Scandinavian riders impress, third World Cup™
qualifier win Werth
By Claartje van Andel dressagedirect
No surprise that title defender Isabell Werth in Neumünster
won her third World Cup™ victory after having won in Odense
and Frankfurt as well earlier in the season. The surprise
however in the sold out Holstenhalle came from Scandinavian
power, reaching for all World Cup™ tickets they could possibly
get. “I suggest we will continue in having the last decisive
qualifier in Neumünster, as it worked out as a really ‘Krimi’
here”, the chairman of the judges Mariette Withages
enthusiastically commented on the rides.
Title-holder Isabell Werth booked her
third victory in Neumünster and is looking forward to the
Final
Picture Karl Heinz Frieler KHFrieler@aol.com
The seventh World Cup™ Qualifier of the Western
European League reached a climax when the last three riders
entered the arena.
In Grand Prix it had been like no riders
and horse combination could avoid making mistakes. Especially
the series of changes suffered from a lack of certainty.
Isabell Werth had made mistakes in the two tempi changes and
the one tempi changes as well. The most experienced horse, 17
year old Swedish master Björsells Briar, also made mistakes in
both the one and two tempi changes and didn’t show to his
advantage in Grand Prix.
What a change one day can make.
Although Jan Brink himself was influenced by a tight
schedule combining the Swedish stallion test with riding three
stallions there together with competing in the Neumünster
World Cup™ qualifier, nothing could be seen anymore from less
good timing and a less perfect ride. Today Briar had a great
test. Jan Brink commented: “Even an experienced horse like
Briar can just make mistakes after a pause in showing. But
today he performed to his best. He was very fresh, motivated
and willing to do everything he possibly could! I hope it will
stay this way, as he not only is my hope for the World Cup™
Final, but still is my number one horse for the OG in Hong
Kong as well.”
Jan Brink proved the fitness and
reliability of his stallion Björsells Briar and became the
runner up
Picture Karl Heinz Frieler KHFrieler@aol.com
After Brink, Danish Andreas Helgstrand entered the arena
with his young hope Gredstedsgard Casmir. Riding on well
chosen pop music of the seventies he did a perfect job. “This
no doubt was my best test ever”, Helgstrand agreed happily. He
ended with the merest of a margin behind Jan Brink, something
the audience didn’t agree with.
Isabell Werth was the last
to go. Her test also went much better than the Grand Prix the
day before. “It was an emotional ride”, owner Madeleine
Winter-Schulze said. Isabell commented: “A win can be expected
but I know always the pressure is on. My Danish and Swedish
friends really made me go for it. Yesterday’s mistakes in the
changes I purely blame on myself. ‘Hannes’ has improved
a lot since last year, especially in the piaffe and passage. I
am happy it paid off in the arena and am looking forward to
the Final.”
The best test ever in Neumünster for
Andreas Helgstrand and Gredstedsgard Casmir
Picture
Karl Heinz Frieler KHFrieler@aol.com
Looking forward to the Final also are the Scandinavian
riders, who will be represented very well. No less than five
Scandinavian pairs will show in ‘s-Hertogenbosch in The
Netherlands. Kyra Kyrklund today had a very good ride and
secured her place in the Final. Yesterday Kyrklund and Max had
had some problems. In Grand Prix the egg-bar shoes of Max were
filling with the footing, which caused some irregularities and
mistakes as the footing very quickly dried in the hoof. “Well,
since riding with one hand is allowed in a Freestyle, I can
add a pause for scratching the feet”, Kyra joked
afterwards. However scratching the feet before entering the
arena proved to be enough and Kyra and Max were rewarded with
a wonderful percentage and fourth place, which brought them
into the Final.
Danish Nathalie zu Sayn Wittgenstein rode
the home bred Digby to the next placing in Neumünster. “After
a deserved show pause of two months, Digby has done a
wonderful job here. In winter he wears no shoes, so we
experienced no problems.”
Only Swedish Louise Nathhorst
regrettably just dropped out for the Final. “As
‘s-Hertogenbosch is a wonderful show and my younger horses
Isidor definitely can use some more experience, we still might
go to the Final in ‘s-Hertogenbosch and compete in the other
tour with the Grand Prix Special”, Louise Nathhorst
added.
Title-holder Isabell Werth will be the only German
competitor in the World Cup™ Final. Isabell Werth is
looking forward to it: “I really prefer to do the big shows
where I really can meet competition and challenges. I never
have gone competition out of the way. That’s what makes the
sport going, meet and compete!”
FEI WORLD CUP™ DRESSAGE 2007/2008 - WESTERN EUROPEAN
LEADERBOARD AFTER THE LAST ROUND nr 7 IN NEUMUNSTER GERMANY
Qualified for the FINAL:
Title-holder Germany’s Isabell
WERTH
1. Anky VAN GRUNSVEN (NED) 60
1. Jan BRINK (SWE)
60
3. Anders DAHL (DEN) 56
4. Nathalie ZU SAYN
WITTGENSTEIN (DEN) 53
5. Kyra KYRKLUND FIN 47
6. Andreas
HELGSTRAND DEN 45
7. Laurens VAN LIEREN (NED) 43
7.
Jeroen DEVROE (BEL) 43
Not qualified:
9. Louise NATHHORST (SWE) 40
10.
Patricia CALLAGHAN (NED) 35
11. Catherine HADDAD (USA)
34
11. Imke SCHELLEKENS-BARTELS 34
13. Victoria MAX
THEURER (AUT) 29
14. Stéphanie PETERS NED 26
15.
Stephanie CROXFORD GBR 23
16. Evi Strasser CAN 22
More on the show in Neumünster on www.reitturnier.de/index2.htm
