Dressage-News

By PELLE WEDENMARK

GOTHENBURG, Sweden, Mar. 27, 2016–Hans Peter Minderhoud and Glock’s Flirt became World Cup champions Sunday, the first victory for the Olympic and World Games medal winner and the 13th horse and rider from the Netherlands to take the annual global championship of the Grand Prix Freestyle in its 31-year history.

The win for Hans Peter and Flirt on a personal best score of 82.357 per cent–the previous Freestyle high result for the pair was 82.250 per cent posted at Amsterdam two months ago–and came two days after capturing the Grand Prix. He liked Gothenburg before this Final, he joked, “but I like it more now.”

Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfvén, a hometown favorite and six-time Olympian for Sweden, rode Don Auriello for runner-up on 81.429 per cent with Jessica von Bredow-Werndl on Unee BB scoring 80.464 per cent to earn the bronze as the German duo did in Las Vegas a year ago.

Although an early mistake by Tinne may have cost her the title, she said the Gothenburg experience is always special and the silver medal placing was the closest she has come to being champion in seven Finals beginning in 2004.

“The feeling to get into the arena with all of that great audience here is indescribable. It’s a very special moment, and I think Don Auriello felt great with that today. He had a lot of power in him but was still very controlled. It was a pity about my first halt, it was the only weak point I think, otherwise I was very happy with him!”

Patrik Kittel on Watermill Scandic, an emotional favorite of the crowd in the 11,200-seat arena as it may be the 17-year-old stallion’s last championship, placed fourth on 78.946 per cent. Sweden has won the World Cup once–Louise Nathorst on Walk On Top won the title in this same city in 1998.

The 42-year-old Hans Peter gave it his all to earn the title on the horse has been riding for two years.

“It was really special for me,” he said. “This was my sixth final and I’ve never been on the podium, although I was twice really close. I started off as a groom and it was always my dream to win it so it’s very emotional. The horse is almost like a dog, you can take him everywhere. He’s very sweet and always tries for you. He’s a really good boy.”

Hans Peter and the 15-year-old Swiss Warmblood stallion were aiming for his first World Cup title watched by his partner Edward Gal, who won the event on Totilas in 2010.

“It’s good we have one each now,” Hans Peter joked. It was the second World Cup Final on Flirt–the pair placed fifth at Las Vegas in 2015.

Of the Netherlands’ 13 titles, more than any other nation, nine were won by Anky van Grunsven.

The 2017 World Cup will be staged in Omaha, Nebraska.

Results:

World Cup Grand Prix Freestyle

Judges- F: Anne Gribbons  B: Evi Eisenhardt  M: Susanne Baarup  C: Gustav Svalling                    H: Mariette Sanders-Van Gansewinkel  E: Irina Maknami  K: Susan Hoevenaars

