““The Dutch are amazing. This Indoor Brabant is like ‘Indoor Aachen’, it’s really great!”, said today’s Grand Prix winner Isabell Werth, whose horse Warum Nicht FRH was in top form.
All five judges unanimously placed Isabell first. “Remarkably well ridden”, Dutch judge Wim Ernes commented, “which is not too easy with such a talented but difficult horse.” Isabell herself could only smile. “Let’s not go too much in detail”, she said, “tomorrow is another day.”
The World Cup Qualifier in ‘s-Hertogenbosch will decide who will go or not go to the Final in Las Vegas. Most participants asked themselves what would be their aim and their chances. For the Swiss, the Danish and the Swedes their first ambition is to qualify as a team for the Olympic Games at the European Championships in Torino.
Jan Brink and Silvia Iklé have only one Grand Prix-horse which is of major importance for the team result, it all depends on the form of the day. “We only want to compete in Las Vegas if the travel will be easy and not too exhausting. “We willl have two more days to decide”, Jan Brink said, who finished in fourth with his 16 year old fresh looking stallion Briar. Today’s runner up Andreas Helgstrand looks at the bright side of life. Although his mare Blue Hors Matiné sometimes shows a passage-like trot, she looks much stronger than in Aachen and Andreas can rely on two more Grand Prix horses to choose from. Silvia Iklé showed the best piaffe and passage of all Grand Prix competitors and finished in third (73,83%).
Dutch rider Laurens van Lieren was unlucky; he had to withdraw his horse Hexagon’s Ollright due to a small injury.
Results (23.03.07)
Grand Prix – CDI-W – Hertogenbosch
1. Isabell Werth (Ger) – Warum Nicht FRH – 77,208%
2. Andreas Helgstrand (Den) – Blue Hors Matine – 75,708
3. Silvia Ikle (Sui) – Salieri CH – 73,833
4. Jan Brink (Sue) – Bjorsells Briar – 73,208
5. Kyra Kyrklund (Fin) – Max – 72,666
6. Edward Gal (Hol) – Gribaldi – 70,541
7. Hubert Perring (Fra) – Diabolo St Maurice – 70,083
8. Louise Nathhorst (Sue) – Guinness – 69,291
9. Nathalie Zu Saeyn Wittgenstein (Din) – Rigoletto – 68,958
10. Laura Bechtolsheimer (Gbr) – Douglas Dorsey – 68,250