For the third year in a row, and the second in succession riding Blue Hors Don Schufro, Andreas Helgstrand topped the field at his home ground FEI World Cup qualifier, CDI-W Aarhus. Despite one misunderstanding at the end, when Don Schufro cantered during a passage half-pass, it was a superb performance from the 13-year-old stallion at his first show since sustaining an injury after Aachen in the spring.
“He was really good although he is tired today”, said Helgstrand. “I only started riding him again after the World Championships and he is not yet 100 per cent in condition.” Helgstrand has of course had a wonderful year with two world medals, a string of victories and the Danish Championship under his belt. His aim is to qualify for the FEI World Cup Final in Las Vegas and he’ll campaign both Don Schufro and his outstanding mare Blue Hors Matiné with that trip in mind. “I have said I'd have to stop as things can only get worse after such a wonderful year but we’ll see what happens,” said the modest rider whose next appointment should be at CDI-W Stockholm. His last trip to the Swedish qualifier was in 2004, and he won.
Kyra Kyrklund clinched second place with Max to a new arrangement of music from Cabaret just ahead of last year’s runners-up, Holland's Laurens van Lieren and Hexagon's Ollright. In fourth position, with less than a point separating these three combinations, Denmark’s Princess Nathalie zu Sayn Witttgenstein produced a faultless test on her nine-year-old home bred stallion Digby.
The next FEI World Cup™ qualifier takes place at CDI-W Maastricht next month.
Results (22.10.06)
CDI-W Aarhus – Denmark
Kür
1º Andreas Helgstrand (Din) / Don Schufro / 79%
2º Kyra Kyrklund (Fin) / Max / 75,75
3º Laurens van Lieren (Hol) / Olright / 75,30
4º Nathalie Zu Sayn Wittgenstein (Din) / Digby / 75,20
5º Anky van Grunsven (Hol) / Krack C / 74,80
6º Ellen Schulten Baumer (Ale) / Lesotho / 72,55
7º Fiona Bigwood (Gbr) / Nector Vh Carelshof / 72,3
8º Marlies van Baalen (Hol) / Relevant / 72,15
9º Louise Nathhorst (Sue) / Guinness / 72,05
10º Bart Bax (Hol) / Krawall / 71,10