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2003
CDIO Aachen
Salzgeber, Aachen Grand Prix Dressage Champion 2003
 German
Ulla Salzgeber claimed her second Aachen Grand Prix
Dressage Champion's title after a brilliant win in the
Grand Prix freestyle at the 2003 CDIO Aachen. Placing
first with four judges -- only Linda Zang put her in
third position -- Ulla had an overwhelming ride that
made her score 83.61% and cash in her third victory
of the weekend. "Every transition was good and
Rusty was not distracted. I already had a super feeling,
when I came into the ring. Everything went so well that
I could laugh during the ride," said an overjoyed
Salzgeber.
Salzgeber rode to her usual Carmina Burana theme, which
still doesn't feel outdated. Every movement of Rusty
is so strong, balanced and defined. The liver chestnut
gelding flows through the wonderful hobo-tuned piaffe-passage
tour with great confidence and ends in a climactic merger
of music and flying changes. Judge at C Volker Moritz
praised Rusty for being incredibly dynamic.
Finishing second overall and second in the freestyle
was Lisa Wilcox on Relevant. The pair scored 82.39%
with a technically difficult kur. Especially the transition
from extended canter into a double pirouette was praise
worthy. The extended walk could have been more groundcovering,
but Lisa made up for that by riding a delightful piaffe-passage.
"I'm extremely pleased this weekend, because I'm
happy that he was able to keep his form throughout the
competition," Lisa said.
American Debbie McDonald and her Hanoverian mare Brentina
ranked third. Their Gershwin freestyle earned them 82.02%.
McDonald's ride featured a large portion of piaffe and
passage, which were excellently performed. The tempi
changes every two strides on a half circle, followed
by a short diagonal of changes every stride showed that
the pair could handle a superior technical level. "I
had a wonderful feeling today," Debbie said. "The
atmosphere was fantastic; I knew it was going to be
a good ride and I was able to keep that feeling in the
test."
Volker Moritz explained that the difference between
Brentina and Relevant is that Brentina is a horse shown
with great precision and in harmony with every exercise,
while Relevant has an unbelievable elasticity. Moritz
gave Wilcox a 10 on her very first piaffe, and scored
that other piaffe movements a bit lower, as they were
too forward.
 Placing
fourth in the freestyle with 79.19% were Beatriz Ferrer
Salat and Beauvalais. Particularly in the canter work
did Beauvalais, a 16-year old Hanoverian gelding by
Bolero, stand out. The trot extensions were also very
appealing, but the duo lost valuable points by breaking
into canter in the trot half passes. Heike Kemmer and
her young Bonaparte ended fifth with 77.99%. Riding
to Western film music, Kemmer accentuated Bonaparte's
quality extensions. "The kur fits him well,"
Kemmer said, "but I rode to early to the music
and that was a problem throughout the test."
Underrated by the judges were German Klaus Husenbeth
and his Piccolino. They received 77.54% and were most
likely 'penalised' for their one missed flying change
after an extended canter> Nevertheless, they delivered
a super extended trot on the E-B circle, nice tempi's
and lovely pirouettes. The combination deserved to have
ended in fourth place. Husenbeth responded with great
relativity to his ranking. "I'm very happy that
Piccolino ran three super tests. It's very important
to me that he stays so consistent. This kur was very
new to me. I only rode it once and I was very nervous
whether everything would fit. I'm not a musical expert
but I noticed from the audience that everyone liked
it."
With a hattrick at the 2003 CDIO Aachen, Ulla Salzgeber
won her second Aachen Grand Prix champion's title, her
last one being in 2001. The most important trend to
be observed at Aachen, however, was that the American
dressage team is even more capable of coming closer
to the previously undefeatable German team. The Aachen
results are promising for the 2003 Open European Dressage
Championships in Hickstead, England, in August 2003,
where American are eligible to win a European medal.
by Astrid Appels
Images copyrighted: Phelpsphotos
Related Links
Scores: CDIO
Grand Prix Freestyle
Horsesdaily
"On the Scene" at the 2003 CHIO Aachen
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