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2008 World Cup Qualifiers
Van Grunsven Wins Her Third World Cup Qualifier of
the Season
January 30, 2008 -- FEI press release
 For the second year piano virtuoso Wibi Soerjadi was
in Amsterdam to witness the performance of the Freestyle
he composed.
And for the second year he could celebrate the win!
Last year Imke Schellekens-Bartels was the winner,
this year Anky van Grunsven took over lead.
The chairman of the judges Wim Ernes praised the riders.
As the tension always builds up towards a final, a
very strong field of competitors had entered the Amsterdam
Horseshow. “The first three were of a very special
level. Anky, Imke and Kyra, they all were top of the
bill. However they were followed by a strong second
part with good competition. Especially Dutch Stéphanie
Peters showed great progress. Another surprise was
British Camilla Sygall”, Ernes commented.
“After a bit of an insecure start due to the
very enthusiast but noisy crowd and some flashlights,
I felt very happy
with my horse Salinero and my test, my debut for
the Dutch of my new Freestyle”, Anky van Grunsven
said.
Just like in Mechelen, Imke Schellekens-Bartels became
the runner up twice. Today she blamed herself totally
for the mistake in the second pirouette. “I made
an expensive mess around the second pirouette. Hunter
Douglas Sunrise is not to blame, she gave me a great
feeling. Another thing I noticed is the rhythm of the
canter and my music. The canter is starting to change
a bit. Probably we have to work a little on that in
the Freestyle.”
Riding the last qualifier in Neumünster doesn’t
fit in the training schedule of Schellekens. “Riding
the World Cup™ Final in my home country would
be great. In the standings three Dutch are ahead of
me. Probably a wild card can be considered by the World
Cup™ Committee”, Imke Schellekens-Bartels
hopes.
Kyra Kyrklund said that to get as high as possible
at the Olympic ranking list is her first objective.
She will ride in Neumünster in the last World
Cup™ qualifier of the Western European League. “It
looks like I have a good chance of competing in the
Final after a good ride in Neumünster as well
and of course I’ll take my chance than”,
Kyrklund stated. Her Cabaret-music is very well fitting
to the horse that went in great harmony but sometimes
could be a little more loose to the opinion of the
judges. “To me the relaxation and harmony of
Max and Kyrklund was outstanding. But I rewarded the
music of Schellekens-Bartels with 0,5 more because
of the degree of difficulty, also in timing”,
chairman Ernes explained.
The audience’s biggest applause however was
reserved for Dutch rider Jeannette Haazen. Together
with her impressive Horse Nartan and coached by her
husband and trainer Chris, she finished eleventh. Her
entry is just a miracle. Last November when driving
to the first World Cup™ Qualifier in Odense,
Denmark, she crashed into an unlit, stationary car.
Following major surgery and hospitalisation the couple
was present again at the sixth World Cup™ qualifier
in Amsterdam. Chris Haazen can not yet walk properly,
but still manages to coach his wife. Talking about
mentality and perseverance real sportsman have!
Photo copyrighted: Hippofoto
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