Tag Archives: Edward Gal

Werth Wins and Gal Glitters as Final Line-Up Is Decided in Den Bosch

Photo: Edward Gal with Glock’s Zonic.  (FEI/Leanjo de Koster Digishots)

With the biggest smile on her face that said it all as she strutted down the centreline for the final time, defending series champion, Germany’s Isabell Werth (48), nailed her fourth win of the season at the last qualifier of the FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2017/2018 Western European League in ’s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands. On an afternoon when many of the early starters were hampered by spooky moments in the ring, the second-half contestants really raised the bar, and once Werth and Emilio took their turn when fifth-last to go, her score of 87.405 would be the winning one.

They weren’t the only partnerships to bring the crowd in the Brabanthalle to their feet, however, as home runners Edward Gal (48) and Glock’s Zonik got the same treatment when slotting into second on 83.900 following a great test. And, last in, compatriot Madeleine Witte-Vrees (45) and Cennin posted 82.555 to demote Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl (32) and Zaire-E to fourth place. The packed stadium of spectators enjoyed a real treat in the closing stages, but it was all about Isabell once again as she marches towards the 2018 FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final in Paris, France next month to chase down her second successive title and her fourth overall.

She has rarely looked more happy and confident throughout the extraordinary career during which she has become the most medalled athlete in equestrian sport. And with two wins from her superstar Olympic ride Weihegold and another two from Emilio who was at his very best, her horses are also in the form of their lives this winter. Weihegold the wonder-mare is of course her first choice for the Final, but Werth was thrilled with her 12-year-old gelding whose presence in the ring seems to grow with every outing. Pinned back to second place in Gothenburg, Sweden two weeks ago, he stepped it up even more.

“Emilio certainly showed an improvement today; he was amazing; he felt like 90%!” — Isabell Werth GER (1st)

Another with a big smile at the end of his ride was 2010 champion Gal who can’t help but be excited by the rapid development of his fabulous 10-year-old stallion, Zonic, whose trot extensions drew gasps of delight from the crowd.

““He’s improving so fast; this was only his third World Cup! There are a few little things that need improving, but he keeps surprising me!” — Edward Gal NED (2nd)

The 2018 Final will be another big test for this lovely young horse, and the Dutch are looking stronger by the day, with Witte-Vrees’ stallion Cennin still only 11 and also looking mature beyond his years.

This result has decided the Western European League qualifying spots for the Final which takes place from 11 to 15 April at which nine riders from six nations – Austria, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Netherlands and Sweden – will do battle with the rest of the best in the world. Britain’s Emile Faurie just squeezed into equal-eighth place despite having to withdraw from this competition with his gelding, Lollipop.

Media contact:

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
Email: ruth.grundy@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 145

Edward Gal Dominates on Opening Night of Olympia

The World’s best Dressage riders were out in force on the opening night of Olympia, The London International Horse Show, where Edward Gal (NED) was crowned winner of the FEI World Cup™ Dressage Grand Prix supported by Horse & Hound.

In addition to the top-class competition, Charlotte Dujardin and Carl Hester took centre stage to give a dressage masterclass showcasing the training routine of a champion and performances from The Chilean Huasos and the Metropolitan Police Mounted Branch gave the crowd a night to remember. The Osborne Refrigerators Shetland Pony Grand National got off to a flying start with Ollie Proctor and Holydell Sensation passing the post in front to take the first victory of the week.

Popular Dutch dressage rider Edward Gal and the young stallion Glock’s Zonik (76.68%) claimed the FEI World Cup Dressage Grand Prix supported by Horse & Hound at Olympia, The London International Horse Show.

The win made a cold, slow journey from The Netherlands, that was beset by delays caused by the wintery weather, worthwhile. It was also an impressive display of horsemanship from Gal and talent from the expressive and elegant nine-year-old Glock’s Zonik, who was competing in just his third ever Grand Prix, and now has two wins and a second place on his CV. Highlights of the test include ground covering half-passes and particularly impressive elastic piaffe and passage.

“The journey here was really no fun at all,” said Gal, a winner of the FEI World Cup qualifier at Olympia in 2009 with the record breaking Totilas, before going on to win the FEI World Cup Final later that season. “We left home at 6am on Sunday and finally arrived in London at 6pm on Monday evening, but this win makes up for all that. I was really happy with Zonik especially as it was his first time in such a big atmospheric arena – this is really promising for the future.”

Swedish Olympian Patrik Kittel, who also endured a marathon journey to London, came a close second with the Oldenburg gelding Delaunay (75.10%). The pair performed a well presented and confident error free test. “I am very happy to be here for the second time,” said Kittel. “London is such a great show.”

Olympia debutant Madeleine Witte-Vrees from The Netherlands was third with the bright chestnut Cennin (73.72%), with whom she made her senior championship team debut in this year’s Europeans, while Emile Faurie and Delatio (72.86%) were the highest placed British combination. It was an impressive competitive Grand Prix debut for the pair, who has only been together for two months.

“Tonight’s Grand Prix was quite a challenge for the judges,” said Stephen Clarke, President of the Ground Jury. “They were many good combinations, some exciting expressive horses and scores that were close together.”

Charlotte Dujardin took to the Olympia Grand Hall for the first time since the retirement of her triple Olympic gold medal winning partner, Valegro, this time last year. Riding Mount St John Freestyle, Charlotte was put through her paces by mentor and Olympic team mate, Carl Hester, to display the key attributes and training methods for producing a champion.

