Imke Schellekens-Bartels and Sunrise scored a popular victory in the World Cup qualifier, sponsored by Berkeley Homes and supported by Horse & Hound, at the London International Horse Show.
It was a first World Cup win for the Dutch combination who turned the tables on Tuesday night’s grand prix winners, Germany’s Isabell Werth and the huge chestnut Warum Nicht who finished a close second – by just 0.1%.
Imke and Sunrise finished their test to huge applause from the large crowd. Beautiful canter pirouettes and trot half passes as well as a final passage to the very British music of Land of Hope and Glory were rewarded by the judges as well as the audience.
“I never expected to win but Sunrise did a wonderful grand prix yesterday. She felt really fresh and happy and she continued that way today,” said Imke. “She is more secure this season and she always does the best she really can – it is good to know you can trust a horse.”
As in the Grand Prix, Isabell and ‘Hannes’ made a strong start with impressive extended trot and passage but lost marks after Hannes lost concentration and spooked at a few shadows on the arena surface. “After the arena was so quiet yesterday we were both rather surprised to see so many people around the arena – but it was a great atmosphere,” said Isabell who immediately heads on to the next World Cup qualifier in Frankfurt.
Following second place in the recent qualifier in Aarhus, British based Finnish rider Kyra Kyrklund gained third place here with the 11-year-old Swedish-bred Max performing their popular freestyle to the jazz style music from ‘Cabaret’. “I didn’t set out intending to try and secure a place in the final in Las Vegas but after two good placings we might have to review the season,” said Kyra.
Despite it being a first outing since the World Equestrian Games in Aachen British team members Laura Bechtolsheimer and Douglas Dorsey, as last year were the best of the British in sixth place ahead of Spencer Wilton and Dolendo.
Results (13.12.06)
CDI-W – FEI World Cup
Freestyle with Music
1º Imke Schellekens (Hol) / Sunrise – 79.55 %
2º Isabell Werth (Ger / Warum Nicht – 79.4 %
3º Kyra Kyrklund (Fin) / Max – 76.4 %
4º Laurens van Lieren (Hol) / Hexagon's Ollright – 75.35 %
5º Edward Gal (Hol) / Grimaldi – 75.05 %
6º Laura Bechtolsheimer (Gbr) / Douglas Dorsey – 73.4 %
7º Spencer Wilton (Gbr) / Dolendo – 72.2 %
8º Stephanie Croxford (Gbr) / Mr. President – 70.9%
9º Wayne Channon (Gbr) / Lorenzo CH – 70.85 %
10º Jeroen Devroe (Bel) / Paganini – 70.4 %
Grand Prix (12.12.06)
1º Isabell Werth (Ger) / Warum Nicht 75.708 %
2º Imke Schellekens (Hol) / Sunrise 73.625 %
3. Laurens van Lieren (Hol) / Hexagon's Ollright – 71.208 %
4º Edward Gal (Hol) / Grimaldi – 70.458 %
5º Kyra Kyrklund (Fin) / Max – 70.125 %
6º Spencer Wilton (Gbr) / Dolendo – 69.042 %
7º Anne van Uytert (Hol) / Lucky Times – 68.333 %
8º Laura Bechtolsheimer (Gbr) /Douglas Dorsey – 68.125 %
9º Stephanie Croxford (Gbr) / Mr. President – 67.75 %
10º Marlies van Baalen (Hol) / Relevant – 67.583 %