With a result of 73.75, Michal Rapcewicz. (POL) aboard the 11-year old gelding Randon won the Grand Prix Freestyle of the FEI World Cup™ Dressage qualifier held in Lipica (SLO) from 5 to 8 June 2008. Second was British Jane Gregory with Lucky Star (72.85), who became the most successful rider of the entire event in Lipica. The third place also went to Great Britain: Anna Ross Davies scored 72.50 on the Holsteiner Liebling II. Last year’s winner Wayne Channon (GBR) and his black Lorenzo came in fourth (71.70). Happy about his fifth place was Peter Gmoser (AUT) with Contreau (70.85). 

Spectators enjoyed the competition as well as the classical dressage show featuring Lipizzaner stallions from Lipica.

It was Michal Rapcewicz’s fourth visit to Lipica. Currently training with Belgian Peter Spahn in The Netherlands, he had to travel almost 1,500 km, but the long journey was worth the while. In Lipica he celebrated his biggest success to date and is now well motivated for the Olympic Games.

Austrian Christian Schumach on the 16-year-old Hanoverian Auheim’s Da Vinci, son of Davignon, won the Grand Prix. The 26-year-old rider from Kärtnen received 68.79% ahead of Jane Gregory on Lucky Star (67, 91%) and Ireland’s Anna Merveldt on Coryolano (67, 62%).

Merveldt, who went on to win the Grand Prix Special on a score of 65.96%, had to wait all night before she could secure her price. Because of a severe thunderstorm, the test was interrupted on Saturday evening shortly before the end and didn’t resume until Sunday morning. Second place went to Pernilla Markusson from Sweden on Loredo (65.60%), and Remy Issartel from France was third with Hilton du Clotobie (64.72%).

 Further information is available on www.lipica.org and www.sportmarketing-ehlers.de.

 

“To me this was top of the bill. This was a top final at a top venue with a top field of competitors doing top performances,” Ground Jury President Jan Peeters complimented. Probably the highest standard field ever to compete in the 23^rd FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final. After the Grand Prix as a warming up test won by Isabell Werth, Anky van Grunsven scored her ninth FEI World Cup™ Dressage victory, her fourth riding her Olympic champion IPS Salinero. Finnish Kyra Kyrklund took the third place aboard Max.

The tough battle between the titans Isabell Werth and Anky van Grunsven was not decided until the very last ride which was Anky’s. Isabell Werth and the big chestnut Warum Nicht FRH had a great test. Their Freestyle is nicely choreographed and gradually builds up to an exciting climax. Remarkable extensions and half passes were rewarded with high marks. However, the pair left little room for improvement when they a mistake in the one tempi flying changes and hardly halted at the end, which brought the score down to 82,60%.

Anky van Grunsven and IPS Salinero produced an impression of another kind. It was almost as if IPS Salinero was in a dimension of his own, simply doing his job to the music, calm and relaxed, easy going, easy moving. No shivers down the spine, but wet hands because of the harmony and stillness. The music composed by Wibi Soerjadi seemed to tone down the level of energy while increasing the overall impression of harmony. With a result of 85,20% the win was a undisputable.

 

 

Anky van Grunsven danced to victory on her new Wibi Soerjadi Freestyle in Amsterdam.

In the week before Jumping Amsterdam all Dutch press, radio and television had commented on the new Freestyle of Olympic champion Anky van Grunsven composed by Wibi Soerjadi, a Freestyle that is supposed to be Van Grunsven’s new Olympic Freestyle. From last week on the music even can be downloaded from the website of Soerjadi and Van Grunsven’s own website. For the second year the virtuoso was in Amsterdam to witness the performance of the Freestyle he composed. And for the second year he could celebrate the win! Last year Imke Schellekens-Bartels was the winner, this year Anky van Grunsven took over the lead.
The chairman of the judges Wim Ernes praised the riders. As the tension always builds up towards a final, a very strong field of competitors had entered the Amsterdam Horseshow. “The first three were of a very special level. Anky, Imke and Kyra, they all were top of the bill. However they were followed by a strong second part with good competition. Especially Dutch Stéphanie Peters showed great progress. Another surprise was British Camilla Sygall”, Ernes commented.

“After a bit of an insecure start due to the very enthusiast but noisy crowd and some flashlights, I felt very happy with my horse IPS Salinero and my test, my debut for the Dutch of my new Freestyle”, Anky van Grunsven said.

