France later in the summer and they left the rest trailing in their wake when clinching a decisive victory.

Underlining their absolute domination, the Dutch also filled the four top individual placings at the end of the competition, and the hugely popular partnership of Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival marked their long-awaited return to the top end of the sport when producing the biggest score of the day. “I’m very happy,” said Cornelissen afterwards. “For the last few months I’ve been trying to change our technique, and it takes time… but I feel it’s coming together at last and we are on our way!” she added.

Denmark finished second, almost a full ten points behind, but the remaining teams were more closely bunched together, Sweden filling third place ahead of Great Britain in fourth, Belgium in fifth, France in sixth and the USA in seventh and last place.

Closely observed

Ernes made no secret of the fact that his riders would be closely observed in Rotterdam with a view to selection for Normandy, and they certainly impressed. Hans Peter Minderhoud led the way for his side this morning with the 12-year-old stallion Glock’s Johnson and posted 76.680 to get them off to a strong start.

However, that would prove the discard when the top three scores per team were taken into account in the final analysis.

Next to go for the host nation was Danielle Heijkoop with Kingsley Siro, and the talented 27-year-old and her 15-year-old stallion showed exactly why they have become top-team material over the last 12 months when bettering Minderhoud’s mark by 0.28 percentage points. Then Cornelissen and Parzival took their turn, putting the result beyond doubt even before the final Dutch duo entered the arena.

For Cornelissen right now it’s all about change. “For the last few months I’ve been trying to change our technique, but it takes time. I’m trying to apply some new stuff,” she explained after putting a very satisfactory mark of 81.480 on the board for her efforts.

She didn’t compete with Parzival over the winter months, preferring instead to concentrate on training.

Came back

“We came back out at Arnhem (NED) two weeks ago and there were too many mistakes. Communications-wise it’s all a bit different and in competition we fall back into our old routine, there were miscommunications and I knew we had to solve that, but it is a week already since then and I feel it’s coming together at last and we are on our way!” she explained.

Prior to that outing in Arnhem the pair had not competed for nine months. “The last time we were out was in Vienna (AUT) last September and since then we have just been training and training. I wanted to change some stuff and if you do competitions it’s not possible. I didn’t want to do both the World Cup and the World Championships – it’s just too much – and you have to be in top shape so I decided to leave out the World Cup this time and put my concentration on the Games,” said the rider who, with the now 17-year-old chestnut gelding, has accumulated European and Olympic medals along with a double of Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage series titles.

Last year Parzival was diagnosed with a heart arrhythmia but bounced back after surgery and today Cornelissen said, “He feels great, and in the paddock he behaves more like a 7-year-old than 17!”

A great day

Last to go for the Dutch was Edward Gal with the 13-year-old stallion Glock’s Undercover who posted 80.780 to underpin a great day for the host nation.

The Danish team finished second despite having no drop score as they, like the Americans, had only three team-members. Mikala Munter Gundersen provided the best Danish result with a mark of 71.800 for My Lady which slotted them into sixth place, but it was Sweden’s Minna Telde and Santana who came closest to the Dutch contingent when posting 73.040 to line up fifth individually.

The 2013 pilot series champions from The Netherlands have now forged well ahead on the FEI Nations Cup™ Dressage 2014 leaderboard. Winners at the second leg in Vidauban, France in February, they carry 30 points into the fourth leg at Kristiansand in Norway next week, trailed by Sweden in second place carrying 18 points and the USA and Belgium tied in third spot with 15 points apiece. Two further legs remain after next week’s fixture, at Aachen (GER) and Hickstead (GBR) in July before the series concludes.

For further information on the FEI Nations Cup™ Dressage 2014 leg in Rotterdam (NED), visit website http://www.chio.nl/ or contact Press Officer Anita Lussenburg, Email: pers@chio.nl or Tel: +31(0) 621 585 878.

Detailed results here.

Facts and Figures:

CDIO Rotterdam presented the third round of the FEI Nations Cup™ Dressage 2014 pilot series today.

