2013 World Dressage Masters Moves Into High Gear on Jan. 25th

^{by Kim MacMillan}

 

^{The big news from today’s opening FEI Grand Prix Open CDI5* class was the withdrawal of the Netherlands’ Edward Gal. Though his horse Interfloor Next One was fit and looked great in the jog yesterday, Edward was not. He stepped off the plane feeling unwell and was diagnosed with the flu which worsened today and caused him to withdraw. A disappointed crowd shook off the announcement right before the start of competition and regrouped to  watch rest of the 15 entries strut their stuff.}

 

^{Riders from Canada, Italy and Denmark went in the first half of the order with Denmark’s Lars Peterson on his and Marcia Pepper’s 15-year-old Danish Warmblood mare Mariett (Comeback-Aleksander) posting the first marks over 70 percent (71.809) to take the lead up to that point.  First after the break 2012 Canadian Olympians David Marcus and Deborah Kinzinger’s Chevri’s Capital put in a lovely, flowing test to score 70.660.  Two riders later U.S. rider Heather Blitz piloted her leggy 10-year-old chestnut Danish Warmblood gelding Paragon (by Don Schufro, out of Pari Lord) to a 74.064% to take the lead from Peterson and Mariett to toss their hat in the ring for the top eight to move on to the Freestyle tomorrow evening. The remainder of the field beyond the top eight will get to try their luck in the Special tomorrow afternoon.}

 

^{The final four horse and rider pairs of the afternoon geared the competition up a notch and all scored in the 70’s with the top spot being passed up the line as riders left the ring.  Steffen Peters and Legolas 92 from the U.S. (by Laomedon, out of Furstin), a still developing 11-year-old Westphalian gelding owned by Akiko Yamazaki’s Four Winds Farm, took the lead from Blitz and Paragon scoring 75.149%.  Taking the ring immediately following Peters and Legolas were Patrik Kittel and his Dutch Warmblood stallion Watermill Scandic H B C (by Solos Carex , out of Noraline) from Sweden. They took the lead from Peters and Legolas scoring 77.681% and though others came close, they held it until the end of the class.}

 

^{Fellow Swede and 2012 Olympic team member Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven riding Lovsta Stuteri’s Don Auriello gave  Kittle and Scandic a run for their money, but fell just a bit short scoring 76.851%.  Don Auriello is an 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Don Davidoff, out of Wey o mey. Rounding out the top eight was U.S. rider Adrienne Lyle and Peggy Thomas’ Wizard, a 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Weltmeyer, out of Pica, who scored 71.362.}  

 

^{Earlier in the afternoon, the Grand Prix Special CDI3* U.S rider Lisa Wilcox and Horses Unlimited’s 10-year-old Hanoverian stallion Pikko del Cerro HU (by Pik-L) repeated their three-star division winning streak by taking the top spot with a 68.854%. Second in the 3-star Special went to U. S rider Shelly Francis riding Patricia Stempel’s 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding Doktor (by Diamond Hit, out of Gurena) with a 67%  and Canada’s Cheryl Meizner and John Riley’s 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion Paganini (by Havido FF, out of Bea) took third scoring 65.729%.}

World Dressage Masters FEI Grand Prix CDI5*

 

1-Patrik Kittel (SWE)-Watermill Scandic H B C-77.681%

2- Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven (SWE)- Don Auriello-76.851%

3- Steffen Peters (USA)-Legolas 92-75.149%

4- Heather Blitz (USA)-Paragon-74.064%

5- Lars Petersen (DEN)- Mariett-71.809%

6–Adrienne Lyle (USA)- Wizard-71.362%

7-David Marcus (CAN)- Chrevi’s Capital-70.660%

8-Hans Peter Minderhoud (NED)-Withney van ‘t Genthof-69.872%

9-Mikala Gundersen (DEN)-My Lady- 68.447%

10- James Koford (USA)-Rhett-66.383%

11-Jacqueline Brooks (CAN)-D-Niro-66.362%

12-Cheryl Mizner (CAN)-Tango-65.404%

13-Silvia Rizzo (ITA)-Donnerbube II 65.255%

14-Diane Creech (CAN)-Devon L 64.106%

Eliminated-Tina M. Konyot (USA)-Calecto V **

 

** Official Statement from the show management regarding Tina Konyot’s elimination:  Upon review of the process and after consultation with the FEI, it has been confirmed that the current rules regarding the elimination process were followed to the letter. Before she left the official equipment check area ringside, the rider was informed by the FEI Chief Steward that the Judge at C had made the decision based on Article 428.8 and Article 430.7.6 that the horse must be eliminated due to the evidence of fresh blood. (On behalf of Wellington Classic Dressage and the official Ground Jury of the WDM/Palm Beach.)

To view videos of the rides go to www.usefnetwork.com/featured/2013WorldDressageMasters/.

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