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1999
Jumping Amsterdam
Gestion Bonfire undefeatable
 After
a five month break Dutch national sports hero Anky van
Grunsven and Gestion Bonfire made a thrilling reentry
at the CDI- World Cup Qualifier in Amsterdam. The almost
17 year old Oldenburger gelding by Welt As x Praefectus
xx seems to be undamagable on the legs or even in his
head. The bay gathered a total of 78.54%, a mark of
which once was said to be unreachable. Van Grunsven
didn't even felt a breeze of competition in her neck
as second placed Ulla Salzgeber followed her in a
far distance with 72.88%. The European silver medallist
rode her second Grand Prix horse Wall Street, an inexperienced
Russian gelding who impresses with his shoulder freedom.
Rising hit Albano, an Oldenburger gelding by Argentinus,
captured the third spot under German B-frame rider Heike
Kemmer. Certainly mentionable was the Australian Ricky
MacMillan, a dentist by profession, who stormed to a
7th position among the European
top riders. The Australian dressage talent from "down
under" rode Crisp, an 11 year old Hanoverian gelding
by Consul.
The Intermediaire I freestyle was easily won by Van
Grunsven and Gestion Joker who set for 71, 94%. A noticeable
fact was that two Cocktail descendants made their debut
at PSG/ Inter I level. Dutch sub-top ride Edward
Gal rode a beautiful competition and placed twice second
at that level. He brought the 7 year old chestnut stallion
Kapuccino with him. Coby van Baalen's daughter Marlies
enforced a strong presence with KWPN approved sire Inspekteur
(by Darwin) establishing a 69.49% performance. The young
Van Baalen is attending the Warendorf Riding Academy
in Germany in pursuit to become a professional dressage
rider like her mother. Second Cocktail son in the Intermediaire
I
was Klister, a young stallion who came into the spotlight
as a 5 year old that represented the KWPN studbook
at the 1997 World Championships for Young Dressage Riders
in Verden. Leida Strijk rode a strong Prix St. Georges
test but had to give in some points in the freestyle.
Image copyrighted by Mary
Phelps
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