Holland’s Dinja van Liere Rides Hermes to Victory in Mechelen World Cup Freestyle

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Dinja van Liere and Hermes. File photo. © Ken Braddick/DRESSAGE-NEWS.com

 

MECHELEN, Belgium, Dec. 29, 2022–Dinja van Liere rode Hermes to victory in the World Cup Grand Prix Freestyle Thursday in the Dutch pair’s quest for an invitation to the Final at Omaha in just over three months.

Dinja and the 10-year-old KWPN stallion that took both individual and Freestyle bronze medals at the world championships last summer were awarded 85.815% in the sixth of 11 qualifiers in Western Europe leading to Omaha.

European Championship team mate Emmelie Scholtens and Desperado, 14-year-old KWPN stallion that took this title in 2019, were runner-up on 83.865%.

Charlotte Fry, the 26-year-old world champion rider and her Tokyo Olympic British team bronze medal mount Everdale, a 13-year-old KWPN stallion,  were third on 83.725%.

Marieke van der Putten also of Holland and Tørveslettens Titanium RS2, 10-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding by Totilas that won the Grand Prix Wednesday placed fourth on a Freestyle personal best score of 81.355%.

Thamar Zweistra of the Netherlands on Hexagon’s Double Dutch scored 76.365% for seventh place that boosted the Dutch pair to 51 points in the WEL standings behind Ingrid Klimke of Germany on 55 points who did not compete here and Morgan Barbançon of France who rode Sir Donnerhall II OLD to 10th place on 74.890% to stand second in the league rankings.

The results in Mechelen made the next five qualifiers critically important for the nine invitations out of a total of 18 reserved for Western Europe. No more than three riders from any one nation can start in the Final. Defending champion Jessica von Bredow-Werndl of Germany has fulfilled the requirements for a start in Omaha leaving two other spots for Germany with Ingrid Klimke currently leading and Benjamin Werndl, Jessica’s brother, currently second ranked German.

For the Netherlands, Thamar Zweistra is in front as of now with 51 points, Emmelie Scholtens on 39,  Dinja van Liere’s victory earning her 20 points for a total of 31 so far and Marieke van der Putten at 20 points.

Nanna Skodborg Merrald was fifth on Blue Hors St. Schufro to boost her total to 42 points and extend her lead among competitors from Denmark.

Charlotte Fry with a win in London earlier this month and third place here is the highest ranked rider from Great Britain with 35 points.

The competition was streamed on ClipMyHorse.tv

Basel, Switzerland is the West European qualifier, in two weeks.

Results:

World Cup Grand Prix Freestyle

Judges: Maria Colliander Raphaël Saleh Jacques van Daele Susanne Baarup Freddy Leyman
Place Score Nation Athlete Horse E H C M B Spectators
1. 85.815 NED Dinja van Liere Hermès N.O.P. 85.800 88.725 85.825 87.150 81.575 83.159 (2)
2. 83.865 NED Emmelie Scholtens Desperado 83.525 82.850 84.575 82.550 85.825 80.603 (3)
3. 83.725 GBR Charlotte Fry Everdale 82.625 84.450 85.700 84.525 81.325 83.345 (1)
4. 81.355 NED Marieke van der Putten Tørveslettens Titanium RS2 80.800 80.700 80.650 80.350 84.275 80.491 (4)
5. 80.620 DEN Nanna Skodborg Merrald Blue Hors St. Schufro 80.750 80.850 79.750 79.250 82.500 78.147 (5)
6. 76.980 NED Kirsten Brouwer Foundation 77.575 75.500 77.850 77.650 76.325 75.953 (6)
7. 76.365 NED Thamar Zweistra Hexagon’s Double Dutch 77.150 76.150 78.850 76.575 73.100 74.791 (8)
8. 76.280 FIN Emma Kanerva Greek Air 79.300 75.800 74.250 75.150 76.900 75.740 (7)
9. 75.500 BEL Larissa Pauluis Flambeau 75.575 75.000 77.000 73.275 76.650 73.709 (13)
10. 74.890 FRA Morgan Barbançon Sir Donnerhall II OLD 76.425 74.225 74.000 74.850 74.950 74.346 (10)
11. 74.370 BEL Domien Michiels Intermezzo Van Het Meerdaalhof 73.875 75.250 75.800 74.425 72.500 74.097 (12)
12. 74.205 BEL Charlotte Defalque Botticelli 71.850 74.675 75.025 74.425 75.050 74.745 (9)
13. 73.275 DEN Anna Zibrandtsen Quel Filou 75.800 71.300 73.150 73.850 72.275 72.637 (15)
14. 73.170 BEL Jorinde Verwimp Charmer 72.800 71.600 75.175 73.425 72.850 72.963 (14)
15. 72.500 FRA Antoine Nowakowski Quater Girl 72.925 71.475 73.400 73.025 71.675 74.324 (11)