The host nation team from The Netherlands won by a significant margin of almost 10 percentage points over Denmark in second place while Sweden finished third.

A total of 7 nations competed – Belgium, Denmark, France, Great Britain, The Netherlands, Sweden and USA.

The highest individual score of the competition was registered by the Dutch combination of Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival who scored 81.480.

The Ground Jury was – At E, Susan Hoevenaars (AUS); At H, Katarina Wuest (GER); At C, Isabel Judet (FRA) President; At M, Susanne Baarup (DEN); At B, Mariette Sanders) NED.

Already leading after the first two legs, the Dutch, winners in the inaugural 2013 pilot season, have now forged even further ahead on the league table following today’s result.

Denmark and the USA fielded just three team members while the remaining teams all consisted of four horse-and-rider combinations.

The six-leg FEI Nations Cup™ Dressage 2014 series will continue with Round 4 taking place at Kristiansand in Norway on Thursday 26 June.

Quotes:

Adelinde Cornelissen (NED) – “Next we will do Aachen and then the Dutch Championships before the WEG.”

Danielle Heijkoop (NED) – “I only scored higher (in Grand Prix) once before, at Dortumund in March. This time the score was a little lower but I had a very good feeling. He (Kingsley Siro) was good in front and in his neck and he did good work in piaffe and passage but the pirouette was a bit too small so we were a little unbalanced. That could have been better.”

Detailed standings here.

By Louise Parkes

Media Contacts:

At Rotterdam:

Anita Lussenberg
Press Officer
Email: pers@chio.nl
Tel: +31 621 585 878

At FEI:

Grania Willis
Director Press Relations
Email: grania.willis@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 142

Malina Gueorguiev
Manager Media Relations
Email: malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 133

Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival Re-Take World Number One Slot

Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival, back at the top of the FEI World Dressage Rankings, are pictured here at the Indoor Brabant in ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED) where they won the last qualifying leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2012/2013 series. (Photo: DigiShots/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 8 August 2013 – Adelinde Cornelissen (NED) and the 16-year-old Jerich Parzival will be heading to the Blue Hors FEI European Dressage Championships, part of the ECCO FEI European Championships, in Herning (DEN) later this month as world number one.

The Dutch rider and her striking chestnut KWPN gelding now lead the FEI World Dressage Rankings by 97 points, ahead of Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2013 champions Helen Langehanenberg (GER) and Damon Hill NRW, who are in second place with 2,802 points.

Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin and her 11-year-old Olympic partner Valegro, who became the first British combination to head the FEI World Dressage Rankings last September after securing London 2012 double gold in Greenwich Park, are third with 2,536 points.

The biggest mover in the world Top 40 is 27-year-old Michael Eilberg (GBR) and 11-year-old grey mare Half Moon Delphi, who have shot up from 159th to 31st place. The move is mainly thanks to their Grand Prix Special victory at the Hartpury Festival of Dressage, where they posted a personal best score of 74.583%, and second place in the Grand Prix Special at the Peterhof Dressur Gala in Perl-Borg (GER).

Eilberg and Half Moon Delphi will make their senior European Championships début in Herning, where they join Britain’s Olympic gold medal trio of Charlotte Dujardin, Carl Hester and Laura Tomlinson.

FEI World Dressage Rankings Top 10:

  1. Adelinde Cornelissen (NED), JERICH PARZIVAL 2899
  2. Helen Langehanenberg (GER), DAMON HILL NRW 2802
  3. Charlotte Dujardin (GBR), VALEGRO 2536
  4. Edward Gal (NED), GLOCK’S UNDERCOVER 2518
  5. Kristina Sprehe (GER), DESPERADOS FRH 2494
  6. Tinne Vilhelmsson Silfvén (SWE), DON AURIELLO 2438
  7. Isabell Werth (GER), DON JOHNSON FRH 2331
  8. Patrick Kittel (SWE), WATERMILL SCANDIC H.B.C. 2320
  9. Valentina Truppa (ITA), FIXDESIGN EREMO DEL CASTEGNO 2307
  10. Anna Kasprzak (DEN), DONNPERIGNON 2235

The complete FEI World Dressage Rankings are here.

