STOCKHOLM, Dec. 1, 2013–Tinne Vilhelmsson-Silfvén and Don Auriello claimed victory in the Stockholm World Cup Grand Prix Freestyle for the second straight year and vaulted to a clear lead in the Western European League rankings to virtually assure them an invitation to the global Final next April.
In their last competition in Europe before heading to Florida for the winter-long Global Dressage Festival, Tinne and the 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Don Davidoff x White Star) scored 81.850 per cent.
Edward Gal and Glock’s Voice placed second on 79.275 per cent in their first World Cup event since beginning their CDI partnership last May while Dutch team mate and partner Hans Peter Minderhoud and Glock’s Romanov were third on 78.850 per cent.
Stockholm was the third of eight Reem Acra World Cup qualifiers in the Western European League and Tinne now stands firmly atop the league standings with 54 points, ahead of Switzerland’s Marcela Krinke Susmelj on 37 points, Isabell Werth on 35 and German compatriot Jessica von Bredow-Werndl on 32 points. The fourth qualifier will be at London Olympia in the middle of this month.
The result for the six-time Swedish Olympian and Don Auriello that she rode at the 2012 London Games and first competed at CDI Grand Prix in Florida three years ago, was well short of the 84.700 per cent the pair scored at this show a year ago and still stands as the personal best for the pair. A break in the final centerline extended trot brought their score down.
Even so, the home crowd gave her enthusiastic support as they did for the other 14 combinations from eight nations that competed in what is the most competitive of the four World Cup leagues. Both the Central European and Pacific Leagues have wrapped up while the North American and Western European leagues are not yet halfway through their schedules that extend through March ahead of the Final at Lyon, France in April.
Salzburg, Austria will be added to the World Cup lineup in 2015/16, Trond Asmyr, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) Director of Dressage disclosed.
The Pappas Amadeus event in Salzburg is typically held the first half of December and in 2013 includes a CDI5*, a jumping schedule, a vaulting World Cup qualifier and a hound agility competition.
“He felt so good before we went in,” Tinne said of Don Auriello, “but then there was a stumble at the start and I wondered if maybe it might not be as good as I thought–and then it happened again. Today we had good preparation and he felt even more secure so it was hard to say why he stumbled. But I had a super feeling.”
Tinne and the stable full of horses she rides for Antonia Ax:son Johnson’s Lövsta Stuteri head for Florida shortly to compete on the 12-week Global Dressage Festival in Wellington. The pair can pick up more World Cup points there as the best four results count and the rules allow the transfer of a complete set of points from one Freestyle in another league, though her current ranking virtually assures her a starting slot in her sixth World Cup Final.
- Tinne Vilhelmsson-Silfvén and Don Auriello performing before the home crowd at Stockholm. © 2013 Pelle Wedenmark/dressage-news.com
The ride by Denmark’s Nanna Skodborg Merrald on Millibar was a highlight of the show with the pair’s fourth place finish on 76.425 per cent in only their second senior Grand Prix.
Nanna turned 20 years old in October and competed Millibar for medal-winning performances at European Championships Junior and Young Riders. The pair started in the Under-25 division earlier this year. Millibar, a Danish Warmblood gelding now 12 years old, began competing at the senior Grand Prix level less than two months ago and is tied for fifth place on the West European standings, the highest ranked Danish rider.
Edward Gal said his ride on Glock’s Voice was “better than yesterday, still a bit tense but now you can choose your own line with him.” he said. After finishing third in the Grand Prix, he said, his horse was “not paying attention to me, he was everywhere and nowhere but I had some really nice things as well as things that could be better. It’s his first time since summer in competition, and with stallions that’s always difficult.”
The performances by Hans Peter Minderhoud and Romanov, on whom he took over the ride from Edward Gal last May, was a personal best.
Romanov, he said, “was really with me, and very good. Unfortunately today I made two small mistakes in the changes–and I really wanted that car,” he said referring to the Volkswagen that Tinne won as part of her winnings. “But” said the Dutchman, “I have done my best two tests with him here at this show so I am very happy.”
Asked his opinion of the winning horse, Hans Peter paid Don Auriello and his rider the highest of compliments.
“He’s super, he goes in such a nice frame and he’s a very happy athlete as we all can see.”
Tinne agreed. “He’s the perfect horse to compete on because he loves to be in the arena. He loves attention. He’s at his happiest when everyone is looking at him and telling him he’s lovely and that he’s done a good job.”
