Leipzig (GER), 30 April 2011 – The dream came true for the Netherlands’ Adelinde Cornelissen tonight when the biggest Sugar Plum Fairy of them all, the magnificent Jerich Parzival, danced to victory in the Reem Acra FEI World Cup 2010/2011 Final at Leipzig, Germany.  To the strains of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite the 14-year-old gelding produced another powerful performance in the hands of his 31-year-old rider who has endured plenty of disappointments over the last few years.  But at last it was her turn to stand in the limelight she has so long deserved.  The spotlight is not something Parzival revels in, as his post-presentation antics confirmed, but the partnership has now entered the equestrian history books as the 11th Dutch winners of the coveted title.

Repeating the result of yesterday’s Grand Prix, Denmark’s Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein and Digby finished second, while Germany’s Ulla Salzgeber steered Herzruf’s Erbe into third.  The 2010 title-winner, Edward Gal (GER), finished fourth with a great performance from the ever-more-confident Sisther de Jeu, while Germany’s Isabell Werth and Satchmo were fifth ahead of Sweden’s Patrik Kittel and Watermill Scandic in sixth.

The spectators had strong opinions about what they saw in the Leipzig arena tonight and didn’t hold back in expressing them, but they celebrated Cornelissen’s win with all the enthusiasm a new champion deserves.

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Leipzig (GER), 28 April 2011 – The Netherlands’ Adelinde Cornelissen moved ever-closer to taking the 2010/2011 title tonight when recording a convincing victory in the Grand Prix with Jerich Parzival at the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage final in Leipzig, Germany.  Hotly-tipped to scoop the honours following a spectacular indoor season, the Dutch rider and her powerful chestnut gelding produced a confident performance that put a score of 80.957 on the scoreboard.  And as German contenders Ulla Salzgeber and Isabell Werth had to settle for third and fourth places respectively, it was the Danish Princess, Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein, who snatched runner-up spot with a personal-best result from Digby.

Nerves got in the way of the performances of some of the earliest contenders, but the second tranche of riders exploded into action with a lovely test from up-and-coming German star Helen Langehanenberg who steered Damon Hill NRW into a temporary lead with a mark of 73.480. However Cornelissen, drawn fifth from the end, broke completely new ground when Parzival earned 80.957. The strength of this partnership is now beyond any doubt, the rider super-confident and the horse long past the edgy moments that previously prevented him from showing his true potential.  It is difficult to imagine that the Dutch partnership can be overtaken for the supreme award of this indoor international dressage season during which their class has been undeniable.

Continue reading Cornelissen Cruises to Victory in Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Grand Prix →

CORNELISSEN AND PARZIVAL SCOOP THEIR FIFTH VICTORY AT ‘S-HERTOGENBOSCH by Louise Parkes

The Netherlands’ Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival secured their fifth victory of the season when coming out on top at the last qualifying leg of the 2010/2011 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Western European League at ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands this afternoon.  They now look sure-fire favourites to scoop the title at the final which takes place in Leipzig, Germany from 27 April to 1 May, and the Dutch rider said today, “Yes, we’re in pretty good shape!”

Germany’s Isabell Werth and Warum Nicht produced a wonderful test, but still had to settle for runner-up spot ahead of Dutchman Hans Peter Minderhoud whose mare, Exquis Nadine, was really on her toes.  And fourth place went to Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg and Responsible whose star has been steadily rising throughout the current season.

SET THE STANDARD
Catherine Haddad led the way at the halfway stage having set the standard with a score of 74.10 from the flashy chestnut Winymaro who seems to thrive in front of an audience.  And the American rider was smiling broadly as she left the arena to the strains of the crowd singing “Happy Birthday” in celebration of her 47th year.  Her score was immediately overtaken as the action re-started however, although Great Britain’s Richard Davison had to work hard for his mark of 77.025.  His 12 year old gelding, Artemis, decided some of the greenery surrounding the arena was extremely suspicious and never fully settled throughout his test.

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CORNELISSEN MAKES IT FOUR IN GOTHENBURG by Louise Parkes

Goteborg (SWE), 26 February 2011 – Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival recorded their fourth victory of the 2010/2011 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage season at Gothenburg, Sweden tonight and jumped to the top of the Western European League leaderboard ahead of the final qualifier on their home turf at ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands in three weeks’ time.

The 32 year old rider and her 14 year old horse produced a more harmonious test than ever before, and Cornelissen declared herself delighted with the result.  Sweden’s Patrik Kittel finished a close second however with a personal-best result from his stallion Watermill Scandic HBC while Germany’s Isabell Werth and Warum Nicht FRH had to settle for third.

In a competition that was very much “a game of two halves”, many of the early riders produced low scores. Ground Jury President, The Netherlands’ Wim Ernes, said, “Tonight we saw some bad tests… but the top riders did a good job.”

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CORNELISSEN PIPS WERTH IN A THRILLER AT AMSTERDAM by Louise Parkes

Amsterdam (NED), 22 January 2011 – In one of the toughest battles so far this season, Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival held on to win the seventh leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage series in Amsterdam, The Netherlands today.  Winner of yesterday’s Grand Prix, the Dutch star was firm favourite going into the competition.  But Germany’s Isabell Werth pushed her all the way with a great performance from Warum Nicht while Sweden’s Patrick Kittel and Watermill Scandic finished a close third.

Underlining the quality of today’s competition, just over six points separated the top seven riders and it is clearly now shaping up to a classic finale in Leipzig, Germany in three months time.  Kittel showed however that the result may not necessarily be decided between the traditional protagonists from Holland and Germany.  On today’s form, he will be chasing the Swedish dream of measuring up to the third-place finish of Jan Brink and Briar at the 2006 final in Amsterdam and even pushing for the ultimate accolade achieved by Louise Nathhorst and LRF Walk on Top on her home turf in Gothenburg back in 1998.

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CORNELISSEN AND PARZIVAL MAKE IT A DOUBLE AT OLYMPIA – HADDAD FORGES AHEAD IN THE RANKINGS by Louise Parkes

Olympia, London (GBR), 15 December 2010 – The Netherlands’ Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival secured a second resounding victory in the 2010/2011 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage series when heading the line-up at the fourth leg at Olympia in London, Great Britain, tonight.  The exciting atmosphere in the packed Grand Hall tested some of the equine competitor’s nerve-endings to the limit, but the Dutch duo rose to the challenge to create what Ground Jury President, Andrew Gardner of Great Britain, described as “a very whole picture – it was very complete with no issues, and there was brilliance in this test!” he said afterwards.

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CORNELISSEN STORMS TO A THREE-TIME WIN IN STOCKHOLM by Louise Parkes

Stockholm (SWE), 28 November 2010 – The Netherlands’ Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival stormed to victory in the third leg of the 2010/2011 Reem Acra FEI 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 Alltech FEI 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 FEI World Cup Dressage champion Anky Van Grunsven produced a lovely Freestyle test from IPS Painted Black to secure runner-up spot ahead of Edward Gal and Interfloor 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.

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