FEI Media contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Press Relations
Email: grania.willis@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 142

Malina Gueorguiev
Manager Media Relations
Email: malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 133

Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival Back on Top of World Rankings

Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival, pictured here at the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final in Gothenburg (SWE) last weekend. (Photo: Roland Thunholm/FEI).

Adelinde Cornelissen (NED) and Jerich Parzival, the London 2012 Olympic silver medallists, have reclaimed the world number one spot in the FEI World Dressage Rankings.

The pair has a 97-point lead over Helen Langehanenberg and Damon Hill NRW, who have moved up one slot to second place after clinching the 2013 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage title – their first FEI World Cup Final victory – last weekend in Gothenburg (SWE).

Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro, who became the first British combination to head the FEI World Dressage Rankings in September last year after their double gold medal performances at the London 2012 Olympic Games, are now in third with 2,563 points.

There are no other changes in the Top Ten, with Germany’s Kristina Sprehe and Desperados FRH holding on to fourth (2,517 points) and Edward Gal (NED) with Glock’s Undercover in fifth (2,474 points).

FEI World Dressage Rankings Top 10:

  1. Adelinde Cornelissen (NED) Jerich Parzival, 2899
  2. Helen Langehanenberg (GER) Damon Hill NRW, 2802
  3. Charlotte Dujardin (GBR) Valegro, 2563
  4. Kristina Sprehe (GER) Desperados FRH, 2517
  5. Edward Gal (NED) Glock’s Undercover, 2474
  6. Tinne Vilhelmsson Silfvén (SWE) Don Auriello, 2435
  7. Valentina Truppa (ITA) Fixdesign Eremo Del Castegno, 2358
  8. Patrick Kittell (SWE) Watermill Scandic H.B.C, 2320
  9. Isabell Werth (GER) Don Johnson FRH, 2307
  10. Victoria Max-Theurer (AUT) Augustin Old, 2284

The complete FEI World Dressage Rankings are here.

FEI Media contacts:

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 45

Malina Gueorguiev
Manager Media Relations
malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 33

It’s Still Wide Open for the 2013 Reem Acra Title

Edward Gal and Glock’s Undercover finished second in yesterday’s Grand Prix and will be a force to be reckoned with as the Freestyle brings the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2012/2103 series to a dramatic conclusion in Gothenburg tomorrow. Photo: FEI/Roland Thunholm.

Gothenburg (SWE), 26 April 2013 – As the fate of the 2013 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage title hangs in the balance ahead of tomorrow’s deciding Freestyle, the big question on many lips is whether Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg can prevent double-champion, The Netherlands’ Adelinde Cornelissen, from making it a back-to-back hat-trick of wins with the great Jerich Parzival. However gone are the days of easily predicting the winning combination in this sport which has experienced an extraordinary transformation in recent years.

A decade ago the battle would be fought between just a couple of red-hot contenders, with the rest trailing a long way behind. However rising standards of professionalism and horse-power have changed all that, as was demonstrated by a host of super-competitive performances in yesterday’s Grand Prix.

Expectation

Expectation was that Cornelissen would be closely pressed at this year’s Final by Langehanenberg who, as she says herself, has “grown up” over the last few seasons of the Reem Acra sponsored indoor series.  She has certainly honed her exceptional skills to become a significant threat to the defending champion’s supremacy thanks to some impressive results with her stallion Damon Hill NRW, and yesterday that was confirmed when she topped the Grand Prix while the Dutch rider had to settle for fourth place when things didn’t go according to plan.

Cornelissen however is not one to be easily dismissed.  As Isabell Werth said this afternoon, “Adelinde yesterday lost her spot as favourite to take the title again, but it could still change tomorrow – we will have to wait and see!”  The multi-medalled German rider also believes that Cornelissen’s Dutch compatriot, Edward Gal, could provide the most powerful threat of all.