Mount St John Freestyle, an eight-year-old Hanoverian mare, nick-named “Mrs Valegro” by Carl during the demonstration, is looking to step up to Grand Prix level next year, with the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games as the target. The composed performance showcased the exceptional talents of both horse and rider, who have already attained several titles together, including the recent Future Elite Championship and the Summer British Dressage National Championship.

To find out more about Olympia, the London International Horse Show, visit www.olympiahorseshow.com.

For more information, please contact:
Olympia, The London International Horse Show:
Gayle Telford gayle@revolutionsports.co.uk 0203 176 0355

Dutch Olympian Edward Gal Withdraws from CDIO Rotterdam

Edward Gal steers Glock’s Undercover to victory in the opening leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2014/2015 Western European League in Odense, Denmark. (FEI/Annette Boe Ostergaard)

Citing the overall welfare of the horses, Edward Gal has withdrawn both of his rides, Undercover (Ferro x Donnerhall) and Voice (De Niro x Rohdiamant), from the 2016 CDIO Rotterdam, set to take place June 23-26. Despite being named the first of two mandatory Dutch team selection trials for the 2016 Rio Olympics, it is unclear whether Gal’s absence from the event will ultimately disqualify him from obtaining a spot on the Dutch team for the Games.

“In consultation with team-coach Johan Rockx, we decided both Glock’s Undercover and Glock’s Voice will not start in Rotterdam,” stated Gal through Glock Horse Performance Center’s Facebook page. “Last year Glock’s Undercover was really frightened by the intense atmosphere so I don’t think it’s fair to ride him in again.

“Glock’s Voice is going very well, but in terms of training is still in his building phase, after an injury. If I compete him now I would go faster than I wanted to and it would be too risky. That’s why we made the decision in consultation with Johan Rockx. Obviously this is a difficult decision as I would rather be in the ring, but the welfare of the horse is always most important for us.”

Undercover, Gal’s Olympic hopeful, was slated to compete in the CDIO Nations Cup for The Netherlands, and will be replaced by Danielle Heijkoop and Siro. Glock’s Voice, Gal’s partner for the 2014 World Equestrian Games, was to compete in the CDI 3* in Rotterdam. The Dutch National Championships, set to take place July 15-17, 2016, are the second competition labeled as mandatory for riders hoping to be selected for the 2016 Dutch Olympic Team.

Edward Gal and Undercover finished second overall in the CDIO Rotterdam Grand Prix in 2015, and placed second in the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle at Rotterdam in 2016 with scores over 80%. Gal and Glock’s Voice won last year’s CDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle at Rotterdam with a 81.650%.

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Gal Makes It a Reem Acra Double at Odense

The Netherlands’ Edward Gal won the first leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage Western European League at Odense in Denmark for the second year in a row today, topping the line-up with Glock’s Voice in the 2015/2016 season-opener. (FEI/Sanne Kolind)

Odense (DEN), 18 October 2015 – Dutch star, Edward Gal, made it a back-to-back double when coming out on top at the opening leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2015/2016 Western European League at Odense in Denmark today. Last season he rode to victory at this event with the gelding Glock’s Undercover, but this time around he triumphed with the stallion Glock’s Voice, pinning the host country’s Anna Kasprzak and Donnperignon into runner-up spot and Agnete Kirk Thinggaard and Jojo AZ into third.

It wasn’t the easiest of victories, however, as Glock’s Voice showed some tense moments during his winning test. “He felt better today, but he was still a bit nervous,” said the 45-year-old rider who includes the 2010 FEI World Cup™ Dressage title amongst his many achievements. “He felt good at the start, but he got edgy as we went along. However, it was better than the Grand Prix. It was his first indoor show, so all things considered it was a good result,” the Dutchman said this evening.

Far from certain

The outcome was far from certain after Kasprzak won yesterday’s Grand Prix on a mark of 73.860. Gal was a close second on 73.380 while his fellow-countryman, Hans Peter Minderhoud, lined up third with Glock’s Romanov on 73.320. Sweden’s rising star, 28-year-old Emilie Nyrerod, filled fourth spot with Miata ahead of Kirk Thinggard in fifth. Perhaps the biggest turnaround in terms of finishing spots today was that of Ireland’s Judy Reynolds, who rocketed up from 12th of the 20 starters in the Grand Prix to fill fifth place at the end of the Freestyle.

The 33-year-old German-based Irish athlete was holding the lead on her score of 74.425 at the halfway stage of the competition. Her 13-year-old brown gelding has been showing ever-improving form as the pair have climbed up to 54th in the world rankings over the past year, and this was the first major show for Vancouver K since they just missed out on Olympic qualification at the FEI European Championships in Aachen in August. Reynolds remains determined to make the cut to Rio through any other possible route, and has planned a consistent campaign of the Reem Acra series over the coming months.

She was deeply disappointed with yesterday’s Grand Prix performance, and worked hard to turn that around. “The arena is very atmospheric and I was caught unawares when he backed off going into the corners. I was much better prepared for that reaction today,” she explained after posting a mark of 74.425.

Lead overtaken

Her lead was overtaken by Nyrerod who was third into the arena after the break. The Swede has been making a significant impact this summer, earning high praise for her contribution to her country’s victory in their home leg of the FEI Nations Cup™ Dressage series at Falsterbo in July, before making another big impression at the Europeans in Aachen. Her score of 74.800 today moved her out in front until Kasprzak seriously raised the bar with a mark of 77.100. However, the Danish rider knew her result left the door open for Gal.

“It wasn’t quite our day today. He (Donnperignon) was really good yesterday, but today he didn’t have the same feeling in the warm-up. We started well, but there were a couple of misunderstandings and it made him tight, which came out in the piaffe. I need to improve my choreography, I know that,” Kasprzak said.

