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WEG Grand Prix Special - Isabel the Victor


World Equestrian Games
Teams Dressage Page 17

Report & Pictures Berni Saunders (National A Level Dressage Judge)

I would like to acknowledge the very special contribution of my
wonderful helper Melissa Alexander. Without her help, this report
would have taken many weeks to complete.

Grand Prix Special

At this World Championship competition, the format has been changed and after the Grand Prix team event the top 30 riders go through to the Grand Prix Special, but with no carry forward marks. Some will welcome the changes which have been introduced for this event and others will prefer the system which adds the scores of the team ride, the Special and the Kűr together in order to recognise one individual champion. At Aachen there were three presentation ceremonies, one for the 4 team champions and one each for the Grand Prix Special and a Freestyle Champion. I can see the 'fairness' of this as it enables rider's with a particular flair to be rewarded appropriately., however I find it difficult to reconcile that there are two World Champions for one sport!

I think everyone was disappointed to hear the news that Debbie McDonald and Brentina would not start in the Special. This allowed equal 31st placegetters Marie-Line Wettstein and Alexander Korelova a start and the opportunity for the little white star of Russia, Balagur, to make his second appearance.

Because of the equal placings, thirty-one competitors presented today to contest the Grand Prix Special World Championship. From these riders, the top fifteen will go on to contest the World Championship Grand Prix Kűr. It is interesting to note that the combination to finish in 15th position in the Special was Dutch rider Laurens Van Lieren riding his chestnut gelding Hexagons Ollright on a score of 70.280%, This means that all qualifiers for the Freestyle ride score more than 70% to quality - this says quite a lot about the standard here in Europe. While countries outside the 'European Dressage belt' have improved, so have the world leaders and in real terms it seems that the gap is still 10-12%.

News got around that the Dutch team filed a protest after the Grand Prix, the reason being that the cameras changed position! Allegedly the cameras were located in different positions when the Dutch participants rode. The protest was rejected.

The victorious German Gold Medal team had some issues to overcome after the withdrawal of Klaus Husenbeth his replacement Hubertus Schmidt stepped in. Then the withdrawal of Isabelle Werth’s first horse Warum Nicht meant she chose her second horse Satchmo for the competition. National German Coach Holger Schmezer was said to be very happy and proud of his riders and their horses.

All horses are clapped into the arena, the European horses may be used to the noisy appreciation, but it seemed to be overwhelming for many horses from outside the Continent. The atmosphere was electric and the crowd made their approval or disapproval heard with sighs when a mistake was made or a good score posted.

Who would have thought that dressage could result in such a nail biting final as we saw today in the great Aachen arena?

Judges for today were

  • E Linda Zang of the USA
  • H Mary Seefried of Australia
  • C Dr Wojciech Markowski of Poland
  • M Dr Dieter Schule of Germany
  • B Bernard Maurel of France

Go to next Page of Grand Prix Special
I have many pictures taken at WEG 2006
If you are interested in purchasing a copy of one
please e-mail Berni Saunders

© Cyberhorse 2006 Berni Saunders

 

 

29 March 2024  
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Berni Saunders
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