“Before it seemed this World Cup battle was between Helen and Adelinde, but then suddenly Edward was really good in Den Bosch at the last qualifier,” Werth explained.  “I think now he can push them both tomorrow, and after that there will be four others fighting for their places between fourth and eighth,” she added.  No doubt, Werth herself will be in hot contention in that second group with her ever-improving 12-year-old Don Johnson FRH.

Top End

At the top end of the game however, all eyes will be on Langehanenberg.  She demonstrated supreme calmness and confidence yesterday when securing victory despite the colossal pressure of being first into the ring. “I used to be nervous,” she admitted when interviewed today, “but I’ve learned to control that and not let it control me anymore.  As soon as I start to think about the test I put it out of my mind again and don’t let it take me over.  I’ve learned how to deal with nerves, and it has paid off,” she explained. And she added, “Dame (Damon Hill NRW) is in really great form.  It wasn’t easy going in first yesterday, but he helped me so much because when we were coming up the tunnel to go into the arena he was pulling me so hard, like he was saying, ‘Come on! Let’s get in there and do it, Helen!’”

She has an advantage over many others in that her equestrian career has been all-embracing.  She worked and trained with Ingrid Klimke during her teenage years, competing in Jumping and Eventing, before deciding to specialise in Dressage, and believes this has paid dividends.  “It taught me about balance and feeling which are so important,” she said.  Her career really took off when she was selected as reserve rider for the German Dressage team for the 2008 Olympic equestrian events in Hong Kong with the lovely mare Responsible.  “Then Dame came, and he is such a special horse; together we made it to the World Cup Final three years ago and that was a very big step forward,” she explained.  And she couldn’t resist adding, “It’s very exciting because Responsible and Dame have a baby together, born only last Monday!”

Final Challenge

There is little chance of Langehanenberg becoming complacent before tomorrow’s final challenge however.  She is very grounded, and said today, “I have a good feeling, but every day is a new day and if I ride well, our test fits with the music, I try to have no mistakes and we both enjoy ourselves then the rest is not in our hands.”

According to the rules of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final, all participants who finish the Grand Prix with at least 58% qualify for the Grand Prix Freestyle, so all 17 who competed yesterday have made the cut.

The action begins at 13.20 local time when Canada’s Jaimey Irwin enters the arena with Lindor’s Finest and will be brought to a close by the defending champions Cornelissen and Parzival at 16.15.  It promises to be a thriller from start to finish.

You can find the full start-list for tomorrow’s Freestyle here.

Don’t miss a piaffe or a pirouette – watch all the excitement on www.feitv.org.

FEI World Cup Dressage, the only worldwide series in this discipline, has entered its 28th season. The series, created in 1985, comprises four leagues: Western European, Central European, North American (including Canada) and Pacific (Australia, New Zealand, Asia). Each FEI World Cup Dressage qualifier consists of a Grand Prix test, which in turn is a qualification for the Freestyle to Music competition, where league points are accumulated towards places in the Final. Judged on both technical and artistic merit, the FEI World Cup Dressage combines art, sport and partnership between horse and rider at the highest level and consistently proves a winning formula with audiences all over the world.

The complete rules, calendar, updated ranking and results are available here.

By Louise Parkes

Media Contacts:

At Gothenburg

Mayvor Thorin
+46 31 368 43 49
mayvor.thorin@gotevent.se

Lotta Amnestal
+46 709 795635
lotta.amnestal@ridsport.se

At FEI

Grania Willis
Director Press Relations
grania.willis@fei.org
+41 787 506 142

Malina Gueorguiev
Manager Media Relations
malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 33

Cornelissen and Parzival Secure the Win, but Gal and Undercover Chase Them Home

Heather Schmidt from Reem Acra presents the Reem Acra Cup to defending series champions Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival.

‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED), 16 March 2013 – Defending double-champions, Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival, won the last leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Western European League 2012/2013 on home ground at the Brabanthallen in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands this afternoon. But Dutch colleague, Edward Gal, put them under intense pressure with a brilliant performance from Glock’s Undercover that brought the crowd to their feet.

