2005 Dutch Dressage Championships

Nijmeghen Says Goodbye to the Dutch Dressage Championships

The city of Nijmeghen hosted the Dutch Dressage Championships for the tenth time this year and announced that they will hand over the organization to Eindhoven next year. The organizing committee was extremely happy with the 10th edition as it produced top quality sport, a record crowd of 15,000 people attending, and a new world record score in the freestyle.

It is no surprise that a complete Dutch judging panel floats its Dutch riders at the Dutch Championships - the Germans do the same at their national championship - and the slogan "Floating Dutchmen" sprang to mind, when one saw one monster score after the other digitalize on the score board.

Nevertheless, the 2005 Dutch Dressage Championships was an absolutely fun show to watch with lovely horses and wonderful rides. "It were the best finals ever," judge at C Ghislain Fouarge said. "Laurens van Lieren was a revelation. Even the junior and young riders rode extremely well, which means that our future is secured."

Though the competition is breathing in her neck, Anky van Grunsven is very pleased with this development in the sport. "This is good for the sport. We need young people who make it more exciting. If someone is better than me, than so be it. Only like that the level of competition can rise," a very level headed Anky said.

Reigning Olympic gold medallist, van Grunsven wishes to ad another gold medal to her collection at the 2005 European Championships in Moscow. Her strategy for the Championships involves concentrating on the basics.

"I'm going to do a lot of training on the basics. I only have Salinero since 2001 so we never had a big build-up phase. There is always something happening. I break my leg, I have a baby, and then Sjef rides him and I'm not allowed to go on him," Anky joked. "I want to have him lighter to the aids and in the contact. And he has to learn to halt! He does it in the warm up and at home, but not in the ring."

Van Grunsven publicly stated that her goals are achieving 80% in the Grand Prix and 90% in the Kur. Watch out Martin Schaudt, and Edward Gal!!

Text and Photos copyrighted Astrid Appels/Eurodressage - No reproduction allowed
Back One Page

View Complete Scores of the 2005 Dutch Championships