When Kirk Thinggaard posted 76.250 with the lovely Jojo AZ who always makes his job look like a whole lot of fun, only Gal was left to threaten Kasprzak’s advantage, and in the end the Dutchman did it despite some difficult moments during the test.

“The atmosphere in the stands got to horse, and he wasn’t as smooth as he can be. Sometimes he reacts weirdly, but you know sometimes the weird horses are the good ones!” he pointed at the post-competition press conference. “With performances like that, sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose,” he added, having clinched victory with a mark of 78.800.

For further information on the first leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2015/2016 Western European League series, check out website http://jbkhorseshows.dk/DK.aspx or contact Press Officer Britt Carlsen, press@jbkhorseshows.dk, Tel +45 202 42928.

The second leg of the series will take place in Lyon, France on Friday 30 October 2015. For all information on the French fixture, go to website www.equitalyon.com or contact Press Officer Daniel Koroloff, Email daniel@blizko-communications.com, Tel +33 611 021812.

Detailed result here.

Facts and Figures:

Odense in Denmark staged the opening leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2015/2016 Western European League today.

The series consists of nine legs, leading to the Reem Acra 2016 Final in Gothenburg, Sweden next March.

The Ground Jury for today’s competition was: At C, Hans-Christian Matthiesen; At H, Mariette Sanders Van Gansewin; At B, Raphael Saleh; At M, Isobel Wessels: At E, Susanne Baarup.

The Netherlands’ Edward Gal won the competition for the second year in a row. In 2014 he topped the line-up with Glock’s Undercover; this time around he claimed the honours with Glock’s Voice.

Runner-up today was Denmark’s Anna Kasprzak and Donnperignon who won yesterday’s Grand Prix in which Gal and Glock’s Voice finished second.

The winning horse, Glock’s Voice, is a 13-year-old stallion by de Niro.

The winning score was 78.800 percent.

Quotes:

Edward Gal NED (1ST): “It was close both days in the Grand Prix and the Freestyle but with this horse (Glock’s Voice) I’m not quite there yet.”

Bo Kristoffersen, JBK Horseshows Organiser: “We had a record crowd this year with over 36,000 spectators, and the majority of those in last few days. We are really pleased with how it has gone this year.”

Edward Gal NED (1st), when asked if he will return to Odense horse show again next year after winning twice in a row: “Of course – when you win you want to come back!”

FEI YouTube

By Louise Parkes

Media Contacts:

At Odense:

Britt Carlsen
Press Officer
press@jbkhorseshows.dk
+45 202 42928

At FEI:

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 787 506 145

Shannon Gibbons
Manager Press Relations
shannon.gibbons@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 46

Gal Leads Netherlands to Third European Team Title

On the podium: Diederik van Silfhout, Patrick van der Meer, Edward Gal, Hans Peter Minderhoud and Chef d’Equipe Wim Ernes. (FEI/Dirk Caremans)

Aachen (GER), 13 August 2015 – The Netherlands claimed team gold ahead of Great Britain in silver and Germany in bronze at the FEI European Championships 2015 in Aachen, Germany today. It was a cliff-hanger of a competition, with the result decided by a superb performance from Edward Gal and Glock’s Undercover NOP. However, Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro produced the biggest score of the day, posting 83.229 to finish more than half a percentage point ahead of the Dutchman.

Today’s result has also decided the last three European qualifying spots for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, and it is Spain, Sweden and France, who lined up fourth, fifth and sixth respectively, that have made the cut.

The Spanish really pulled it out of the bag today, Morgan Barbancon Mestre putting in a poignant performance with Painted Black on the final event of the 18-year-old stallion’s career, while Beatriz Ferrer-Salat, silver medallist at the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004, boosted their chances when slotting into individual fifth spot with Delgado.

This was The Netherlands’ third time to take European team gold, and their first time to field an all-male side. They made history when breaking the German stranglehold on the title in 2007 and then did it again two years later, before the British broke the mold once again in 2011. Dutch Chef d’Equipe Wim Ernes said recently that he expected his side to take team bronze at these championships, so when asked this evening what he thought of that now, he replied, “That was a few weeks ago; since then we just practiced and got better, and so today we won!”

Had the advantage

Team Germany had the advantage as the competition resumed this morning, but when Hans Peter Minderhoud went to the top of the scoreboard with a mark of 77.856 with Glock’s Johnson that tipped the balance in The Netherlands’ favour.

He was followed into the ring by Britain’s Carl Hester whose gelding, Nip Tuck, was a little unsettled through parts of his test. “But he’s so consistent; he’s never had under 70 percent,” said the London 2012 Olympic Games team gold medallist after posting 75.400.

Three horses later you could feel the electricity in the air as Germany’s Matthias Alexander Rath and Totilas took their turn. They were expected to secure their country’s position at the top of the leaderboard, but their mark of 75.971 always looked vulnerable. The German rider said afterwards that “the piaffe could have been more active,” expressing surprise at his score. But only two horse-and-rider combinations broke the 80 percent barrier today, and the first of those was ridden by Gal, the man who produced Totilas to become the first super-star horse of the sport of Dressage before the stallion’s sale to Germany in 2010.

Sensitivity

Gal has often struggled to contain Glock’s Undercover’s sensitivity and anxiety, but today the 14-year-old stallion showed exactly what his rider always said he could do. The judges clearly relished the utter consistency of the horse’s passage and piaffe, the steadiness of his tempi changes and the smoothness of the canter work when awarding the new leading mark of 82.229. That promoted the Dutch into an even stronger position, and although British stars Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro would better that by 0.8 percent, it was the Dutchman who took centre stage at the post-competition press conference having clinched it for his country.

