Balve CDI Germany
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
British riders picked up good placings amid strong competition while competing at Balve CDI in Germany and Outdoor Gelderland CDI in The Netherlands, 6-10 June 2007.
Laura Bechtolsheimer and Anna Ross-Davies both qualified for the grand prix freestyle in Balve having finished in the top eight in the grand prix, which had a world-class entry of 32 competitors. Germany’s Nadine Capellmann and Elvis won both the grand prix and freestyle while another top German, Hubertus Schmidt, headed the grand prix with Dow Jones.
In the grand prix, Laura took sixth place with Mistral Hojris (pictured) on 71.333% and then went on to finish fifth in the freestyle with 73.15%. Laura’s other ride Douglas Dorsey was 19th on 66.625% in the grand prix having “melted” in the heat and then performed the grand prix special in a thunderstorm for third place with 68.6%.
Laura said: “ I was so proud of Douglas. He just ran out of breath in the extreme heat in the grand prix and then, in the grand prix special, I was literally swimming in the saddle to lightning and thunder, but he worked through it, unlike some of the other horses.”
Laura was also full of praise for Mistral Hojris: “He is known as a nutcase, but since he has come back from injury earlier this year, he has scored at least 71% in each test.”
Anna Ross-Davies and Liebling II finished eighth in both the grand prix and freestyle, breaking the 70% barrier in the first class with 70.25% and scoring just under the 70% mark with 69.9% in the freestyle.
At Outdoor Gelderland, Fiona Bigwood and Mr G de Lully took sixth place in the grand prix and moved up to fourth in the special. Holland’s top rider Anky van Grunsven and Painted Black headed both these classes. Emile Faurie competed his new ride Dream of Heidelberg II at his first international to finish ninth in the grand prix and sixth in the special.
In the national grand prix, Holland's Hans Peter Minderhoud rode to victory on Escpado, who was previously competed by one of Britain's top riders Carl Hester.
