The extraordinarily full FEI Grand Prix class, presented by Yeguada de Ymas, concluded today at the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF). Held over two days with 49 pairs competing in the Van Kampen Covered Arena due to inclement weather, the competition was strong and impressively consistent, with the top four riders scoring within tenths of points of each other. Belinda Trussell (CAN) won the test with a 72.860% aboard Robyn Eames and Marc Trussell’s Anton. The third week and second CDI competition of the 2016 AGDF, presented by U.S. P.R.E. Association, continues through Sunday, January 31, with the highlight class, the “FridayNight Stars” FEI Grand Prix Freestyle, presented by U.S. P.R.E. Association, on Friday, January 29, at 7 p.m. With the 2016 Olympic Games qualification race heating up, Grand Prix pairs from around the world have descended upon Wellington in hopes of gaining scores to represent their respective nations on the largest international sporting stage in August in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Riders from 15 nations competed for top honors in the FEI Grand Prix presented by Yeguada de Ymas, including 24 U.S. combinations. AGDF 3 will also see individuals representing Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, the Dominican Republic, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Philippines, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Spain, and Sweden.
“We’re thrilled to welcome these riders to AGDF for the second week of CDI competition for the 2016 circuit,” said Thomas Baur, Director of Sport for the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival. “The numbers for this competition are tremendous, and we are expecting to see them continue to build as we move further into the season. We look forward to an incredible week of competition.”
In a new addition to the 2016 AGDF circuit, the AGDF Lead-Line Series for children will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, January 29, in the Global International Ring prior to the second “Friday Night Stars” FEI Grand Prix Freestyle of the season. World-renowned U.S. Olympians Debbie McDonald and Christine Traurig will join Christoph Hess as judges for the class. Several special awards will be given to contestants, as the next generation of riders will compete on a world-class stage at AGDF.
First Grand Prix Victory of the Season for Canada’s Trussell
Trussell remarked that she was surprised with her win on Anton, a 16-year-old Sachsen gelding (Antaeus x Shirley) bred by Mirko Glotz. “This was a huge class with good competition! Anton is a professional, and we went out and had a good time together,” she said. “To come out with the blue ribbon was lovely.”
She attributed their success today to their long partnership and her willingness to take more risks in the test and allow Anton to be more expressive, especially in the extended trot. This was their first outing since their second place finish at Dressage at Devon in the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle and the Royal Winter Fair in November in Toronto, where they won the Grand Prix.
She thinks there is even more room for improvement. “He has a very good piaffe and passage, and it is my goal to keep riding the test up to his potential,” she said.
Arlene “Tuny” Page (USA) closely followed Trussell with Woodstock, coming in with a 72.760% for second place. Page was pleased to note, “Overall this was a very solid test; there was nothing that was a glaring mistake or a big highlight. It felt like everything was steady. I look forward to seeing the judges’ scores and comments, of course, but it felt like 7, 7.5, 8. From a trainer’s point of view, I’m very satisfied with that.”
She and her own Woodstock, a 13-year-old KWPN gelding (Havel x Mirania), have been working to improve their consistency in different venues. She was pleased to note that he was a consistent partner for her here, as he was over the summer in Rotterdam, despite some of the weather-related stressors. She was also quick to praise the show management for their calm and organized handling of the decisions to move the jog and the Grand Prix into the Van Kampen Covered Arena, noting the consistency of the footing in all of the AGDF arenas.
Kasey Perry-Glass (USA) held on to her top score from competing yesterday in the start of the FEI Grand Prix with Goerklintgaards Doublet, a 13-year-old Danish gelding (Diamond Hit x La Costa) owned by Diane Perry and bred by Jorgen Ravn. They finished third with a score of 72.320%. Perry-Glass also finished 11th with Trostruplunds Scarlet, the 17-year-old Danish mare (Don Schufro x Ramona) owned by Diane Perry. She said she is having a terrific time right now, elaborating that she has “great horses, a great husband, and a great coach.” She was especially happy with the efforts of both horses, particularly praising Scarlet’s one-tempis changes, which were larger and more consistent than they have been. “Both horses were really relaxed,” she said.
The top six finishers were all very close together, all scoring within .8 of a point of each other. Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven (SWE) earned fourth place with Benneton Dream, the 12-year-old Hanoverian stallion (Brentano II x Rotkappchen) bred by Axel Windeler and owned by Lövsta Stuteri, with a score of 72.240%. Allison Brock (USA) and Rosevelt put in a lovely consistent test to finish fifth with a 72.220%. The 14-year-old Hanoverian stallion (Rotspon x Lauries Crusador xx) is owned by Fritz and Claudine Kundrun. Shelly Francis and Doktor earned a 72.100% and a big round of applause from their fans. The 13-year-old Oldenburg (Diamond Hit x Gurena) gelding is owned by Patricia Stempel.
Competition continued in the FEI Prix St Georges, presented by Chesapeake Dressage Institute, with 21 entries representing nine countries. Victory went to Leida Collins-Strijk (NED) and Don Tignanello, who scored 72.456%. Michael Klimke (GER) and Djamba Djokiba finished second with a score of 71.316%. Klimke also took third place on Harmony’s Depardieu on 71.140%.
The highly anticipated “Friday Night Stars” FEI Grand Prix Freestyle, presented by U.S. P.R.E. Association, begins at 7pm on Friday, January 29, featuring 15 entries, including Trussell and Anton who will try to repeat today’s success under the lights.
The FEI Grand Prix Special, presented by Yeguada de Ymas, will begin at 2:15pm on Saturday, January 30. AGDF 3 will conclude with the FEI Intermediaire Freestyle, presented by Chesapeake Dressage Institute, on Sunday, January 31, alongside FEI Young Rider, FEI Junior, FEI Amateur Freestyle competition and a Consolation Grand Prix beginning at 1:45pm on Sunday.
For more information on the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival and to see a full schedule of competition, please visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.
Final Results FEI CDI-W Grand Prix presented Yeguada de Ymas
1. Belinda Trussell (CAN), Anton, 72.860%
2. Arlene Page (USA), Woodstock, 72.760%
3. Kasey Perry-Glass (USA), Goerklintgaards Dublet, 72.320%
4. Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven (SWE), Benetton Dream, 72.240%
5. Allison Brock (USA), Rosevelt, 72.220%
6. Shelley Francis (USA), Doktor, 72.100%
7. Lauren Graves (USA), Verdades, 71.620%
8. Lisa Wilcox (USA), Galant, 71.600%
Final Results FEI Prix St. Georges presented by Chesapeake Dressage Institute
1. Leida Collins-Strijk (NED), Don Tignanello, 72.456%
2. Michael Klimke (GER), Djamba Djokiba, 71.316%
3. Michael Klimke (GER), Harmony’s Depardieu, 71.140%
4. Leida Collins-Strijk (NED), Zantros, 70.614%
5. Suzan Pape (GBR), Harmony’s Don Noblesse, 69.254%
6. Elaine Corida van Reesma (USA) Jewel’s Amethyst, 67.632%
7. Katharina Stumpf (AUT), For My Love, 67.281%
8. Melissa Fladland (USA), Royal Gem, 67.018%
www.globaldressagefestival.com
Source: press release