The final Dutch score was 235.629 but it was a close-fought affair with the British runners-up just 1.4 behind while the Germans were more than three points further adrift in bronze medal spot.

When asked how he produced such a confident test under extreme pressure today, Gal explained, “I think it’s the experience my horse has now; he’s done more big competitions; he did Las Vegas (Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final), and that was impressive for him. Here, when you are in the ring you don’t notice so much around you because there are so many judges’ houses that you can’t see out anyway!” he joked.

“But no,” he continued, “for him it was quite a good atmosphere. The people are far away, and in the ring it was really quiet; it felt good and that gives him the confidence, and gives me the confidence that he is quiet and I can ride – and that makes an amazing test!” he explained. “I think we are the happiest team here!” Gal added, and Carl Hester responded, “I think that’s true – we have a great team too, but we’re not as happy as you!”

Happy mood

Germany’s Isabell Werth was also in a happy and sporting mood even though that 23rd FEI European Dressage team title had slipped from her country’s grasp. “It was our goal to come first, but it’s boring to win all the time and much more exciting to come third and to have to start again next year!” she joked. “To be honest we tried our best, but in the end we missed some things… we were not as good as we can be, and I think the third place was right. Congratulations to the Dutch and the British – but be careful,” she warned with a smile. “We want to come back; we will do our homework and next year we will do a better performance!”

Next year is on everyone’s mind as today’s result has given all of the teams an indication of what they need to do if they want their Olympic dreams to come true. And this evening the judges for the Rio 2016 Olympic Dressage competitions were confirmed. Brazil’s Maribel Alonso was already named as President and today’s draw means that she will be joined by Stephen Clarke (GBR), Gary Rockwell (USA), Edward de Wolff van Westerrode (NED), Peter Holler (GER), Thomas Lang (AUT) and Susanne Baarup (DEN). First reserve for the Rio Ground Jury is Annette Fransen-Iacobaeus (SWE) with Isabelle Judet (FRA) as second reserve.

For more information on the FEI European Championships 2015 in Aachen, visit www.aachen2015.de.

Results FEI European Championships Aachen 2015 here.

Facts and Figures:

The Netherlands claimed the FEI European Dressage Team Championship title today for the third time in the history of the event.

Great Britain took silver and the defending champions from Germany claimed the bronze.

All three medal-winning nations are already qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games so the teams placed fourth, fifth and sixth – Spain, Sweden and France – have earned the three available qualifying spots on offer at these Championships.

The highest score of the day today was produced by the British star partnership of Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro who posted a mark of 83.029.

Only two riders scored over 80 percent – Dujardin and Gal who earned a mark of 82.229 with Glock’s Undercover.

This was The Netherlands third FEI European Dressage Championships team title. They previously topped the podium at La Mandria, Spain in 2007 and again in 2009 in Windsor, Great Britain.

Quotes:

Charlotte Dujardin GBR, talking about her performance with Valegro: “I’m a little bit annoyed with myself. The zigzag – that was a bit my fault and it was still on my mind when I went into the changes and my two-times, double marks gone there… but the beginning of it felt really good. I don’t think there’s been many horses that have gone in there and not made mistakes; it was just unfortunate that it probably cost us the gold. At this top end you can’t afford to make any mistakes. But we all go in there to try out best and enjoy it, and that’s what we did.”

Matthias Alexander Rath GER: “Riding into the arena at Aachen is very special; when the spectators applaud it gives you goose-bumps!”

Tinne Vilhelmson SWE, talking about her performance with Don Auriello: “The most important thing was Olympic qualification and I was a little bit worried that he (Don Auriello) might react when he came in, so maybe I was slightly on the careful side, but otherwise it felt great. I did get a mistake in the one-tempis; we only did 13 and I don’t really know why. I had a super feeling I was actually just thinking that it would go great and then he didn’t take my aids. The good side is that he stood still in the halt which we often have difficulty with, especially if there’s tension, and that can be expensive, so I’m happy that he was totally not impressed in there.”

FEI YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M56XiTxS5dg&feature=youtu.be

By Louise Parkes

Media Contacts:

At Aachen:

Niels Knippertz
Press Officer
nielsknippertz@chioaachen.de
+49 (0) 241 9171 182

At FEI:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
Email: ruth.grundy@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 145

Edward Gal Leads Team Netherlands to Victory in the Dressage in Aachen

Edward Gal.

(Aachen, Germany, 13 August 2015) – The Netherlands, today, saw off tough competition and 22 years of German dominance in the team dressage competition phase of the 2015 FEI European Championships in Aachen with Great Britain finishing in second. Charlotte Dujardin (GBR) riding Valegro headed up the Individual leader-board with an impressive score of 83.029.

The Netherlands Claim Team Gold

The Dutch team proved they were still very much a force to be revered at the 2015 FEI European Championships today in Aachen, Germany. Both Hans Peter Minderhound and Edward Gal proved them and their team were worthy winners of the Gold medal by providing faultless displays and perfect precision.

Defending Dressage Team Gold Medallists, Germany, finished the day third, behind Great Britain who came second.

The host nation were hotly tipped to claim the Dressage team title for the 23rd time however strong competition from the British and Dutch competitors proved this would not be the case.

Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin Leads the Individual Grand Prix

Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin led Great Britain in the Individual leader-board. The phenomenal partnering with her incredible horse Valegro left them topping the board with a score of 83.029. The British team, consisting of Michael George Eilberg, Carl Hester and Fiona Bigwood, put pressure on the Dutch and German teams throughout the two days of Grand Prix competition but unfortunately it wasn’t enough to see off the Dutch rivals.

The top 30 riders from today’s Grand Prix qualify for the Grand Prix Special on Saturday.

Quotes

Edward Gal (NED):

“It was amazing to win, especially in Germany, in Aachen. I don’t think anybody really expected it and for us to win, but now we have we are extra extra happy! We have a great team; our spirit is good.”

Charlotte Dujardin (GBR):

“I knew I’d made a couple of mistakes which is a bit disappointing but the trot at the beginning felt really good. I don’t think there are many horses that have gone in there and not made mistakes; it’s just unfortunate. I think as a team we have done well. Fiona had a great ride yesterday; Carl had a good ride today, so it’s been very positive.”

Rolex Testimonee Isabell Werth, riding Don Johnson FRH (GER):

“Being on the podium again was great but to be honest we had another goal which was gold; third isn’t bad but being at home we really wanted gold.” She is positive looking forward to the Grand Prix Special on Saturday. “Don is in a good shape and I will obviously try my best; I’ll try to get the best from him so that’s my goal.”

For more information on the 2015 European Championships, please visit http://www.aachen2015.de/en/.

Rolex and the European Championships

Rolex is a major supporter of the biennial European Championships, an event which brings together Europe’s best equestrian pairs. For the first time, the FEI European Championships in Aachen, Germany, this summer (11-23 August) unites five equestrian disciplines – Show Jumping, Dressage, Driving, Vaulting and Reining. Competitors test their metal strength and show their equine discipline in front of crowds of up to 40,000.

Rolex is proud to support an occasion where the values that the leading luxury watchmaking brand holds dear – courage, precision, empathy, sportsmanship and passion – will be so clearly demonstrated.

Gal and Undercover Reign Supreme on Home Ground at ‘s-Hertogenbosch

Left to right – third-placed Hans Peter Minderhoud/Glock’s Flirt from The Netherlands, runners-up Isabell Werth/Don Johnson FRH from Germany and winners Edward Gal/Glock’s Undercover from The Netherlands. (FEI/Arnd Bronkhorst)

‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED), 14 March 2015 – The Netherlands’ Edward Gal and Glock’s Undercover clinched victory at the last qualifying leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Western European League on home ground at ‘s-Hertogenbosch today. Always favourites to take maximum points after their convincing win in yesterday’s Grand Prix, the pair didn’t disappoint this afternoon when producing some spectacular work when third-last into the arena. But Gal’s masterful riding skills were fully tested by moments of tension from the 14-year-old gelding with which he finished third at the Reem Acra Final in Lyon, France last season.

Runner-up today was Germany’s Isabell Werth who nailed a great performance with Don Johnson FRH, and it was an excellent result for the host nation contingent as Hans Peter Minderhoud and Glock’s Flirt lined up third ahead of fellow-Dutchman Diederik van Silfhout and Arlando NH in fourth spot.

Up for grabs

With last-minute points still up for grabs it was always going to be an interesting contest, and Sweden’s Paulinda Friberg took full advantage of one more opportunity to add to her scoreline when posting 76.750 with her black mare, di Lapponia T, just after the judging break. This would eventually leave her in eighth place in today’s competition and in overall eleventh spot on the series leaderboard. And, as it turned out, it was plenty good enough to book her ticket to the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Final in Las Vegas, USA next month.

Patrick van der Meer posted an impressive 77.750 with Uzzo to take the lead just before Werth set off with Don Johnson who really turned it on today as he set a significantly higher target score of 81.650. The double FEI World Cup™ Dressage champion decided some time ago that El Santo would be her choice for Las Vegas, but she also wanted to demonstrate the improvements “Johnny” has made. And her decision to return to the music she used when campaigning her former star Warum Nicht, or Hannes as he was also known, turned out to be something of a triumph.

Continues to sparkle

Spain’s Morgan Barbancon Mestre didn’t present any real threat when scoring 78.900 with Painted Black, but at 18 years of age this stallion, who was so successful earlier in his career for Dutch legend Anky van Grunsven from The Netherlands, continues to sparkle. And his mark would eventually leave the pair in fifth spot and earn another of those much-sought-after berths in Las Vegas.

However, all eyes were on Gal and Glock’s Undercover as they set off with just three left to run, and it was clear from the outset that the Dutchman was not going to have an easy time. Gal knows how to create enormous energy and power in his horses, but containing it is another thing entirely and the 45-year-old ace had to call on all his extensive experience to complete a test that swung from brilliant to extremely tense. Such was the quality of the good work that the scoreboard showed 84.925 after they left the arena.

Diederik van Silfhout produced a happy, balanced and compliant performance from Arlando NH for a mark of 79.925 when second-last to go while Dutch compatriot, Hans Peter Minderhoud, also had plenty of reason to be pleased with Glock’s Flirt when last to go. The chestnut stallion was confident and rhythmic throughout his test, and Dutch coach, Wim Ernes, was smiling broadly when a mark of 80.425 went up on the board for this pair.

Winning test

Gal talked afterwards about his winning test during which he ran into trouble during both of his tempi changes.

“He (Glock’s Undercover) felt very good at the start but then we made a little mistake, and at the start of the changes there was another mistake and we lost a little bit there, but for most of it he felt quite good,” he said.

