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2003
European Dressage Championships
Ulla Salzgeber's Kur to Music Made British Hearts
Pound
August 17, 2003
 A
sell-out, enthusiastic crowd gathered on the final day
of competition at Hickstead, England to watch the cream
of the competition compete for individual honours.
Due to their formidable form, Ulla Salzgeber was last
to go, and didn't the audience know it! As there have
not been any truly international competitions in England
since last hosting the Championships in 1987, many of
the British dressage fans had never seen Rusty perform
live so many a heart was pounding waiting for him! The
roar of the crowd when he entered the arena to start
his test was just as loud as at his last halt and Ulla's
laps of honour received a standing ovation!
He duly delivered and raised their expectations with
a supple, dramatic test using a contrast of music, which
was bold. They scored a breathtaking 85.44% and won
the Gold medal, making them the European Champions again
despite Rusty taking a couple irregular steps in an
extended trot. They showed their talent for half passes
and pirouettes finishing their technical and well-calculated
test with a half pass to the centre line with so much
lift and cadence that most riders would be thrilled
if that were their horse's passage!
Lisa Wilcox won the Silver medal for the "Open European
Championships" as several mistakes with Relevant earned
them 79.97% which would often be plenty good enough
to leave the others standing! Such was the quality of
the competition no combination in the Kur scored less
than 71%!
 Although,
on paper, it did not look as though Salzgeber had much
competition to fend off, eventual Silver medal winner,
Swedish rider Jan Brink with the twelve year old, Swedish
stallion Bjorsells Briar 899 performed a technically
brilliant, harmonious Kur and was rewarded by the jury
with 81.31%.
Brink used an interesting floor pattern using a compilation
of Simon & Garfunkel music. The crowd really appreciated
this partnership and clapped and cheered on their salute
as if they had actually won already! They had really
won the hearts of the audience!
Spanish "Kur Queen" Beatriz Ferrar-Salat did not quite
show her usual brilliance and was seen to be working
quite hard aboard Beauvalais who was unsettled causing
some mistakes. They rode to Spanish music and scored
78.71% and with their combined score won the bronze
medal.
Every competitor felt the warm atmosphere of the Championships.
The audience was very appreciative of the tests and
enjoyed the highlights of seeing some of the World's
best, which would usually involve a trip abroad.
by Diana Williams
Photos copyrighted: David
Charles - Order Images of the 2003 EDC via his website
Related Links
Scores
Grand Prix Freestyle
Scores 2003 European Dressage Championships: Overall
Ulla Salzgeber Has the Ride
of her Life on Phenomenal Rusty
Germany Wins 20th Team Gold
Medal at the 2003 European Championships
Eurodressage FOCUS: Jan
Brink and Bjorsells Briar
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