No snow and heavy weather could prevent the knowledgeable and enthusiastic audience of 10.800 people in the Gothenburg Scandinavium Arena to cheer as loud as could be for Swedish favourite Jan Brink and the great 16 year old stallion Briar. Jan Brink did a wonderful Freestyle with a fresh and happy Briar. His first passage was rewarded with the mark 9 and the piaffes were very good as well. Jan Brink blamed himself for the mistake in the one tempi changes today. “Yesterday in Grand Prix I went for relaxation and a harmonious ride. Today I liked to show more power and I just corrected too much with my outside leg in the changes.
A pity, but the most important is that Briar felt this motivated! As long as I can keep it this way, I am a happy rider”, Jan Brink commented.
Standing ovations also for the runner up Finnish Kyra Kyrklund, who was definitely welcomed by the audience as their ‘lost daughter coming back home’ now when she is living in Great-Britain a few years already, after having spend a long time in Flyinge in Sweden. Last Sunday Kyra Kyrklund competed in Neumunster, now in Gothenburg. “This was a try out, competing in this sequence, to witness the reaction of Max. But the Freestyle in Neumünster and the Grand Prix and Freestyle now in Gothenburg were no doubt our three best tests ever! After the Grand Prix in Neumünster last week, Max has not made any mistake in those three tests, remarkable. I am too happy”, ‘lost daughter’ Kyra Kyrklund said.
A lot of Swedish competitors rode to their advantage at home soil. Solos Carex partnered by Tinne Vilhelmson showed a wonderful trotting part and reached third position, her highest in the World Cup™ so far. Louise Nathhorst was partnered with Isidor this time, a son of her Guinness. An inspiring moment was the last extension at the center-line, leaving only one hand at the reigns.
Results (24.02.07)
CDI-W Gothenburg – Sweden
Event 1 – Grand Prix
1º Jan Brink (Sue) – Briar 899 – 74,125%
2º Kyra Kyrklund (Fin) – Max – 71,833
3º Tinne Vilhelmson (Sue) – Solos Carex – 70,208
4º Catherine Haddad (USA) – Maximus Jss – 69,458
5º Kristian Von Krusenstierna (Sue) – Wilson – 68,666
6º Marlies van Baalen (Hol) – BMC Kigali – 68,416
7º Louise Nathhorst (Sue) – Isidor – 67,541
8º Maria Eriksson (Sue) – Galliano – 67,375
9º Susan de Klein (Hol) – Special – 64,333
10º Camilla Toll (Sue) – Rainman – 64,125
Event 2 – Kür Freestyle
1º Jan Brink (Sue) -Briar 899- 77,000%
2º Kyra Kyrklund (Fin) – Max -76,000
3º Tinne Vilhelmson (Sue) -Solos Carex -73,400
4º Louise Nathhorst (Sue) – Isidor -72,150
5º Kristian Von Krusenstierna (Sue) -Wilson -72,000
6º Catherine Haddad (USA) – Maximus Jss -71,350
7º Marlies van Baalen (Hol)- Kigali- 71,150
8º Maria Eriksson (Sue) – Galliano -70,700
9º Maria Von Essen (Sue) -Vivo -68,550
10º Caroline Bonde (Sue) – Largo -67,700