No author or artist could
have created a nicer end of the first season of the
Exquis World Dressage Masters than the reality in
Hickstead proved.
The fourth edition of
the Exquis World Dressage Masters CDI***** delivered
an amazing only nine year old winner reaching a world
record score.
World record score Gal at Exquis
WDM Hickstead
No author or
artist could have created a nicer end of the first
season of the Exquis World Dressage Masters than the
reality in Hickstead proved. The fourth edition of
the Exquis World Dressage Masters CDI***** delivered
an amazing only nine year old winner reaching a world
record score in the Freestyle, Moorland’s Totilas
and Dutch Edward Gal. Emotions ran high and many tears
were spread just because of the undoubted beauty of
the contest and the amazing spectacle.
It was like it had to be. Moorland’s Totilas
is owned by Tosca and Kees Visser from Moorland Investment
and Moorland Stables. When Antony Kies of Exquis initiated
the new series Exquis World Dressage Masters, Moorland
was the first to step in. Now their own horse took
the major prize. “I have no words for this,
it’s too much”, Tosca Visser simply said.
Edward Gal agreed: “Moorland’s Totilas
gave me a wonderful feeling. Wow, what a horse! Only
in the one tempi changes a mistake occurred. This
happened to us in our first international contest
CHIO Rotterdam as well, in which I tried to correct
it. This time I thought, just leave it. So I did.”
Chairman of the judges Stephen Clarke said he had
never seen a test like this before. And still it seems
there is more to come.
For the Dutch, Hickstead provided
the final official chance to get nominated for the
Dutch team at the EC Dressage in Windsor in August
forthcoming. Edward Gal still officially needed
a minimum Grand Prix results of 64% to be allowed
to compete at championships anyway. With his exciting
new big tour horse Moorland’s Totilas he reached
for 15% more and rode no less than 79,745% in Grand
Prix, followed by his amazing unofficial world record
score of 89,400% in the Freestyle.
He was not the only pair that was surrounded by
emotions. The Dutch revelation of the indoor season,
three times WC™ qualifier winner Adelinde
Cornelissen, again showed her piaffe and passage
miracle Parzival to his advantage, becoming the
runner up twice with 76,553% in Grand Prix and 82,200%
in the Freestyle. Adelinde was very happy and especially
relieved because Parzival didn’t show any
freaky reaction or fear at all and just was with
her doing his job.
The third pair surrounded by emotions
was homerider British Laura Bechtolsheimer showing
Mistral Hojris in her brand new Freestyle created
by Cees Slings. She rode a national record score
for Great Britain in Grand Prix in London in December.
She now became third with 81,800%.
While British international dressage
events have struggled in the past to encourage big names
to cross the channel to compete, due to the attractive
prize money of €100.000,-, the highest ever for dressage
in the UK, more riders than ever took the challenge to
compete. Even American Leslie Morse and Tip Top arrived,
just like Canadian Ashley Holzer. “If it was not
for the highly dotated and well organised WDM, we certainly
would not have made the trip”, Ashley Holzer complimented
the WDM crew. She became fifth in the Freestyle and turned
the Freestyle into sort of an Olympic list. American Leslie
Morse took the win in the Grand Prix Special, a test that
was dotated with the attractive prize money of €
30.000,-
From the three compatriots of British
Laura Bechtolsheimer, the youngest, Maria Eilberg, will
have convinced team chef Richard Davison the most to get
elected as the fourth rider in the British team for the
EC.
Television and internet transmission
(delayed) has been provided by www.horseandcountry.tv.
Dutch Olympian Hans Peter Minderhoud blogged on this website.
Next month new plans on the developments,
more ideas, the WDM Nürnberger Ranking and new partners
for Exquis WDM will be announced.
Sunday Results
Grand Prix Freestyle
Edward Gal –Moorland’s Totilas
(NED) 89,400
Adelinde Cornelissen – Parzival (NED) 82,200
Laura Bechtolsheimer – Mistral Hojris (GBR) 81,800
Imke Schellekens-Bartels – Hunter Douglas Sunrise
(NED) 78,950
Ashley Holzer – Pop Ar (NED) 77,200
Fiona Bigwood – Wie Atlantico (GBR) 67,872
Grand Prix Special
Leslie Morse – Tip Top (USA) 71,667%
Hans Peter Minderhoud – Exquis Escapado (NED) 71,542%
Maria Eilberg – Two Sox (GBR) 67,625%
e.a. Michal Rapcewicz – Randon (POL) 67,583
Anders Dahl – Bukowski (DEN) 67,583%
Marc Boblet – Whitni Star (FRA) 67,00%
Judy Harvey – Fitzcerraldo (GBR) 66,833%
Catherine Haddad – Maximus JSS (USA) 66,458%
Daniel Pinto – Galopin de la Font (POR) 65,00%
Evi Strasser Quantum Tyme CAN 64,667%
Sarah-Jane Elmsie – Wellington Masterplan (GBR)
64,500%
Jane Gregory – Lucky Star (GBR) 64,500%
Marc Peter Spahn – Fryso Huys Cas BEL 62,708%