Yesterday Gal and the 12-year-old gelding were 1.362 percentage points off Cornelissen’s winning score in the Grand Prix.  But Ground Jury members Katrina Wuest (GER), Hans Christian Matthiesen (DEN), Francis Verbeek van Rooij (NED), Jacques van Daele (BEL) and Adriaan Hamoen (NED) saw an even closer margin today , with just 0.8 separating the two.  Things could now hardly be more exciting ahead of next month’s Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final in Gothenburg, Sweden, as Gal is quickly closing in on his team-mate with increasingly impressive performances, while Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg and Damon Hill have already proven that they are a force to be reckoned with in the battle for the prestigious title.

With another nice test from Don Johnson FRH, Germany’s Isabell Werth slotted into third ahead of Denmark’s Anna Kasprzak and the expressive Donnperignon while Sweden’s Patrik Kittel and Watermill Scandic claimed fifth place.  There was a big buzz in the aftermath of the competition, and while it was Cornelissen who stood top of the prize-giving line, the electricity was all emanating from Gal whose enormous grin said it all.

Today marked a turning point for his lovely black horse who bears more than a passing resemblance to the great stallion, Totilas, which carried him through one of the most exciting periods in the history of this sport as they set new standards until parting company after winning the FEI European Championship in 2009.  Together they changed the face of international Dressage, and Gal admitted this evening, in almost a whisper, “It’s not just because he’s a black horse; it’s about the feeling… riding a horse that doesn’t want to stop and wants to give everything and more… today was a little bit like the same wow feeling I got with Totilas back then!” he said.

Full of Quality

From the outset this last qualifier was full of quality, with Switzerland’s Marcela Krinke Susmelj showing exactly why she was lying sixth on the Western European League rankings coming into this leg of the series as she produced a lovely opening test from Smeyers Molberg that oozed softness and harmony. And their score of 73.850 held the lead until surpassed, first by Sidsel Johansen and Schianto who notched up 74.950 and then by fellow-Dane Anna Kasprzak who really raised the game just before the half-way break with a mark of 78.650 for Donnperignon.

Not even the near-perfection of the passage and piaffe produced by Sweden’s Patrik Kittel and Watermill Scandic could oust this Danish pair who remained in front until Cornelissen took her turn with four left to go. And despite the fact that the title-defenders are still feeling their way into a whole new floor-plan and musical score, they forged way ahead when putting 85.900 on the board.

Germany’s Isabell Werth powered into the arena as the penultimate competitor and posted 79.475 to slot into runner-up spot with Don Johnson FRH, but that wouldn’t last long.  Because Gal and Glock’s Undercover kept the crowd spellbound with a last-to-go test that clearly has room for improvement but which had that distinct whiff of a little bit of magic.  The spectators couldn’t contain themselves when he left the ring, spontaneously rising to their feet to roar their approval, and when the judges’ marks were displayed there was an intake of breath, because Gal’s score was so very close to overtaking their other great favourite.  The Dutch are spoiled for choice once again.

Master the Movements

For Cornelissen today was a big one, as she still has to master the new series of movements that will, no doubt, come together to even greater effect over the coming months as both she and her lovely chestnut gelding perform her “Tribute to my Red Knight”.  She uses Parzival’s extraordinary expertise in canter pirouette to full effect in this new Freestyle which, although perhaps less majestic and dramatic, flows easily and will surely make an excellent replacement for the former Tchaikovsky-themed test that brought them so much success.

“I need to change some small things, and we are still getting used to the new test, but I’m very happy because with Parzival it is all getting much lighter and more harmonious,” she said.

While Cornelissen was being philosophical, Gal could hardly contain his excitement at having pushed her so closely.  “I was the most happiest rider today!” he said with a big smile at the post-competition press conference.  It is partly the speed at which his partnership with Undercover is coming together that is surprising him.  He brought the 12-year-old horse with him to ‘s-Hertogenbosch this time last year just to let him experience the atmosphere of a big show and all that goes with it, but only started riding the horse in January 2012.  “I had Totilas for four or five years before competing him like this, and I didn’t expect it would come together so soon.  Our last indoor competition was at Olympia (in London) in December and he (Undercover) was so hot there.  You need to have a hot horse to do a great test, but you have to be able to handle it and today I had a good feeling so I could let him go and do it, he was much more relaxed,” he pointed out.

