Monday, May 8, 2006

Del Mar Dressage National CDI

Guenter Seidel and Steffen Peters Dominate Grand Prix and Grand prix Special as They Aim for the WEG

As an annual USEF Selection qualifier, with a plethora of restaurants, reasonable hotels, not to mention being situated just north of the breath-taking Southern California city of San Diego, the Del Mar National is always a special show for the west coast. Held April 27-30, and in it’s 61st year, the Del Mar National show was also a host qualifier for the I1 and Grand Prix World Cup, the World Equestrian Games, FEI 5 and 6-year-old Championships as well as the US Championships and Young Rider Region 7 selections. Likewise, US Team Coach and long time Olympian, Klaus Balkenhol, was present to school the long listed riders.

A weekend FEI Judge’s Forum was held at the Hilton directly across from the show grounds running almost simultaneously. When asked about the proximity and timing of this forum to the show, Regina Antonioli, Division Manager, stated the forum ran in unison with the show as Del Mar National is host to, “a quantity of quality riders and horses for the judges to be tested on.” Olympian, “I” Judge, Rider, Trainer and FEI Judge’s Forum attendee, Hilda Gurney mentioned how impressed she was with the, “hospitality and generosity received from Regina and the [Del Mar National] show staff.”

Dressage is growing in popularity amongst the stateside audience and Saturday’s evening musical freestyles and exhibitions reflected this increase in popularity. The event was near sold out with a crowd of approximately 3500. Leading the CDI $5000 Grand Prix Freestyle was Guenter Seidel who put in a fabulous ride on Aragon. Dominating the PSG/I1 division was Shannon Peters and Luxor, and winning the Grand Prix was her husband Steffan Peters on Floriano.

Top Athens commentator and “O” judge, Cara Whitham presided at C with Janine Rohr at E, Linda Zang at H, Jacque Van Daele at M and Gary Rockwell respectively at B. In addition to some spectacular freestyle performances, the audience was treated to galloping, spangled cowgirls and a special sidesaddle exhibition by Sabine Schut on Tinus to mention only a few.

Angeléa Kelly for DressageDaily.com

For complete show results, visit horsesdaily.com/scoresource/
Del Mar Dressage National CDI