Rank			Rider	H.No	HorseSex / Studbook / Color / Born / Sire x Dam sire / Breeder / Owner	K	E	H	C	M	B	F
1	NED		Hans Peter Minderhoud	209	Glock’s Flirt/ CH / / 2001 / Florestan I x Gauguin de Lully / / Ing. Gaston Glock	81.125  2	83.875  1	82.250  1	81.375  1	83.375  1	82.250  1	82.250  2	82.357
2	SWE		Tinne Vilhelmson SilfvŽén	216	Don AurielloGelding / HANN / / 2002 / Don Davidoff x White Star / / Lšvsta Stuteri / Antonia Ax:son Johnson	81.750  1	82.250  2	82.125  2	79.625  3	80.625  2	80.500  3	83.1251	81.429
3	GER		Jessica von Bredow-Werndl	206	Unee BBHingst / KWPN / / 2001 / Gribaldi x Dageraad / / Beatrice A. & Bredow-Werndl, Jessica von BŸrchler-Keller	81.125  2	79.375  5	80.375  3	80.250  2	80.250  3	82.000  2	79.875  3	80.464
4	SWE		Patrik Kittel	214	Watermill ScandicHingst / KWPN / / 1999 / Solos Carex x Amiral / / Patrik Kittel & Greve Jan-Willem	79.625  4	80.125  4	78.375  4	78.375  4	79.375  5	77.125  8	79.625  4	78.946
5	DEN		Anna Kasprzak	203	DonnperignonGelding / FWB / / 1999 / Donnerhall x Mozart II79 / / Hanni Toosbuy Kasprzak	78.500  5	80.375  3	78.250  5	77.000  7	79.125  6	78.625  5	78.500  7	78.625
Not placed
6	GER		Fabienne LŸütkemeier	207	D’Agostino FRHGelding / HANN / / 2000 / De Niro x Shogun xx / / Gina Capellmann-LŸtkemeier	77.250  6	78.375  8	77.875  7	78.250  5	77.625  8	80.250  4	78.750  5	78.339
7	RUS		Inessa Merkulova	212	Mister XGelding / TRAK / / 2004 / Egeus / / Inessa Merkulova	77.000  7	79.375  5	76.875  8	77.375  6	79.875  4	78.500  6	78.625  6	78.232
8	IRL		Judy Reynolds	208	Vancouver KGelding / KWPN / / 2002 / Jazz x Ferro / / Joe & Kathleen Reynolds	74.250  9	78.875  7	78.000  6	76.375  9	78.625  7	77.750  7	77.500  8	77.339
9	DEN		Agnete Kirk Thinggaard	204	Jojo AzGelding / HSH / / 2003 / Ginus x Justboy / / Julianelyst Aps	72.750  12	77.875  9	76.500  9	76.500  8	76.125  9	76.625  9	77.375  9	76.250
10	SUI		Marcela Krinke Susmelj	213	Smeyers MolbergGelding / DWB / / 2001 / Michellino x Rambo / / Meyer Irene + Krinke Susmelj Marcela, Marcela Krinke Susmelj	74.875  8	74.875  11	76.000  10	74.250  11	75.250  10	76.625  9	72.750  13	74.946
11	AUS		Lyndal Oatley	202	Sandro Boy 9Gelding / OLDBG / / 2001 / Sandro Hit x Argentinus / / Carol u. Andrew Oatley	72.250  13	73.250  14	74.000  11	73.125  12	73.625  12	74.500  12	74.375  10	73.589
12	USA		Charlotte Jorst	217	Kastel’s NintendoHingst / KWPN / / 2003 / Negro x Monaco / / Kastel Denmark	69.250  15	75.250  10	73.875  12	76.125  10	71.750  15	72.500  14	73.875  12	73.232
13	POL		Beata Stremler	210	Rubicon DGelding / RHEIN / / 2003 / Rubin-Royal x Larome / / Manfred u.BŸttner-Loose,Regina u.Stremler, Beata Loose	74.125  10	74.750  12	72.375  13	69.625  15	73.125  14	75.750  11	72.500  14	73.179
14	SWE		Emilie Nyreröšd	215	MiataGelding / OLDBG / / 1999 / Lancado x Grasco / / Emilie Nyreršd	73.000  11	73.625  13	70.750  15	71.375  14	75.125  11	74.000  13	74.125  11	73.143
15	AUS		Mary Hanna	201	UmbroGelding / KWPN / / 2001 / Jazz x Juventus / / Mary and Rob Hanna	71.750  14	72.875  15	71.000  14	72.375  13	73.500  13	70.500  15	69.875  15	71.696
16	FIN		Terhi Stegars	205	Axis TSFHingst / TRAK / / 1999 / Sixtus x Angard / / Stegars Terhi + A bis Grand Prix	69.125  16	69.875  17	68.750  16	68.875  16	69.750  16	70.500  15	68.000  18	69.268
17	RUS		Tatiana Dorofeeva	211	Kartsevo UppervilleHingst / KWPN / / 2001 / Cabochon x Creool / / Sonina Varvara & Bronnikova Nataliya	68.375  17	70.000  16	67.625  18	68.625  17	67.875  18	68.625  17	68.125  17	68.464
18	USA		GüŸnter Seidel	218	Zero GravityGelding / KWPN / / 2004 / Royal Hit x Contango / / James & Charlotte Mashburn	66.000  18	69.250  18	67.875  17	65.125  18	69.000  17	65.625  18	69.375  16	67.464