Isabell Werth was well-pleased with her horse’s performance. “Johnny is always quite powerful, but he is still developing and I’m very happy with him. What Edward says is true: you have to deal with the power and the temperament, but my horse is still just 10 years old and when he plays in the right way he’s perfect!” she insisted.

In Context

Ground Jury President, Francis Verbeek van Rooij, put it all in context when she said, “For us judges it was an exciting afternoon. For me personally I couldn’t say after Edward’s test who was in the lead and in the end Adelinde finished just ahead of him.  These riders are riding the Freestyle test on the music really well, and I congratulate them all,” she added.

Frank Kemperman, Sports Director for Indoor Brabant and Chairman of the FEI Dressage Committee, confirmed that the nine leading riders on the Western European League 2012/2013 leaderboard have now qualified for the Final next month.  They are, in the following order: Kristina Sprehe (GER), Valentina Truppa (ITA), Edward Gal (NED), Helen Langehanenberg (GER), Isabell Werth (GER), Patrik Kittel (SWE), Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven (SWE), Anna Kasprzak (DEN), and Marcela Krinke Susmelj (SUI).  Defending champions, Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival, are automatically qualified.

“We have to wait another week or so before some of the other leagues are over so we can finalise the start-list, but I believe we can look forward to a wonderful Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final in Gothenburg in a few weeks’ time!” Mr Kemperman pointed out.

Retirement

And emotions ran high in the Brabanthallen once again later in the day when the official retirement ceremony for Anky van Grunsven’s 19 year old Hannoverian, Salinero, took place.  The Dutch rider enjoyed enormous success with this horse whose career might well have been overshadowed by the memory of his revered predecessor, Bonfire who, together with van Grunsven, first brought Freestyle Dressage to centre stage.  Salinero however followed faithfully in those very famous hoofprints to become a star in his own right, taking Olympic individual gold in Athens in 2004 and again at the equestrian events of the Beijing Olympic Games in Hong Kong four years later.  And he helped van Grunsven to become the most prolific winner of the FEI World Cup Dressage title – she won it nine times over a 13-year period between 1995 and 2008.

Salinero first came to prominence in 2003 with victory in the Dutch National Championship and was part of the Dutch bronze medal winning team at the London 2012 Olympic Games at Greenwich Park last summer which brought his spectacular career to a fitting conclusion.

For further information on the eighth leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2012/2013 series at ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands on Saturday 16 March 2013, go to website http://www.indoorbrabant.com/en/ or contact Press Officer Denise van der Net, Email denisene@xs4all.net, Tel +31 6270 31674.

The Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final 2012/2013 will take place in Gothenburg, Sweden from 24-28 April.  For details of the Swedish fixture, check out website www.gothenburghorseshow.com or contact Press Officer Mayvor Thorin at Email mayvor.thorin@gotevent.se, Tel +46 31 368 43 49.

Result: 1, Jerich Parzival (Adelinde Cornelissen) NED 85.900; 2, Glock’s Undercover (Edward Gal) NED 85.100; 3, Don Johnson FRH (Isabell Werth) GER 79.475; 4, Donnperignon (Anna Kasprzak) DEN 78.650; 5, Watermill Scandic (Patrik Kittel) SWE 77.775; 6, Hexagon’s Wellnetta (Laurens van Lieren) NED 75.575; 7, Miciano (Marlies van Baalen) NED 75.100; 8, Schianto (Sidsel Johansen) DEN 74.950; 9, Smeyers Molberg (Marcela Krinke Susmelj) SUI 73.850; 10, Unlimited (Stephanie Peters) NED 72.775; 11, Biggles (Kristian von Krusenstierna) SWE 72.725; 12, Axis TSF (Terhi Stegars) FIN 72.175; 13, Orion (PIa Fortmuller) can 70.025; 14, Vradin (Simon Missiaen) BEL 69.650; 15, World Performance Washington (Luis Principe) POR 67.375.