He said he was expecting a strong test because Undercover did a good warm-up, “but when he came in to the big arena with all those people he was very aware of them. When we started I thought, “OK, this is really nice!”, but the mistakes cost us a lot of points even though the percentage marks we got were good.” So now he’s thinking ahead to how his horse will cope with the buzz and excitement of the Thomas & Mack Arena in Las Vegas.

“It is the way he is to get a little excited, so for me it’s better not to think too much about it!” he said this evening. “I just hope he will grow into it; it felt easier for him today but you never know. The difference for me now is that I feel I have enough control and I’m enjoying riding him like this, but I will have to ride my very best there. I know he will be a little bit tense, but when he goes well he is so brilliant, and I will just have to try very hard to help him!” he insisted.

Made the cut

Today’s result has now decided the top nine riders who have made the cut to the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final 2014/2015, but it is not the first nine names on the Western European League leaderboard.

There can only be three representatives from each nation, and since five of the top nine are from Germany, only Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, Fabienne Lutkemeier and Isabell Werth will fly their nation’s flag while Ulla Salzgeber and Sonke Rothenberger miss out. Gal, Danielle Heijkoop and Minderhoud will represent The Netherlands while Agnete Kirk Thinggaard will be the sole Danish competitor, and the door to the 30th FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final has opened up for Spain’s Morgan Barbancon Mestre and Denmark’s Paulinda Friberg.

For further information on the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 qualifier at ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands, visit website www.indoorbrabant.com or contact Press Officer Denise van der Net, Email denisene@xs4all.net, Tel +31 627 031 674.

The Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2015 Final will take place in Las Vegas, USA from 15 to 19 April. For details of the event, visit www.worldcuplasvegas.com or contact Press Officer Marty Baumann, Email marty@classic-communications.com, Tel +1 508 698 6810.

Detailed result here.

Facts and Figures:

The ninth and last leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Western European League took place today at the Brabanthalle in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands.

The competition was won by Dutchman Edward Gal riding the 14-year-old gelding Glock’s Undercover.

Runner-up was Germany’s Isabell Werth with Don Johnson FRH while host nation riders filled four of the top six places.

The Ground Jury for today’s Freestyle was: at E, Magnus Ringmark SWE; at H, Francis Verbeek van Rooy NED; at C, Ghislain Fouarge NED; at M, Peter Holler GER; at B, Jacques van Daele BEL.

Today’s winning partnership finished third at the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2013/2014 Final in Lyon, France last April.

Gal previously claimed the FEI World Cup™ Dressage title in 2010 riding the black stallion Totilas and completes the 2014/2015 series at the top of the Western European League leader board.

The Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Final will be held in Las Vegas, USA from 15 to 19 April.

Full standings here.

FEI YouTube

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 30th 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 ‘s-Hertogenbosch:

Denise van der Net
Press Officer
denisene@xs4all.net
+31 627 031 674

At FEI:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

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

Gal Wins Reem Acra Opening Leg at Odense

The Netherlands’ Edward Gal steered Glock’s Undercover to victory in the opening leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Western European League at Odense in Denmark today. (FEI/Annette Boe Ostergaard)

Odense (DEN), 19 October 2014 – The Dutch were in dominant form at the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Western European League opening leg at Odense in Denmark today, where Edward Gal pipped Adelinde Cornelissen for the main honours in the Grand Prix Freestyle.

Gal posted a warning of his intent when topping yesterday’s Grand Prix with Glock’s Undercover. And he returned this afternoon to confirm that both he and his sensitive but talented 13-year-old horse are a force to be reckoned with going into the winter season.

Cornelissen was also runner-up yesterday with her trusty chestnut 17-year-old gelding Jerich Parzival. Going last today, the pair scored 84.30. But this left them more than four percentage points behind Gal’s winning mark of 88.625, while third place went to another FEI World Cup™ Dressage double-champion, Germany’s Isabell Werth partnering Don Johnson FRH.

Early target

It was fellow-German, Sonke Rothenberger, who set the early target when sixth of the 15 starters into the arena. The 19-year-old rider, who was a prolific winner in the Dressage ring with the legendary family pony Deinhard B some years ago, transferred his interest to the sport of Jumping in 2010, but made a significant comeback to his original discipline last season at senior level.

Riding the 15-year-old chestnut, Favourit, the young man who is studying Business Administration in Frankfurt threw down a score of 74.750 which would prove good enough for seventh place at the end of the day.

Danish 31-year-old, Agnete Kirk Thinggaard, then moved out in front when scoring 74.975 with the 11-year-old Jojo AZ. The busy mother-of-three took a career-break for eight years, and only returned to the sport in 2013. But she proved she has lost none of her edge when bouncing back this season, and she stayed out in front today until German star, Isabell Werth, produced the first result over 80 percent when earning 80.275 for a strong performance with Don Johnson FRH.

Yesterday this pair lined up fourth behind Ulla Salzgeber and Herzruf’s Erbe in the Grand Prix, but today Salzgeber, back-to-back winner of the FEI World Cup™ Dressage title with the great Rusty in 2001 and 2002, swopped places with her German counterpart when scoring 79.400.

Real battle

The real battle was played out between the final pair, however, Gal setting out his stall with a performance that saw him collecting multiple scores of 10. Piaffe, passage and half-pass were highlights, and despite their best efforts Cornelissen and Parzival just couldn’t rein them in.

Yesterday’s Grand Prix winning score of 84.100 was a personal best for Gal, and today’s result was the icing on the cake, going some way towards easing the deep disappointment of being unable to take Undercover to the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Normandy this summer due to a last-minute inflammation in the horse’s spine. Gal instead rode Glock’s Voice in the Dutch side that took team bronze.