It can be considered as something very special that two individuals, not sharing the same high level of knowing the details of each other’s skills and profession and managing their own companies, at their own expenses have found each other again in emotion. “Everything is made to measure”, Soerjadi explained. “It’s not about listening to the music, it’s about feeling the music.” Van Grunsven agreed: “Especially when I make the transition from the walk into the canter I feel a very special harmony and emotion. I am totally happy with my new Freestyle music now. We have changed it a little after my first ride in London. Together with the continuing developments and growth of Salinero, I cannot think of a nicer piece of music now than this one.”

Just like in Mechelen, Imke Schellekens-Bartels became the runner up twice. Today she blamed herself totally for the mistake in the second pirouette. “I made an expensive mess around the second pirouette. Hunter Douglas Sunrise is not to blame, she gave me a great feeling. Another thing I noticed is the rhythm of the canter and my music. The canter is starting to change a bit. Probably we have to work a little on that in the Freestyle.”

Riding the last qualifier in Neumünster doesn’t fit in the training schedule of Schellekens. “Riding the World Cup™ Final in my home country would be great. In the standings three Dutch are ahead of me. Probably a wild card can be considered by the World Cup™ Committee”, Imke Schellekens-Bartels hopes.

Kyra Kyrklund said that to get as high as possible at the Olympic ranking list is her first objective. She will ride in Neumünster in the last World Cup™ qualifier of the Western European League. “It looks like I have a good chance of competing in the Final after a good ride in Neumünster as well and of course I’ll take my chance than”, Kyrklund stated. Her Cabaret-music is very well fitting to the horse that went in great harmony but sometimes could be a little more loose to the opinion of the judges. “To me the relaxation and harmony of Max and Kyrklund was outstanding. But I rewarded the music of Schellekens-Bartels with 0,5 more because of the degree of difficulty, also in timing”, chairman Ernes explained.

The audience’s biggest applause however was reserved for Dutch rider Jeannette Haazen. Together with her impressive Horse Nartan and coached by her husband and trainer Chris, she finished eleventh. Her entry is just a miracle. Last November when driving to the first World Cup™ Qualifier in Odense, Denmark, she crashed into an unlit, stationary car. Following major surgery and hospitalisation the couple was present again at the sixth World Cup™ qualifier in Amsterdam. Chris Haazen can not yet walk properly, but still manages to coach his wife. Talking about mentality and perseverance real sportsman have!

Some competitors this time had to cancel their participation.

Swiss Silvia Iklé who has been in the news recently because of her drop out of the Olympic Games now stayed at home because of some fractures due to a nasty fall on the floor when teaching.

Amsterdam and Laurens van Lieren do not seem to hit it off. Two years ago during the World Cup™ Final in Amsterdam, a tray full of glasses and empty dishes crashed to the floor, frightening Hexagon Ollright. Just before leaving for Amsterdam, the horse developed some problem and Van Lieren cancelled his entry. “My vet hasn’t discovered anything at all, but Amsterdam is not the most important date in my schedule. At a meeting with team manager Mariette van Gansewinkel and team coach Sjef Janssen, we decided not to take any risk”, Van Lieren explained.

RESULTS

1. IPS SALINERO Anky van Grunsven NED 83,85%

2. HUNTER DOUGLAS SUNRISE Imke Sxchellekens-Bartels NED 79,00%

3. MAX Kyra Kyrklund FIN 78,80%

4. RIGOLETTO Nathalie zu Sayn Wittgenstein DEN 74,30%

5. JEFF Stéphanie Peters NED 73,70%

6. GREDSTEDSGARD CASIMIR Andreas Helgstrand DEN 72,00%

7. D.J. Camilla Sygall GBR 71,90%

8. PAGANINI Jeroen Devroe BEL 70,80%

9. BMC KIGALI Marlies van Baalen NED 70,40%

10. GUINESS 888 Louise Nathhorst SWE 69,95%

11. NARTAN Jeannette Haazen NED 69,75%

12. RANDON Michal Rapcewicz POL 68,95%

13. MAXIMUS JSS Catherine Haddad USA 68,70%

14. ANDRETTI Anna Paprocka Campanella ITA 66,50%

15. ZANCOR Anna-Katharina Lüttgen GER 64,35%

Hooge Mierde, - The Global Dressage Forum, organised by Academy Bartels with the trainers club IDTC, took place on 30 and 31 October in Hooge Mierde, the Netherlands. It turned out to be an exciting event, with lectures and clinics by horse whisperer Monty Roberts, Olympic champion Anky van Grunsven, top trainer Hubertus Schmidt and FEI chief Mariette Withages. Highlight was the discussion about the training methods of Anky, including some real ‘hot’ moments.