Full details here: http://results.scgvisual.com/2013/denbosch/r14.html.

Facts and Figures:

Today’s Freestyle competition at ‘s-Hertogenbosch was the eighth and final qualifying round of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Western European League series.
This was the first time for defending champion, The Netherlands’ Adelinde Cornelissen, to perform her new Freestyle floor-plan which she calls “Tribute to my Red Knight”.
Following today’s final qualifier, the top 9 riders on the Western European League leaderboard have earned a place at the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2013 Final which will take place in Gothenburg, Sweden from 24-28 April.
Defending champion and today’s winner, The Netherlands’ Adelinde Cornelissen, is automatically qualified with Jerich Parzival.
This weekend’s Dutch event also marked the retirement of Anky van Grunsven’s Salinero who, during his sparkling career, twice won Olympic gold .
Between 1995 and 2008 the Dutch rider dominated the FEI World Cup Dressage series with 9 victories over that 13-year period.
This is the 28th season of the FEI World Cup Dressage series, and the third season of sponsorship by New York fashion designer Reem Acra who recently committed to a further three years of support.
In yesterday’s preliminary Grand Prix competition, Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival produced a winning margin of 1.362 percentage points over Dutch colleague Edward Gal with Glock’s Undercover while Germany’s Isabell Werth and Don Johnson FRH finished third.
The panel of judges for today’s Ground Jury was: At E, Katrina Wuest (GER), At H, Hans Christian Matthiesen (DEN), At C, Francis Verbeek van Rooij (NED), At M, Jacques van Daele (BEL) and at B, Adriaan Hamoen (NED).

Quotes:

Isabell Werth – “With Johnny (Don Johnson FRH) we are still on way and learning. He can be a bit tense and do too much, but today he did a good test, not perfect, but to be third here was my goal and it was great preparation for the Final.”

Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2012/2013 – Standings after Round 8 at ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED):
1.    Kristina Sprehe GER            –    68
2.    Valentina Truppa ITA            –    67
3.    Edward Gal NED                –    66
3.    Helen Langehanenberg GER        –    66
3.    Isabell Werth GER                –    66
6.    Patrik Kittel SWE                –    63
6.    Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven         –    63
8.    Anna Kasprzak DEN            –    58
9.    Marcela Krinke Susmelj SUI        –    50
10.    Minna Telde SWE                –    49
11.    Sidsel Johansen DEN            –    46
12.    Marlies van Baalen NED            –    40
13.    Kristian von Krusentierna SWE    –    34
14.    Pia Fortmuller CAN                –    33
15.    Imke Schellekens-Bartels NED    –    32
16.    Patrick van der Meer NED        –    30
17.    Anabel Balkenhol GER            –    29
18.    Lyndal Oatley AUS                –    23
18.    Silvia Rizzo ITA                 –    23
20.    Karin Kosak AUT                –    22

FEI YouTube: http://youtu.be/lPaPBdIsB8U

Reem Acra FEI Hub, http://www.fei.org/reemacra, gives you access to useful information, including all news releases from the current and past Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage series (see “News and Press”).

FEI World Cup Dressage, the only worldwide series in this discipline, has entered its 28th season. The series, created in 1985, comprises four leagues: Western European, Central European, North American (including Canada) and Pacific (Australia, New Zealand, Asia). Each FEI World Cup Dressage qualifier consists of a Grand Prix test, which in turn is a qualification for the Freestyle to music competition, where league points are accumulated towards places in the Final. Judged on both technical and artistic merit, the FEI World Cup Dressage combines art, sport and partnership between horse and rider at the highest level and consistently proves a winning formula with audiences all over the world.

The complete rules, calendar, updated ranking and results are available here.

The Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), founded in 1921, is the international body governing equestrian sport recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and includes 133 National Federations. Equestrian sport has been on the Olympic programme since 1912 with three disciplines – Jumping, Dressage and Eventing. In 2012 equestrian sport will celebrate its centenary as an Olympic sport. It is one of the very few sports in which men and women compete on equal terms. It is also the only sport which involves two athletes – horse and rider. The FEI has relentlessly concerned itself with the welfare of the horse, which is paramount and must never be subordinated to competitive or commercial influences.

By Louise Parkes

Media Contacts:

At ‘s-Hertogenbosch
Press Officer: Denise van der Net
Email: denisene@xs4all.net
Tel: +31 6270 31674

At FEI
Grania Willis
Director Press Relations
Email: grania.willis@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 142

Malina Gueorguiev
Manager Media Relations
malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 33

Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Wins Put Cornelissen Back as World Number One

Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival in the first leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2012/2013. (Annette Boe Ostergard/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 7 November 2012 – Olympic silver medallists Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival are back at the top of the FEI World Dressage Rankings. After two months in the number two slot, the Dutch duo is back on top after brilliant winning performances in the opening qualifiers of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2012/2013 in Odense (DEN) and Lyon (FRA). The defending Reem Acra FEI World Cup champions, the world’s best Dressage combination for 14 months from 30 June 2011 to 31 August 2012, head the rankings once again with 2,879 points.

Olympic champions Charlotte Dujardin (GBR) and Valegro, who had taken over from Cornelissen and Parzival in September and October, are now back in second with 2,867 points. Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg and Damon Hill NRW are third (2,626).

Continue reading Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Wins Put Cornelissen Back as World Number One

Adelinde and Parzival Make It Two-in-a-Row at Lyon

Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival being presented with their trophy by Heather Schmidt representing Reem Acra. Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton.

Lyon (FRA), 2 November 2012 – Defending champions, Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival, once again stamped their authority all over the opposition when racking up their second successive victory in the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Western European League qualifier at Lyon in France tonight.  The Dutch partnership scored a massive 89.375 to leave them well clear of runners-up Valentina Truppa and Eremo del Castegno from Italy, while it was a very satisfying day for Kristina Sprehe who slotted into third with Desperados FRH.

In yesterday’s Grand Prix the 26 year old German rider endured an uncomfortable time as her 11 year old stallion bubbled over with excitement to finish well down the line in eighth place.  Tonight however they produced a much more focused performance to edge ahead of Sweden’s Patrik Kittel and Watermill Scandic HBC in the final line-up.

When asked tonight if competing with Jerich Parzival is a more enjoyable experience these days, Cornelissen, who was described as “The First Lady” during the press conference, referred to the change in the character of her 15 year old gelding.  “Yes, he’s not nearly as spooky as he used to be, he doesn’t worry and he’s much more relaxed so I can work on his self-carriage and suppleness – and it’s nice that everyone is noticing the difference and that they are liking it!” she pointed out.

Continue reading Adelinde and Parzival Make It Two-in-a-Row at Lyon

Cornelissen Leads Dutch Domination at Odense

Adelinde Cornelissen steered Jerich Parzival to win the opening leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2012/2013 series. Photo: FEI/Annette Boe Østergaard.

Odense (DEN), 21 October 2012 – Dutch riders claimed the first two places in the opening leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2012/2013 series at Odense in Denmark today where defending champions, Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival, scored a convincing victory.

Edward Gal, series champion in 2010 with Totilas, lined up second with Blue Hors Romanov while Danish riders filled the next two places.  Anna Kasprzak, at 22 years of age the youngest competitor in today’s Freestyle, pipped the considerably more experienced partnership of Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein and Digby when slotting into third, while Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven and Don Auriello lined up fifth for Sweden.

It was an exciting test from Cornelissen whose career highlights include back-to-back Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage titles in 2011 and 2012, double gold at the 2011 European Championships, and individual silver at this summer’s Olympic Games in London, all partnering the chestnut gelding who, at 15 years of age, still sparkles.

Continue reading Cornelissen Leads Dutch Domination at Odense