The Olympic Games in Hong Kong 2008 are coming closer – and this was particularly noticeable in the dressage at the international Oldenburger Horse Days. Supporters from ten nations started at the Grand Prix Öffentlichen Versicherungen Prize.
“The riders are busy preparing for Hong Kong and use this competition here to get even more experience”, judge Hans-Peter Schmitz concluded.
The Dutch Coby van Baalen showed a very solid presentation with her magnificent dark brown BMC Ojay, who was awarded 68,542 percent by the jury members and was handed gold. Kristina Harrison-Naness from the USA followed in second place. The 36 year old presented her grey stallion in a relaxed and self-assured way – the judges end result showing 68,083 percent.
Lisa Wilcox, who over the years has excited the Oldenburger public with the stallions from the Vorwerk in Cappeln Farm, has returned to Germany from the USA for a stop-over of several months. “I am tremendously happy to be here again and see so many familiar faces”, Wilcox beamed. With her, she amongst others, brought the twelve year old mare Naomi. “Naomi hasn’t seen such a big hall yet in her life. But the conditions here are optimal for us, so we can slowly get into touch with the top sport again”, the 41 year old analysed. With 63,875 percent the feminine duo achieved an important goal – they qualified for the Grand Prix Special on Sunday.
Double for Coby van Baalen and BMC Ojay
The Dutch Coby van Baalen won also the Grand Prix Special partnering her 11 years old BMC Ojay. The judges were unanimous, but the public was also very pleased with the Spanish rider Juan Manuel Munoz Diaz aboard his Spanish stallion Fuego. The grey was very convincing in the exercises. The 69.76% was just behind Coby and Ojay 70.36. The third place was for Anabel Balkenhol partnering her twelve years old mare Easy.
Results (11.11.07)
CDI2* Oldenburg – Germany
Grand Prix
1º Coby van Baalen (Holanda) – BMC Ojay – 68,54%
2º Kristina Harrison-Naness (EUA) – Rociero – 68,08%
3º Gina Capellmann-Lütkemeier (Alemanha) – Baldessarini – 66,92%
4º Debbie Mc Donald (EUA) – Felix – 66,67%
5º Rudolf Zeilinger (Alemanha) – Festival 39 – 66,25%
6º Juan Manuel Munoz Diaz (Espanha) – Fuego XII – 65,83%
7º Johannes Augustin (Alemanha) – Norblin – 65,58%
8º Anabel Balkenhol (Alemanha) – Easy – 65,29%
9º Lisa M. Wilcox (EUA) – Naomi – 63,88%
10º Peter John Weston (Australia) – Winslow – 63,38%
Grand Prix Special
1º Coby van Baalen (Holanda) – BMC Ojay – 70,36%
2º Juan Manuel Monoz Diaz (Espanha) – Fuego XII – 69,76%
3º Anabel Balkenhol (Alemanha) – Easy – 67,68%
4º Jordi Domingo Col (Espanha) – Prestige – 66,44%
5º Kristina Harriosn-nanesss (EUA) – Rociero – 65,60%
6º Rudolf Zeilinger (Alemanha) – Festival 39 – 65,12%
7º Johannes Augustin (Alemanha) – Norblin – 64,80%
8º Lisa Wilcox (EUA) – Naomi – 62,20%
9º Debbie Mc Donald (EUA) – Felix – 61,40%
10º Marcela Krinke-Susmelj (Suíça) – Corinth – 60,76%