The FEI World Cup Finals in dressage and show jumping were held last weekend in Riyadh (KSA). Elysium by Zirocco Blue-Coronado I (Manfred Tummes, Mühlheim), line 4539, and Hans-Dieter Dreher (GER) got off to a flying start – they initially finished third in the speed class (1.60 metres) and eleventh on day two. In the final round, they managed to hold on to fifth place despite two faults. Marcus Ehning rode Coolio by Casalito–Quidam de Revel (Martina Wirtz, Hohenzieritz), line 2067, and finished seventh in the second final round.
Scuderia 1918 Calle Deluxe by Cesano II–Con Air (Karl Ernst Kruse-Sönke, Kollmar), line 18B1, and Giulia Martinengo Marquet (ITA) have won the championships in Italy. The gelding began his sporting career in Schleswig-Holstein under Volkert Naeve and is now enjoying international success up to 1.60 metres with his Italian rider.
In Temecula, USA, Odysseus by Osilvis-Riverman (Patricia Vasey/USA), line 1463, won a 1.45-metre Grand Prix. He was ridden by Kyle King (USA). Fourth place went to the American rider Natalie Banis, who rode VDL E-Cecelia by Lavall I-Cassiano (Daniel Lehmann, SUI), line 754.
The Junior Nations Cup in Compiègne was won by the host French team. Charlotte by Casall-Carry (Ralf Steffen, Albersdorf), line 1614, and Jules Orsolini also contributed to this victory with clear-round performances.
Eventing
In Strzegom (POL), all eyes were already on Paris this weekend: Clever Louis by Cyrkon xx–Cor de la Bryère (Louis Sellier), line 1475, and Christopher Burton (AUS) made quite an impression with their victory in the long four-star event: Leading after the dressage, a few time faults in the cross-country and a clear round in the show jumping – this was the result that secured them formal Olympic qualification.
Dressage
Aperol (Heidi Blohm, Hamburg), a son of Ampère-Aljano, line 8797, continued his winning streak with Juliane Brunkhorst in the saddle: They picked up where they left off after finishing as overall winners of the NORDIC GP Dressage Trophy series in the autumn – in Schenefeld. Here, they won both the Grand Prix and the Special. “The more he gets to know the competition environment, the more his confidence can grow,” said Brunkhorst of her somewhat shy serial winner.
You can find further successes by Holsteiners from around the world here:
Photo by Stefan Lafrentz: Clever Louis and his former rider Bubby Upton
