Euro Update: Elena Kalinina Wins Central European League World Cup Finals

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Posted by Contractor

Russian rider Elena Kalinina triumphed in the FEI World Cup Central League Final in Warsaw to ensure her place at the FEI World Cup Final in Amsterdam next month. Kalinina and her 11-year-old black gelding Royal Black Label, having previously won the grand prix, scored over 75 per cent for their rock and roll freestyle pleasing an enthusiastic crowd at the Torwar Hall.

The 34-year-old rider is based at the Moscow Riding Club Pradar, but is temporarily stabling in Dusseldorf close to her trainer Jan Bemelmans. Vita Koslova, her sponsor through the club, was in Warsaw to see the win together with all the family. After the Central League win, and good placings for the combination at Olympia and Neumuenster, Kalinina and her connections are all hoping for a good placing at the Final.

"Their performance was very smooth, with the passage, flying changes, extended trot and transitions all highlights", said Poland's Wojciech Markowski, who was judging at H. " Royal Black Label showed a very balanced character and the music fitted perfectly to the test."

With the World Cup Dressage Final only weeks away, preparations are well underway for Canada’s sole representative, Olympian Cindy Ishoy of Jerseyville, ON. The World Cup Final will be held from April 20-23 in Amsterdam, NED.

Currently preparing for the Dutch hosted event in Germany, Ishoy and her 2004 Athens Olympic Games mount Proton (Patriarch/Rosenkavalier), will spend the next three weeks training under the expert guidance of Canadian Dressage Team Coach, Norbert Van Laak. In addition, the duo will receive tutelage from the legendary Siegfried Peilicke, with whom Ishoy has trained since the age of 21.

Ishoy and her 12-year-old dark bay Baden-Wurttemberger gelding qualified for the upcoming World Cup Final by capturing the Canadian League World Cup Final at Toronto’s Royal Horse Show last November. “Our training over the winter went very well,” commented Ishoy. “Proton is in top shape and I have been consistently working with a personal trainer, four-times a week,” continued the 1988 Seoul Olympics Team Bronze Medalist.

The 5 additional riders and/or wild cards for the 2006 World Cup Finals will be decided within the next few days.

More Euro News at Eurodressage.com

Euro Update: Elena Kalinina Wins Central European League World Cup Finals