Over 350 riders, trainers, judges, scientists and officials from 25 countries came to the Academy in Hooge Mierde for the dressage Forum of the year, taking place for the sixth time. The first day was opened by a lecture and demonstration by German team rider Hubertus Schmidt. Schmidt showed his abilities with the 7-year old Rhinelander gelding Furst Fabio, an ex Bundeschampionat winner, underlining the importance of looseness and suppleness with the achievement of “schwung” as goal. Schmidt’s told that the horse has to maintain a light contact with the bit while stretching towards the bit at all times. The second speaker of the day was the Dutch sports psychologist Dr. Rico Schuijers who showed useful techniques to acquire the right frame of mind and concentration for a competition. Dutch team member Laurens van Lieren as well as Olympic archery medallist Wietse van Alten demonstrated certain relaxation and focal strategies to come into the right frame of mind for competitions. During the evening session The American horse whisperer Monty Roberts spoke for the first time at a dressage forum and showed the importance of trust and communication with the horse in order to achieve a positive relationship with it.

The second day started with a lecture by the Australian zoologist and ex 3-day event rider Andrew McLean, who explained equine psychology. Dressage riders mainly apply operant conditioning by pressure-release, and negative and positive reinforcement. McLean demonstrated his theory by working Imke Schellekens’ young stallion Aachen (by Arpeggio) in-hand, who was very naughty in hand and McLean showed that by telling the horse to rein back each time he wants to go forward, you give a clear signal to him that he has to wait for your sign to move. Mariette Withages then reviewed the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen. The audience was invited to judge the Grand Prix Special test of Mexican Bernadette Pujals, Danish Andreas Helgstrand and German Isabell Werth. Each movement and its score were publicly discussed and the audience finally got the opportunity to voice their opinion on why they did not agree with the judges’ marks. The final session of the day was on coaching and hyperflexion. Dr. Rene van Weeren discussed his observations on his scientific research studying the low-deep and round (LDR) head position of the horse. So far he has come to the conclusion that from a biomechanical viewpoint there is no reason to contest this method. Sjef Janssen spoke about his training and coaching methods, followed by a training demonstration in which Van Grunsven rode Painted Black in the LDR position. The panel discussion, including a rather hot debate between van Grunsven en 2 German journalists, was the end of 2 most interesting days. Many people in the audience, who had been at the GDF for several years, agreed that this was the most interesting dressage Forum ever.

MARKEL HIGH POINT SERIES RESULTS:

OPEN             Karen Ball                                Milton

AD/AM           Judy Howard Lister                  Wobelisk

JR/YR             Emily Tears                              Lopaca

 

HIGH PERCENTAGE WINNERS:

FEI:

Champion:                     David Blake                  Catapult

Reserve:                       Hilda Gurney                 Luminence

FEI AM/YR/JR:

Champion:                     Melissa Hogan              Diameter

Reserve:                       Tami Hoag                    Feliki

UPPER LEVEL:

Champion:                     Carol Robertson            Wyoming

Reserve:                       Sabine Schut-Kerry       Cacique

UPPER LEVEL AMATEUR:

Champion:                     Kathy Pavlich               Ultimo

Reserve:                       Whitney Harrington       Hassan

UPPER LEVEL JR/YR:

Champion:                     Emily Tears                  Lopaca

Reserve:                       Courtney Baine             Oletty is Dutch Treat

LOWER LEVEL:

Champion:                     Karen Ball                    Milton

Reserve:                       Gayle Smith                  Phoebe

LOWER LEVEL AMATEUR:

Champion:                     Judy Howard Lister       Wobelisk

Reserve:                       Katy Barglow               Phantom of the Opera

LOWER LEVEL JR/YR:

Champion:                     Kaitlyn Hennessy          Venturo

Reserve:                       Kelli Newton                 Cashel’s Rock of Ages

 

