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FEDERATION EQUESTRE INTERNATIONALE
FEI World Cup Dressage
News from 28th December, 2003
CDI-W Mechelen 26-30th December 2003
Tomorrow in Mechelen, Belgium the Dutch invasion on the FEI World Cup
dressage rankings is set to take place.
In today's qualifying grand prix, places were
won and the grid positions decided for tomorrow's freestyle to music, where
the big business of accumulating ranking points towards a place in the FEI
World Cup Final (Dusseldorf April 1-4) commences.
Five-time World Cup winner and reigning
Olympic champion Anky van Grunsven swept to a clear victory with Gestion
Salinero in the qualifying grand prix today, with stable mate Edward Gal in
second place with Gestion Lingh and in third, Antoinette Falandt, who scored
the highest for Holland at the European Championships, riding Jarwo. So far
the German competitors, punctuated by young British rider Emma Hindle's
assault, which has put her second so far, have dominated the rankings.
Points leader Heike Kemmer had decided to sit
this one out, as did Hubertus Schmidt (3rd), but Isabell Werth, another
former Cup winner in equal fourth place with Sweden's Louise Nathhorst, had
intended to compete here. Sadly Werth's veteran ride Antony FRH went lame
just before they were due to travel. The field is open after today's clean
sweep for Holland.
Van Grunsven only returned to the
international grand prix arena in a Maastricht
earlier this month, having been sidelined through injury for much of this
year. Her horse Salinero, at only nine years old, has little experience, and
their performance today says much for the trust between horse and rider,
which is essential at this, the highest level of equestrian competition. Van
Grunsven commented: "It is not an easy
arena here. The crowd were very nice and it was very busy, though that is
not the easiest for horses. Salinero is very inexperienced, although he did
not feel like that today. I am so happy with him, and he has already
improved since Maastricht. It is great to be back."
On home ground, it was right that the Belgian
riders made a good showing. Although sadly their current No 1 Johan Zagers
was unable to start due his horse having a 'flu, Jeroen Devroe's sixth place
proved promising for the country, which has not fielded a full team
internationally since 1995.
Nearly New Year it is, and while there are
hopes to be fulfilled in future, tomorrow, in Maastricht, in a season where
every qualifier is proving a top class contest for points, there are hopes
and dreams concentrated on the World Cup in possibly its most competitive
season to date.
For further information:
http://www.jumping-mechelen.com
www.horsesport.org
FEI Media Release
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