Cornelissen Storms to a Three-Time Win in Stockholm

The Netherlands’ Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival stormed to victory in the third leg of the 2010/2011 Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage series in Stockholm, Sweden this afternoon. The 31 year old rider who suffered such deep disappointment when eliminated on her first appearance at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Kentucky in September after Parzival bit his tongue, bounced back with a performance that had ‘winner’ written all over it. And it was a special moment as Cornelissen celebrated her third consecutive victory at the Swedish venue where she also topped the Freestyle line-up in 2008 and 2009. Adelinde Cornelissen said: “It was really good today, Jerich Parzival was concentrated on me and he better was, as I haven¨t really practiced my Kur since Kentucky ”.

“It's really good to be back!” said Cornelissen afterwards. “ Kentucky didn't go the way I planned it, but Parzival was in great shape then, there's no question about that, and he's back in great shape again now” she added. She said she gave him a break after their disappointing early departure from Kentucky “and then I slowly built him up again with training. This is our first competition since then and he was really calm and relaxed today - he was a happy athlete!” she added. Now she plans to take him to Olympia in London in December and she has the qualifiers in Amsterdam, The Netherlands in January and Gothenburg. Sweden in February in her sights for the new year. “I'm hoping to get to the final in Leipzig - that's my goal" she pointed out.

On yet another great day for Dutch dressage, nine-time FEI World Cup™ Dressage champion Anky Van Grunsven produced a lovely Freestyle test from IPS Painted Black to secure runner-up spot. Wonderful canter half-pass, fabulous extended trot and the ability to stay in rhythm to their score, even in walk, saw them register a mark of 81.15 and threw down the gauntlet to the remaining two riders. “This is one of my best Freestyles ever with Painted Black! We had one little mistake in the extended canter, but except that everything went just the way I wanted!” said the very pleased multiple champion afterwards.

Gal and Rath

Edward Gal and Interfloor Next One came third. Edward Gal further raised the bar with a score of 75.05 from Interfloor Next one with which he won both the Grand Prix and Freestyle at the 3-Star show in Oslo, Norway last month. “He was a little bit tense today, I guess he is not used to being photographed so much!” said the Dutchman who has earned superstar status in the sport of dressage following his extraordinarily successful partnership with the record-breaking stallion Moorlands Totilas. As is well known Totilas was sold to Germany in the immediate aftermath of their triple gold medal winning success at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™. “Towards the end Interfloor Next One could relax and he did a good job. I´m pleased” said Gal whose trademark ‘precision and soft riding style’ was very much in evidence once again today.

Immediately following Gal in the results was Rath. Matthias Alexander Rath and Sterntaler-Unicef put 74.40 on the board with a smooth and fluid test ending fourth. It’s a strange coïncidence that Matthias Alexander Rath will be the new rider of Totilas, as will be officially announced next Tuesday in a press conference at Schockemöhles residence in Mühlen, Germany. His stepmother Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff signed the contract for the sporting rights of Totilas just two weeks ago. Rath confirmed to Swedish press of Ridsport magazine that he has tested Totilas. “I've been asked if I wanted to ride Totilas, but as far as I know Paul Schockemöhle asked several riders”, he said. However he concluded : “It's an amazing horse and what Edward did with him is fantastic. When it comes down to it, nobody would say ‘no’ to riding today’s most fantastic horse. It is an incredible opportunity.”

---

Best Swede

Newly married Patrik Kittel had been tremendously nervous, however his stallion Watermill Scandic HBC helped him through all obstacles. They went last into the ring and settled for fourth place with a score of 74.75. Patrik Kittel said: “I´m pleased with Scandic today. It´s getting better and better and it was much better than in Grand Prix.”

New entrees

Helen Langehanenberg, reserve rider for the German dressage team at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, racked up a score of 72.10 with an impressive performance from Damon Hill NRW. It was their very first Reem Acra World Cup appearance together. The 28 year old rider first competed this stallion when her tutor, Ingrid Klimke, broke her shoulder in 2005. She subsequently topped the World Championship for Young Dressage horses with him. And today the partnership showed further promise, the 10 year old horse displaying exceptional gentility in his elegant extended trot and light and lively canter-work to earn artistic marks of over 70 per cent from all five judges.

Heike Kemmer was back with a new horse Feleciano, who still needs some experience to get more settled.

Future

Germany’s Isabell Werth, winner at the first two legs of the series in Odense, Denmark and Lyon, France did not compete this afternoon but still heads up the series leaderboard going into the next round at Olympia in London in December. However the Dutch contingent look set to pose a serious threat to the leading pack in the coming weeks.

The next leg of the 2010/2011 Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ series takes place at Olympia , London 14-15 December. For all information on the London fixture go to website www.olympiahorseshow.com