FEDERATION EQUESTRE INTERNATIONALE World Cup Dressage
News No 6
13th December, 2004
German Head to Head Sees Schmidt Emerge Victorious while New Contenders
Impress
Two German Olympic team gold medal-winning combinations battled it out for
the top slot in Maastricht where Hubertus Schmidt and Wansuela Suerte
narrowly snatched victory over Heike Kemmer and Bonaparte by a fraction of a
point. In Wansuela Suerte's first outing since Athens, she and Schmidt took
command in both the Grand Prix and the FEI World Cup Freestyle qualifier. "I
was very, very happy with the grand prix, but Wansuela felt a little tired
for the freestyle", commented Schmidt, who now takes a break until resuming
his Las Vegas-bound campaign in Amsterdam (Jan 27-30 2005).
Kemmer and Bonaparte's freestyle had just one mistake in the one-tempi
changes, but their dramatic extended canter down the centre line earned a
maximum '10' from judge Volker Moritz at H. " In Dusseldorf" [the 2004 World
Cup Final, where they finished fourth] " in this movement I took a little
too much risk, and Bonaparte changed legs at the end. Dr Moritz was at C
that time, and this time it was perfect so I think that was why he gave us
the top mark", said Kemmer, adding, " Bonaparte gave me a really good
feeling today." Kemmer now takes her veteran campaigner Albano to London for
the Olympia qualifier.
Switzerland's Silvia Ikle, in third place, was delighted with the
performance of her ten-year-old Sinclair gelding Salieri CH, who she has
been training since he was three. A member of the five strong Swiss elite
squad for next year, Ikle said: " Salieri can be hot and used to be nervous,
but today he was so concentrated on me, and felt so forward and light, I had
a wonderful ride."
Carl Hester and Escapado placed fourth rising six places from their grand
prix rank of tenth. Hester was delighted. "Escapado just felt unbelievable"
said the British rider, who made such an impression in Athens with this
horse in finishing 13th overall. " I am totally excited. He gave me such a
lovely feeling, and to experience such a transformation in his confidence.
There is so much more to come."
Another up and coming combination placed highest for the home side.
Madeleine Vrees was "happily astonished" with the performance of Punto
Blanco's Madorijke, a ten-year-old mare she has trained from a youngster.
The pair, in training with Tineke Bartels, is currently on the Dutch B squad
and tipped for higher things next year.
Compatriot Edward Gal finished sixth on the Trakehner stallion Gribaldi, one
of Holland's most successful stallions.
Judge Volker Moritz summed up the competition, the third leg of the FEI
World Cup dressage Western European League season. " It was a very close
competition with no clear winner. Wansuela Suerte was best in the
pirouettes, piaffe passage and half passes. While perhaps Bonaparte's
freestyle could have shown a higher degree of difficulty, he showed
excellent gaits. Silvia Ikle's Salieri showed very good piaffe and passage,
but was not so brilliant in the walk or extended trot. I was very happy to
see Carl Hester's Escapado show a smooth test with a lot of elasticity and
great harmony. There was a little misunderstanding but as this was between
movements it did not need to lose marks. The standard was very good at the
top, but I would not say outstanding."
The next qualifier takes place at London Olympia (December 14-15th).
Results:
FEI World Cup Freestyle Qualifier
Presented by Nashuatec
The FEI World Cup Dressage, initiated in 1985, is the only worldwide
series in this discipline. It comprises qualifying leagues encompassing
Western and Central Europe, North America, Canada and Australia. Each FEI
World Cup Dressage qualifier comprises 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.