“It was a very big disappointment at the time, but the health of the horse counts for everything and you have to move on, and today he felt really good,” said the 44-year-old rider. He was particularly pleased because the arena at Odense presents a difficult environment for the gelding. “The spectators are sitting very high up along the side of the arena, and the arena is not so big so they feel very close,” Gal explained.

The noise of the crowd, and the intense atmosphere, has been a real challenge to this horse throughout his career to date. But Gal feels Glock’s Undercover is coming to terms with it, and with himself, as time goes on.

Under the spotlight

He has had the horse for two-and-a-half years now, and it has taken him all that time to gain his confidence and teach him to relax when under the spotlight. It seems all the hard work is really paying off.

“Yesterday he was really good, and today he was even more relaxed in the Freestyle. In the prize-giving today his heart was beating normally. Before, you could feel it beating so fast because he was so afraid! But today I got a really good feeling and I could ask him to do more and I could ride him through his extensions,” Gal explained this evening.

He’s now looking forward to the remainder of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 season and is targeting appearances in London, Amsterdam and ‘s-Hertogenbosch over the coming months. “London is one of my favourites – I really like that show,” he said. And with the maximum 20 points on the leaderboard after today’s great result, the 2010 champion has the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Final in Las Vegas already in his sights.

For further information on the first leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Western European League series, check out website http://jbkhorseshows.dk/DK.aspx or contact Press Officer Christel Kroeyer, Email ck@jbkhorseshows.dk, Tel +45 292 686 26.

The second leg will take place in Lyon, France on Friday, 31 October 2014. For all information on the French fixture, go to website www.equitalyon.com or contact Press Officer Daniel Koroloff, Email daniel@blizko-communications.com, Tel +33 611 021812.

Facts and Figures:

Odense in Denmark presented the first leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Western European League today.

15 horse-and-rider combinations competed.

The Ground Jury members were: At B, Elke Ebert; At M, Kurt Christensen; At C,Susanne Baarup; At H, Magnus Ringmark; At E, Mariette Sanders.

The winning horse and rider were The Netherlands’ Edward Gal and Glock’s Undercover who scored 88.625.

They also claimed victory in yesterday’s Grand Prix.

Gal won the FEI World Cup™ Dressage title with the stallion Totilas on home ground in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands in 2010.

Runner-up today was his Dutch colleague Adelinde Cornelissen with Jerich Parzival, double winners of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage title in 2011 and 2012.

The Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Western European League takes place over nine qualifying rounds.

The next leg takes place in Lyon, France on Friday, 31 October 2014.

FEI YouTube: http://youtu.be/WMsL6gkvtLM

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 Odense:

Christel Kroeyer
Press Officer
ck@jbkhorseshows.dk
+45 292 686 26

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

Big Win for Gal as Dutch Dominate at Last Reem Acra Qualifier in Den Bosch

Edward Gal and Glock’s Undercover produced a convincing victory in today’s last qualifying leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Western European League at ‘s-Hertogenbosch. Photo: FEI/Dirk Caremans.

‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED), 22 March 2014 – Dutch riders claimed five of the top seven places at the last qualifying leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2013/2014 Western European League series at ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands today where the winner, Edward Gal, was in a league all his own.

Riding Glock’s Undercover the 44-year-old Dutchman produced a fabulous test but for a misstep in extended trot.  Discussing it afterwards, he pointed out, “At this level of the sport you cannot afford any mistake at all – not even a tiny one.”  But his score of 86.700 would leave him a massive seven points clear of runner-up Danielle Heijkoop (Kingsley Siro) who is looking very comfortable in top-class company these days.  Third place went to Italy’s Valentina Truppa (Fixdesign Eremo del Castegno) while Germany’s Isabell Werth (El Santo NRW) slotted into fourth.

Strong representation

There was a strong home-side representation with Dutch riders filling nine of the 15 starting places, and each and every one of them made it count.  The rapid development of a whole new generation of both horses and riders makes this a very exciting time for Dutch Dressage, and the experience and confidence gained through participation in the pilot FEI Nations Cup Dressage series was very much in evidence today.

Tommie Visser, a member of the team that won the opening leg of the 2014 FEI Nations Cup Dressage series at Vidauban, France three weeks ago, was leading the field at the half-way stage following a brilliant ride with Vingino.  The big black gelding has tremendous presence and their cool, calm way of working together was a joy to watch.  The only moment Visser looked under any real pressure was when he asked his powerhouse of a horse to come back from extended canter, but their piaffe was near-perfect and despite a little mistake before their first canter pirouette they racked up a mark of 74.950 as the first-half target score.

Visser’s decision to put his TV presenting career on the back-burner in order to concentrate on Dressage looks to be seriously paying off and based on recent results, it is no surprise that the rider who will turn 30 next month has been promoted to the Dutch Olympic A team.

New target

Fellow-Dutchman Hans Peter Minderhoud threw down a new target when second to go after the break.  Riding the 12-year-old stallion, Johnson, he was awarded 77.975 for a test that demonstrated all the trademark skill of this hugely experienced horseman.  Minderhoud’s ability to transition from really forward extended canter to a pirouette was just one example of his polished performance with this ever-improving horse.

His lead was short-lived however as Isabell Werth threw down one of those brave and brilliant rides that have kept her at the centre of the sport for decades and which keep everyone on the edges of their seats.  The German rider marched into action from the outset with El Santo NRW to put together a floor-plan that showed pace, timing, rhythm, accuracy and a strong degree of difficulty, and the bay gelding’s co-owner, Madeleine Winter-Schulze, and German Dressage team trainer Monica Theordorescu had smiles almost as wide as Werth’s as she left the arena to go out in front on a score of 78.575.

