World Cup Showdown at Global Dressage Festival–Anna Marek/Fire Fly & Kevin Kohmann/Dünensee
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Feb. 25, 2025
By KENNETH J. BRADDICK
A showdown is on the cards for the Global Dressage Festival this week in the season’s last North American qualifier for a start at the World Cup Final at Basel, Switzerland.
Anna Marek of the Ocala area community of Dunellon on Fire Fly and Kevin Kohmann of Wellington on Dünensee will battle in the Friday night Grand Prix Freestyle for the third and last remaining starting place for North America at the annual global championship the first week of April.
Adrienne Lyle of Wellington and Helix, 13-year-old KWPN gelding that was her mount on the U.S. team at last year’s Paris Olympics, and Geñay Vaughn of Elk Grove, California on Gino, 14-year-old KWPN gelding, captured two of the places, each with three victories for a maximum of 60 points.
Kevin on Dünensee, 16-year-old black stallion, has 57 points from two wins and one second place.
Anna and Fire Fly, 15-year-old KWPN gelding, have 54 points from one win and two second places.
The musical performances Friday night under lights is the last chance for both Anna and Kevin to clinch a start in the Final.
Anna has to win on her 2023 Pan American Games gold medal partner to boost her to 57 points, the same as Kevin. But if she maintains her current higher average of scores, she would get to go to Basel.
A win for Kevin would clinch a start for him on the horse that Diamante Farms, the owner, unsuccessfully tried to sell and has since earned lifetime membership in the family of Terri and Devon Kane.
Both riders competed at the World Cup Final in Saudi Arabia last April so whoever goes to Basel this would be their second world championship.
A possible spoiler–“dark” horse wouldn’t be an apt description for a gray stallion–is P.J. Rizvi, also of Wellington, on her flamboyant 14-year-old Lusitano.
The combination returned to the competition arena early this month after a lengthy absence because of injury to the rider. The ride was punctuated by cheers from spectators and placed third behind Adrienne on Helix and Anna on Fayvel. The pair cannot earn enough points to go to the Final but could impact the results for Anna and Kevin.
