2006 World Cup Finals

Remarkable Rides at the 2006 World Cup Finals

The 2006 World Cup Finals in Amsterdam were a big Dutch party. With all the Dutch A-team riders there, and only Werth as strongest German competitors, the RAI Center had an orange atmosphere everywhere. The organisation was immaculate, with perfect footing and good service for the riders and horses.

Laurens van Lieren was the only one who had a personal encounter with bad fortune at the Finals. During his kur ride on Hexagon's Olright (by Rubiquil), a plate with glasses fell on the ground during their second trot extension. The horse broke into canter, after already having lost the rhythm in the first extension. There was no extended walk, but Van Lieren showed great one-tempi changes. He still scored 75.300% and placed seventh behind Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff and Wahajama.

Belgian Jeroen Devroe, the second Belgian Grand Prix rider ever to make it to the World Cup Finals, landed a distinguished tenth place aboard his Rhinelander gelding Paganini (by Pavarotti van de Helle). Riding to Irish folk music, Devroe showed nice tempi changes on the circle and a gorgeous passage. It was a lovely ride that earned him a 71.050%. If the Belgian hadn't been the first one to go and a bit more "famous" in the dressage world, he surely would have received more points and ranked even higher.

American Arlene Page, who made her international debut on European soil, had a glitch at the beginning of her freestyle. A communication error with her horse Wild One (by Wanderer) resulted in a piaffelike pirouette what should have been a double canter pirouette. Page, however, got her act together straight away and ended up showing great piaffe passage reprises in which the rhythm was clear and the tempo clocking as regular as a Swiss watch.

"It's the first time I have represented the U.S.. It has been a huge honour. We all so many people who ride well and train well, and this time the Gods have smiled on me and I got to do it," a humble Page told Eurodressage. "I'm incredibly grateful for the beautiful network in place in the American dressage community. It's a network that allows us to excel, feel confident and have fun along the way. Klaus Balkenhol's stable [American team trainer] is a base that feels like home. My daughter was painting easter eggs with Judith [Balkenhol]."

Arlene Page's 71.000% Grand Prix was a major statement, confirming her quality as a rider on European turf. The 69.650% mark in the freestyle did not even come close to a realistic reflection of what the pair has to offer. "Of course I was disappointed not to go over 70% in the freestyle, you want to shoot yourself, but I got to introduce a horse to the big international sport and I'm taking home a horse that is sound and has learnt a lot."

FEI Dressage Committee chairwoman Mariette Withages said that "this was a fantastic World Cup Finals with sport at the highest level. Today we have proof that we are not rewarding horses that tense. All the horses today were happy athletes," she said.

Text and Photos copyrighted Astrid Appels/Eurodressage - No reproduction allowed without permission

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