Euro Dressage News Notes

Greenwich Park Approved for 2012 Olympic Equestrian Events
Uphill Most Popular KWPN Breeding Stallion of 2009
Danish Princess Nathalie Zu Saeyn-Wittgenstein Pregnant
Jan Brink Has Become a Father

Greenwich Park Approved for 2012 Olympic Equestrian Events
On Tuesday, 23 March the Greenwich Council's Planning Committee voted in favour of the planning application submitted by the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) for the temporary use of land at Greenwich Park, the National Maritime Museum, the Old Royal Naval College and Blackheath Circus Field for the London 2012 Equestrian and Modern Pentathlon events.

“The FEI is thrilled by the decision of the Greenwich Council's Planning Committee in regard to the planning application for Greenwich Park,” FEI President HRH Princess Haya declared.

“Greenwich Park is a spectacular venue which places equestrian sport right at the heart of the 2012 Olympic Games. With just over two years left until the Games open we are looking forward to working with LOCOG to showcase the sport to the world from this spectacular location in London,” FEI Secretary General Alex McLin further commented.

Uphill Most Popular KWPN Breeding Stallion of 2009

The dark bay KWPN licensed stallion Uphill (by Oscar x Apollonios xx) was the most popular breeding stallion in The Netherlands in 2009. Owner Gert Willem van Norel declared 354 breedings to his stallion with the KWPN society.

Uphill was the most used Dutch warmblood breeding stallion by far. The second most attractive breeding stallion was Vivaldi (by Krack C x Jazz x Ulft) with 285 registered breedings. The bay 2008 licensing champion Ampere (by Rousseau x Flemmingh) ranked third with 216 breedings.

Danish Princess Nathalie Zu Saeyn-Wittgenstein Pregnant

Danish Princess Nathalie Zu Saeyn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg is six months pregnant. Princess Nathalie competed at the CDI Dortmund last weekend and the 2010 World Cup Finals in 's Hertogenbosch tomorrow will be her last competition before the delivery. "The baby is due in July so my big plan is to be fit for the WEG," Zu Saeyn-Wittgenstein told Eurodressage.

The 34-year old Danish born but German based Zu Saeyn-Wittgenstein and her partner Alexander Johannsmann were legally married shortly after their engagement was officially announced by the Danish Royal Court begin January 2010. Their church wedding will be next year.

Jan Brink Has Become a Father

Sweden's long-time number one Grand Prix rider Jan Brink and has wife Catharina Svensson have become the proud parents of their first child, a baby girl.  Angelina Brink was born on 22 March 2010 at 12h36. Mother and baby are both doing well. Brink and Svensson were married on 6 October 2007.