MARKEL/CORNERSTONE CHAMPIONSHIP CLASSES

Markel/Cornerstone Training Level Amateur Championship

  (E) Curtis,  (C) Geike,

   1   Stephanie Bennett               Pikard                                69.000%

   2   Leah Forrest                      Winnica M                           67.800%

   3   Jodi Heaston                      Taps                                 61.200%

   4   Kelly Woods                      Lord of the Dance                 60.800%

   5   Ingrid Abrash                     Montague                           55.600%

  Markel/Cornerstone First Level Amateur Championship

  (E) Curtis,  (C) Geike,

   1   Carole Francis-Swayze        Mahogany                          63.816%

   2   Jill Sommers                      Tripoli                                61.842%

   3   Sam Lewis                        Mon Ami                             60.789%

   4   Jaima Yates                      Ponoma +                           60.263%

  Markel/Cornerstone Second Level Amateur Championship

  (E) Curtis,  (C) Geike,

   1   Susan Adams                    Beaumont                           65.952%

   2   Anna Beal                         Uriel                                  56.905%

  Markel/Cornerstone Third Level Amateur Championship

  (E) Curtis,  (C) Geike,

   1   Angela Garfinkel                 Gentleman                          61.163%

   2   Donna Enerson                   Kalypso’s Kavalier                 58.605%

   3   Cecilia Palmieri                    Karisma                             54.535%

  Markel/Cornerstone Fourth Level Amateur Championship

  (E) Curtis,  (C) Geike,

   1   Paige Wehner                    Air Jerry                            63.953%

   2   Oryla Ramey                      Galanta                              63.256%

    3   Carrie Andresen                 Onyx Couture                      63.256%

   4   Sonia Assemi                     Dream For Me                      61.047%

  Markel/Cornerstone Prix St. Georges Amateur Championship

   (C) Atkins,  (B) Lert

   1   Sandy Harper                    Rockette DG                        61.000%

   2   Elizabeth Shafer                 Orlof                                 57.625%

  3         Sue Sawyer         Ojesso    57.625%

PEOPLE ON HORSES/CORNERSTONE CHAMPIONSHIP CLASSES

  People on Horses/Cornerstone Training Level Open Championship

  (E) Curtis,  (C) Geike,

   1   Gayle Smith                       Phoebe                              73.400%

   2   Cindy Stephenson               Vario                                71.400%

   3   Gayle Smith                       Waukena                            69.200%

   4   Lehua Custer                     Letter Perfect                      68.400%

People on Horses/Cornerstone First Level Open Championship

  (E) Curtis,  (C) Geike,

   1   Maria Lind Dickerson            Superman                           71.447%

   2   Maria Lind Dickerson            Santana                             70.921%

   3   Karen Ball                         Milton                                68.421%

   4   Lehua Custer                     Wintersnow                        67.368%

   5   Ricardo Amaya                   Raindance                          66.711%

        Merrie Velden                    Roman Forever                    58.947%

People on Horses/Cornerstone Second Level Open Championship

  (E) Curtis,  (C) Geike,

   1   Karen Ball                         Louvre                              70.833%

   2   Chemaine Hurtado               Paolo                                63.214%

   3   Rebecca Raede                  Ribbons N Curls                    59.048%

People on Horses/Cornerstone Third Level Open Championship

  (E) Curtis,  (C) Geike,

   1   Sabine Schut-Kery              Cacique                             73.605%

   2   Lehua Custer                     Aleros                               63.140%

People on Horses/Cornerstone Fourth Level Open Championship

   (C) Atkins,  (B) Lert

   1   Jaye Cherry                      Chardonnay                        64.651%

   2   Nina Winternheimer              Poeme                               61.977%

People on Horses/Cornerstone Prix St. Georges Open Championship

   (C) Atkins,  (B) Lert

   1                                         Hilda Gurney            Luminence                                               70.000%

   2    David Blake                       Catapult                             65.875%

   3    Timothy Mellott                    Lucarlos                            64.000%

  People on Horses/Cornerstone Grand Prix Open Championship

   (C) Atkins,  (B) Lert

   1   Donna Richardson               Jazzman                            65.104%

   2   LJ Banks                          Amadeus                           60.417%

 

