McDonald and Dover Win the Hearts of America with Third and Fourth Place

Las Vegas, NV – The judges may have awarded first and second to the Dutch favorites, Anky Van Grunsven and Edward Gal, but America’s sweetheart brought the house down at the 2005 FEI World Cup Dressage Final, presented by Offield Farms, April 23. McDonald and Brentina won the heart of the collective crowd—the only rider to get an instantaneous standing ovation that filled every corner of the sold-out stands.

Winner Anky Van Grunsven of The Netherlands, claimed the World Cup title on Keltec Salinero with a freestyle set to a selection of Dutch music, complete with a vocal interlude Van Grunsven recorded herself. Their classic presentation commanded a score of 86.725 from a panel of five judges. Together, horse and rider performed not only with precision, but also with vigor, displaying energetic extended trots, canters, and well-executed half passes. But a clean ride wasn’t all that was on the line Saturday night. Van Grunsven had a score to settle—and settle it, she did. Her student and fellow countryman, Edward Gal, rode to a first place finish in Thursday’s qualifying grand prix; during this final freestyle, he took second place to his coach, scoring 85.225 on Geldnet Lingh.

“This World Cup, I was not just proud of my own horse, but also at him [Edward],” Van Grunsven said. “In the grand prix, I was shocked that I was beaten by Edward,” she continued playfully, “but we made it up today. I think it’s very special to have two Dutch people here at this high level.”

American Debbie McDonald, the true favorite of the Las Vegas crowd, was scored at 83.450. Riding to a medley mostly made up of songs by the Supremes, including the crowd favorite, Aretha Franklin’s Respect, McDonald and Brentina put on a show that put fans on their feet. With their beautiful half passes, passages and well-executed transitions between difficult movements, the pair danced to dangerously defined rhythms, taking each in perfect stride.

“I think it was pretty obvious I was having fun out there and that was my goal coming into this competition… to try and bring some fun back in it for not only myself, but for the audience,” McDonald said. “I think I achieved my goal tonight. I have to say, it was the most amazing atmosphere to ride in and I don’t think that that can ever be duplicated. If it can, then we’re really coming along in the sport.”

Showman emeritus Robert Dover rounded out the top performers with an excellent program and enthusiastic crowd approval. He and FBW Kennedy ranked fourth at the end of the Final, with 80.100.

“I think that we’ve seen here in Las Vegas a breakthrough for our sport, not just in our country, but in the world,” Dover shared. “I think that dressage proved itself to be a sport worthy to be viewed by millions of people all over the world on television, and when they see it for what it is, they’re going to realize it’s a lot of fun to watch. We’ll get into the living rooms and the family rooms of families all over the world and they’ll want our sport to be on TV. That’s what’s going to take us to the next level.”

With the top four competitors all finishing with scores greater than 80, there’s no doubt the judges had a difficult decision to make, as they chose their winner. Adding to the mix a little history in the making, this year marked the very first time when only riders with scores above 70 made it past the grand prix qualifier and onto the freestyle.

“What impresses me the most is that all the top ones [riders] have such high scores,” said Mariette Withages, the judge from Belgium. “That has never been. That is very unique. It was the best ever final, with all top scores and all top freestyles. It was the best public ever, the loudest public ever. It was a super final.”

The judge from Germany, Uwe Mechlem, agreed with that basic premise. “It was I think very difficult to make a great difference and to find a winner,” he said. “Especially because the public sometimes already anticipated the result by the wonderful applause, but we had to try not to be influenced by them. The second group in this final was so unbelievable—unbelievably high, that you always said when one finished, almost without mistakes… now this can’t be beaten anymore. Then the next did it and the next did it and so this was very very fascinating also for us.”

Karen Reid Offield, presenting sponsor of the 2005 FEI World Cup Dressage Final, was on hand to present the awards, alongside HRH the Infanta Doña Pilar de Bourbón, President of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI).

“I don’t think you could choose a better place to have a sponsorship,” said Offield. “The international flair that everybody brings to it makes it probably the best thing. I hope my enthusiasm can be taken to a corporate sponsor… we’re going to keep this ball rolling.”

Highlights from the 2004 FEI World Cup Dressage Final, presented by Offield Farms, will be broadcast on Outdoor Life Network on June 6 at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).

Photo by Diana DeRosa

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