But Gal put the whole competition into a different context as he pumped out amazing passage and piaffe with the impressive gelding Glock’s Undercover.  At the London International Horse Show at Olympia last December, Gal produced his best result with this horse when posting 87.425, and today he was only a little short of that when awarded 86.700.  It was highly unlikely anyone else could do better, and the audience of 8,500 spectators rose to their feet to give their hero a standing ovation as he left the arena.

Down the line

Italy’s Valentina Truppa pushed Werth down the line when taking temporary runner-up spot for one of her typically entertaining tests with Fixdesign Eremo del Castegno.  The fearless rider included one-handed one-tempi changes and even one-handed pirouette as she executed her floor plan to her Italian-themed musical accompaniment for a score of 79.475. But the Dutch weren’t finished yet.

Last in was the young lady who slotted in behind Gal on the night that Olympic champions Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro stormed to a new world-record Freestyle score on home soil at Olympia in London last December.  Danielle Heijkoop was still only a relative rookie to the top end of the sport when brought into the Dutch team for last summer’s ECCO FEI European Championships in Denmark where she helped her country to silver medal position, but the 27-year-old has been a winner all her life with Junior and Young Rider gold medals amongst her incredible winning haul so far.

Her horse, the 15-year-old Kingsley Siro, showed huge quality of movement, flicking his toes in extended trot and producing the loveliest piaffe and passage.  When the Ground Jury’s score of 79.650 rocketed her into second place it was the ideal end to a great day for the home crowd.

Now qualified

Heijkoop could hardly believe that she is now qualified for the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final which will take place in Lyon, France from 17-21 April.  “For the first time I am going to the Final, I’m very excited!  I was never expecting to qualify, but now that I have the opportunity I will definitely go!” she said, delighted with Kingsley Siro’s performance which she said was “full of energy!”

For Gal, today was all about a job well done.  “He (Glock’s Undercover) was quite relaxed. In the first extension we had a mistake but for the rest he was fabulous, really good.  He worked with nice expression and we even managed to stand still at the end!” he pointed out with a laugh.

Further analysing his performance, he said, “The one-tempi changes went a bit to the left.  Now it’s down to improving the small things; we are getting better and better together.  His walk is good at home but it was not quite so good here – it is getting better but we need to work on that some more also.”

And he wasn’t just pleased for himself.  With so many talented young Dutch riders lining up behind him, he said, “They did great today, and it’s great to see the younger ones getting a chance to show what they can do.”

Today’s result for Heijkoop also proved pivotal in another way, because her promotion to tenth place on the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Western European League table has pushed Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin out of a qualifying spot for this season’s Final.  The British Federation must now apply for a wild card for the Olympic champion and World No. 1 if she wants to challenge for the title that will be staunchly defended by World No. 2 and 2013 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage champion, Helen Langehanenberg from Germany.

For further information on the eighth leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2013/2014 Western European League series at ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED), go to website http://www.indoorbrabant.com/ or contact Press Officer Denise van der Net, Email info@denisevandernet.nl, Tel + 31 627031674.

The Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final will take place in Lyon, France from 17-21 April 2014.  For all information on the French fixture, contact Press Officer Pascal Renauldon, Email p.renauldon@rbpresse.com, Tel +333 44 620 621.

Detailed results here.

Facts and Figures:

Indoor Brabant at ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands played host to the eighth and last qualifying leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2013/2014 Western European League series today.

The Dutch venue presented the first FEI World Cup Dressage Final back in 1976.

Indoor Brabant has hosted nine FEI World Cup Dressage Finals nine times over the intervening years during which time The Netherlands’ Anky Van Grunsven won three of her nine titles.

A total of 15 horse-and-rider combinations lined out in today’s Grand Prix Freestyle.

Today’s winner was The Netherlands’ Edward Gal riding Glock’s Undercover.

The 44-year-old rider claimed the FEI World Cup Dressage title in 2010 when partnering the black stallion, Totilas.

Runner-up today was new young Dutch star, 27-year-old Danielle Heijkoop.

Dutch riders filled five of the top-seven finishing places today.

Today’s Ground Jury was: at E, Adriaan P. Hamoen (NED); at H, Maria Colliander (FIN); At C, Mariette Sanders van Gansewinkel (NED); at M, Andrew Ralph Gardner (GBR): at B, Dietrich Plewa (GER).

A packed house of 8,500 spectators watched today’s Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Freestyle competition at the Brabanthalle in ‘s-Hertogenbosch.

‘s-Hertogenbosch has bid to stage the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final in 2017.

Quotes:

Edward Gal NED – “I’d like to thank Reem Acra for her support for this series and today I would also like to thank the organisers and the public.  They all did a great job!”

Valentina Truppa ITA – “I had a good feeling today and I am very happy.  My horse seemed tired at the end but I was happy overall.”

Valentina Truppa ITA, when asked about training with her father, Vincenzo, who is a top-level Dressage judge – “Yes, my father trains me but I also do clinics with other riders and trainers as well.”

Mariette Sanders van Gansewinkel NED, President of the Ground Jury – “It was a great afternoon and the riders made our day.  We were very happy with the overall competition.”

Full Standings here.

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.

By Louise Parkes

Media Contacts:

At ‘s-Hertogenbosch:
Denise van der Net
info@denisevandernet.nl
Tel + 31 627031674

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

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