DRESSAGE SHOW RESULTS

THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2007

  Prix St. Georges - Open

   (C) Atkins,

   1   Hilda Gurney                      Luminence                          69.750%

   2   David Wilson                      Lifestyle                             66.250%

   3   David Wilson                      Kandinski                           61.500%

   4   Swea Schoening                Elmgardens Ziam                  61.500%

   5   Ron Brooks                       Waldorf                             61.000%

        Jessica Smyth                    Wester Aikema’s Nico             58.750%

        Kimberly Killeen-McGrath       Zanaret                             58.500%

        Melonie Kessler                  Salto Mortale                       58.000%

        Tom Murray                       Pepper 19                           54.250%

  Prix St. Georges-Am/Jr/YR

   (C) Atkins,

   1   Melissa Hogan                    Diameter                            67.250%

   2   Jessica Smyth                    Lorenzo!                            60.750%

   3   Kim Penman                       Jasper Ridge                       58.000%

  Intermediaire I - Open

   (C) Lert,

   1   Shirin Amier                       Lester Patron                       62.750%

   2   Lucia Rapalyea                   Pascal                               61.500%

  Intermediaire II - Open

   (C) Atkins,

   1   Jaye Cherry                      Donnegal                            62.195%

  Grand Prix - Open

   (C) Atkins,

   1   Kristina Harrison                 Rociero XV                         68.125%

   2   Amanda Olson                   Ricon                                55.000%

  Training Level  1 - Open

   (C) Lacy,

   1   Timothy Mellott                    Wamorkus                          65.217%

   2   Merrie Velden                    Heir Strike                           62.609%

   3   Sarah Lockman                  Clifford                              60.870%

  Training Level  1 - Amateur

   (C) Lacy,

   1   Yvonne Ash                      LaVont                              57.826%

   2   Rose Nobbs                      Elysium                              50.000%

  Training Level 1 Jr/YR

   (C) Lacy,

   1   Jocelyn Hamann                 Billionair                             57.391%

  Training Level 2 - Open

   (C) Lacy,

   1   Sarah Lockman                  Clifford                              62.143%

   2   Merrie Velden                    Heir Strike                           61.786%

  Training Level  2 - Amateur

   (C) Lacy,

   1   Yvonne Ash                      LaVont                              55.357%

   2   Rose Nobbs                      Elysium                              53.571%

  Training Level 3 - Open

   (C) Lacy,

   1   Katherine Mashbir               Winston                             70.000%

   2   Katherine Mashbir               Dafoe                                67.200%

   3   Pamela Wangenheim            Jelle V Fan Skoatterlan           65.200%

   4   Camilla Fritze                     Galavant                            63.200%

  Training Level 3 - Amateur

   (C) Lacy,

   1   Janet Churella                    Pantros - S                         62.000%

   2   Kerry Bruce                      Wicklow                             61.200%

   3   Victoria Powers                  Quincy                              59.600%

   4   Jocelyn Hamann                 Minois                               59.200%

   5   Shana Farzaneh                 Let’s Dance                         59.200%

        Erin Marshall                      Jazz Legend                       53.200%

  Training Level  4 - Open

   (C) Lacy,

   1   Katherine Mashbir               Dafoe                                71.200%

   2   Hilda Gurney                      Winter’s Eve                        70.400%

   3   Jackie Ahl-Eckhaus              Wisdom MVS                       70.000%

   4   Chemaine Hurtado               Free Spirit                           67.200%

   5   Katherine Mashbir               Winston                             65.600%

        Pamela Wangenheim            Jelle V Fan Skoatterlan           63.600%

        Lauren LaVine                   Despierto XII                        58.000%

        Camilla Fritze                     Galavant                            56.000%

  Training Level 4 - Amateur

   (C) Lacy,

   1   Christine Schneider              Calais                                69.200%

   2   Jennifer Mulgrew                Chexmate DF                       67.600%

   2   Kerry Bruce                      Wicklow                             67.600%

   4   Victoria Powers                  Quincy                              66.800%

   5   Shana Farzaneh                 Let’s Dance                         63.600%

        Marthe Winner                    Ventura                             62.800%

        Janet Churella                    Pantros - S                         58.000%

        Eva Wu                            Captain America                   54.400%

        Erin Marshall                      Jazz Legend                       53.600%

  First Level Test 1 - Open

   (C) Sodowsky,

   1   Karen Ball                         Milton                                74.000%

   2   Claudia Roberts                  Sunrijse Sonata                    64.000%

   3   Claudia Roberts                  Grayson Bay                       59.333%

   4   Lauren LaVine                   Despierto XII                        58.000%

   5   Lauren LaVine                   Beau                                 55.667%

  First Level Test 1 - Amateur

   (C) Sodowsky,

   1   Marthe Winner                    Ventura                             66.667%

  First Level Test 2 - Open

   (C) Sodowsky,

   1   Claudia Roberts                  Sunrijse Sonata                    63.333%

   2   Lauren LaVine                   Beau                                 60.000%

   3   Claudia Roberts                  Grayson Bay                       57.778%

  First Level Test 2 - Jr/YR

   (C) Sodowsky,

   1   Nicole Houghton                  Desert Jewel                       57.778%

  First Level Test 3 - Open

   (C) Sodowsky,

   1   Ricardo Amaya                   Raindance                          70.571%

   2   Lehua Custer                     Wintersnow                        66.571%

   3   Carol Cunefare                   Primoroso                           58.286%

  First Level Test 3 - Amateur

   (C) Sodowsky,