- Hans Peter Minderhoud and Glock’s Romanov at Stockholm World Cup. © 2013 Pelle Wedenmark,dressage-news.com
WESTERN EUROPEAN LEAGUE STANDINGS After Stockholm 01/12/2013
1. VILHELMSSON SILFVÉN, Tinne SWE 54
2. KRINKE SUSMELJ, Marcela SUI 37
3. WERTH, Isabell GER 35
4. WERNDL, Jessica GER 32
5T. MINDERHOUD, Hans Peter NED 26
5T. MERRALD, Nanna Skodborg DEN 26
7T. KEMPKES, Matthias GER 23
7T. LÜTKEMEIER, Fabienne GER 23
9. HAMILTON, Malin SWE 21
10T. FARBROT, Ellen Birgitte NOR 20
10T. KASPRZAK, Anna DEN 20
12T. SOLDI, Ester ITA 19
12T. VAN DER MEER, Patrick NED 19
14T.HOGBERG, Jeanna SWE 18
15T. GAL, Edward NED 17
15T. WEINBAUER, Belinda AUT 17
15T. BARBANÇON MESTRE, Morgan ESP 17
18. MISSIAEN, Simon BEL 16
19T. BERESFORD, Hayley AUS 15
19T. ZIMMER, Sylvia GER 15
21T. SPREHE, Kristina GER 13
GRAND PRIX FREESTYLE
Judges: Annette Fransén Iacobaéus H: Susanne Baarup Christensen C: Gustaf Svalling M: Peter Holler B: Isabelle Judet
| Rank | Rider | Horse | Prize money | E | H | C | M | B | Total | ||
| 1 |  | Don Auriello Don Davidoff – White Star Lövsta Stuteri | 77.500 82.000 79.750 | 78.500 84.000 81.250 | 82.500 82.000 82.250 | 82.250 86.000 84.125 | 80.750 84.000 82.375 | 80.300 83.600 81.950 | |||
| 2 |  | Glock’s Voice de Niro – Rohdiamant Glock’s Holding BV | 9762 | 77.500 81.000 79.250 | 76.000 81.000 78.500 | 76.750 80.000 78.375 | 78.000 80.000 79.000 | 79.500 83.000 81.250 | 77.550 81.000 79.275 | ||
| 3 | | Glock’s Romanov Rohdiamant – Grundstein II Glock’s Holding BV | 7100 | 77.000 82.000 79.500 | 76.000 83.000 79.500 | 77.750 82.000 79.875 | 76.750 80.000 78.375 | 74.000 80.000 77.000 | 76.300 81.400 78.850 | ||
| 4 |  | Millibar Milan – Liberty Dane Helle Merrald | 5325 | 75.000 77.000 76.000 | 75.250 78.000 76.625 | 72.750 77.000 74.875 | 76.000 77.000 76.500 | 77.250 79.000 78.125 | 75.250 77.600 76.425 | ||
| 5 |  | Unee BB Gribaldi 93.14543 – Dageraad 85.5972 Bürchler-Keller Beatrice | 3993 | 74.750 78.000 76.375 | 73.500 80.000 76.750 | 73.500 78.000 75.750 | 76.000 80.000 78.000 | 71.500 78.000 74.750 | 73.850 78.800 76.325 | ||
| 6 | | Fitou L Florestan I – May Sherie Lone Bang Larsen | 2218 | 71.250 77.000 74.125 | 72.250 75.000 73.625 | 72.000 76.000 74.000 | 74.250 76.000 75.125 | 73.000 75.000 74.000 | 72.550 75.800 74.175 | ||
| 7 | | Blue Hors Leredo Leandro Blue Hors Aps | 1775 | 72.000 75.000 73.500 | 72.000 76.000 74.000 | 71.500 77.000 74.250 | 72.750 75.000 73.875 | 71.500 76.000 73.750 | 71.950 75.800 73.875 | ||
| 8 | | Fleetwood Florestan I – Bormio xx Malin Hamilton | 1331 | 71.750 78.000 74.875 | 70.500 74.000 72.250 | 70.250 77.000 73.625 | 72.250 74.000 73.125 | 72.000 77.000 74.500 | 71.350 76.000 73.675 | ||
| 9 | | Liza Minelli Cortez – Ganesco Marina Högberg / Firma Acteur | 888 | 73.500 76.000 74.750 | 70.750 74.000 72.375 | 72.250 77.000 74.625 | 71.250 74.000 72.625 | 70.000 76.000 73.000 | 71.550 75.400 73.475 | ||
| 10 | | Lennox Laurentianer – Florestan I Svedala Ridcenter HB | 518 | 71.750 74.000 72.875 | 71.750 75.000 73.375 | 70.250 71.000 70.625 | 71.250 74.000 72.625 | 72.000 73.000 72.500 | 71.400 73.400 72.400 | ||
| 11 |  | Sandro Boy 9 Sandro Hit – Argentinus Höffer,Heinrich Carol & Andrew Oatley | 518 | 69.000 72.000 70.500 | 71.250 74.000 72.625 | 70.250 74.000 72.125 | 71.500 74.000 72.750 | 70.000 71.000 70.500 | 70.400 73.000 71.700 | ||
| 12 |  | Pro-Set Jetset-D – Flemmingh E. Sommechield, G. Jebsen | 518 | 67.750 72.000 69.875 | 69.250 74.000 71.625 | 68.750 74.000 71.375 | 68.500 74.000 71.250 | 68.250 71.000 69.625 | 68.500 73.000 70.750 | ||
| 13 |  | Romeo-Star Romantic Star – Mister A Liudmila Dmitrieva | 518 | 65.500 69.000 67.250 | 68.250 72.000 70.125 | 70.000 74.000 72.000 | 71.000 73.000 72.000 | 68.000 71.000 69.500 | 68.550 71.800 70.175 | ||
| 14 |  | Skovlunds Más Guapo Master – Cannon Row xx Dressurstald Sølyst & Mikaela Lindh, Dre | 518 | 66.250 72.000 69.125 | 66.250 71.000 68.625 | 63.000 68.000 65.500 | 69.000 73.000 71.000 | 66.750 69.000 67.875 | 66.250 70.600 68.425 | ||
| 15 | | Biggles 1015 Briar – Krevad Fam. Ingrid LundbergPersson | 518 | 61.250 64.000 62.625 | 66.250 70.000 68.125 | 65.500 69.000 67.250 | 68.750 71.000 69.875 | 65.750 69.000 67.375 | 65.500 68.600 67.050 |
