Cornelissen and Parzival Scoop their Fifth Victory at 'S-Hertogenbosch - FEI World Cup Dressage

The Netherlands' Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival secured their fifth win in the Western European League of the 2010/2011 Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage series at the tenth and final qualifying round in 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands today.  They are pictured receiving their prize from Lisa Wells, Reem Acra. Photo: Dirk Caremans/FEI   Story: Louise Parkes/FEI

The Netherlands' Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival secured their fifth victory of the season when coming out on top at the last qualifying leg of the 2010/2011 Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage Western European League at 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands this afternoon. They now look sure-fire favourites to scoop the title at the final which takes place in Leipzig, Germany from 27 April to 1 May, and the Dutch rider said today - "yes, we're in pretty good shape!".

Germany's Isabell Werth and Warum Nicht produced a wonderful test, but still had to settle for runner-up spot ahead of Dutchman Hans Peter Minderhoud whose mare, Exquis Nadine, was really on her toes.  And fourth place went to Germany's Helen Langehanenberg and Responsible whose star has been steadily rising throughout the current season. 
 
SET THE STANDARD
Catherine Haddad led the way at the halfway stage having set the standard with a score of 74.10 from the flashy chestnut Winymaro who seems to thrive in front of an audience.  And the American rider was smiling broadly as she left the arena to the strains of the crowd singing "Happy Birthday" in celebration of her 47th year.  Her score was immediately overtaken as the action re-started however, although Great Britain's Richard Davison had to work hard for his mark of 77.025.  His 12 year old gelding, Artemis, decided some of the greenery surrounding the arena was extremely suspicious and never fully settled throughout his test. 

The Netherlands' Marlies Van Baalen presented no great threat when putting 73.925 on the board with BMC Phoebe, but defending champion Edward Gal then forged a new lead with Interfloor Next One who produced some sparkling piaffe for a score of 78.875, and this marked the beginning of the real battle for supremacy.  Denmark's Princess Nathalie zu Sayn Wittgenstein and Digby scored 77.825 to slot temporarily into second before Werth and Warum Nicht got into their stride and produced a polished, determined and quality performance that took them out in front.  "He was so super!"  the double FEI World Cup™ Dressage champion said afterwards.  "This was one of his very best tests, and I can't believe it - we had no mistakes in the changes!" she added.  So now the remaining three were chasing her mark of 82.050.

GROANED
The home crowd groaned with disappointment when Hans Peter Minderhoud's efforts left him trailing Werth by more than two points.  His mare was on fire from the outset and her rider, never a man for taking half-measures, took all the risks as he produced lovely trot extensions, a piaffe during which she was swinging from side to side in time to the music and the fearlessly forward extended canter that has now become Minderhoud's trade-mark.  It was his team-mate, Cornelissen, however who knocked Werth off her perch with another stunning performance from Jerich Parzival who was simply oozing confidence.  "We did make one small mistake when he did a flying change after the extended canter but otherwise he was fantastic" she commented.  And the Ground Jury thought so too as they posted a massive 87.900 on the board. 

Last in, Helen Langehanenberg was never going to beat that, but her partnership with Responsible is something special to watch and the 12 year old mare's charming test was good enough to secure 79.125 and fourth place in this world-class field.

SO RELAXED
"Yesterday Parzival was so relaxed and today he felt really good again" said Cornelissen who, remarkably, has claimed the honours at half of the 10 Western European qualifying rounds this season.  She believes her horse's confidence has been reinforced by his training routine which includes doing a lot of things that other dressage horses may never get to do.  "He goes out in the field, I take him for rides in the woods and we go cantering on a racetrack quite a lot - that's what makes him happy.  In training its about controlling him all the time, but its great to just go out and have fun together too - its all been about building up trust and he's learned to really enjoy himself now" she explained. And she added, "that's why I don't take him into the prize-giving anymore - I don't want to lose that trust because it really worries him".

She has no plans to compete Parzival ahead of the final, the line-up for which is expected to be confirmed soon.  In accordance with the rules, the permitted distribution of starting places is as follows:  Western European League 9 places, Central European League 2 places, Pacific League 1 place, North American League 2 places, South American League 1 place, the title defender (The Netherlands' Edward Gal), and 2 FEI starting places.  Only three riders per country can compete, and this includes the host nation.  

RESULT: 1, Jerich Parzival (Adelinde Cornelissen) NED 87.900; 2, Warum Nicht FRH (Isabell Werth) GER 82.050; 3, Exquis Nadine (Hans Peter Minderhoud) NED 79.725; 4, Responsible (Helen Langehanenberg) GER 79.125; 5, Interfloor Next One (Edward Gal) NED 78.75; 6, Digby (Nathalie zu Sayn Wittgenstein) DEN 77.825; 7, Artemis (Richard Davison) GBR 77.025; 8, Winymaro (Catherine Haddad) USA 74.100; 9, Apollo van het Vijverhof (Jeroen Devroe) BEL 73.975; 10, BMC Phoebe (Marlies van Baalen) NED 73.925; 11, Krawall (Jenny Schreven) NED 73.325; 12, Skovlunds Mas Guapo (Mikaela Lindh) FIN 72.050; 13, Corinth (Marcela Krinke Susmelj) SUI 71.150; 14, Leo Af Magnushoj (Nina Hoffmann) SWE 70.675; 15, Pro-Set (Lilann Jebsen) NOR 69.575.  Full result at www.indoorbrabant.com

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Today's competition at 's-Hertogenbosch was the tenth and final qualifying leg in the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage Western European League series.
• It was announced this week that the Brabanthalle at 's-Hertogenbosch, has been selected for two FEI World Cup™ finals next year - the 2011/2012 Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage and 2011/2012Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping finals.
• The youngest horses in today's competition was the 11 year old gelding Winymaro ridden by America's Catherine Haddad and the 11 year old gelding Apollo Van Het Vijverhof ridden by Jeroen Devroe from Belgium.
• The oldest horse in the competition was the 19 year old Krawall, competed by The Netherlands' Jenny Schreven.
• As she finished her Freeystyle test, Haddad left the arena to a chorus of "Happy Birthday" - she turned 47 today.
• Today's Ground Jury consisted of : At E, Dr Wojtek Markowski (POL); At M, Mr Peter Holler (GER); At C, Mr Wim Ernes NED; At M, Mrs Mariette Sanders V Gansewinkel (NED); At B, Mr Andrew Gardner (GBR).
• Today's victory has brought Adelinde Cornelissen's victory-run to five out of the ten qualifying rounds in the Western European League series.

QUOTES:
Adelinde Cornelissen when asked about her ambitions with Jerich Parzival - "its not my dream to win Championships and Olympic Games, its my dream to become better and better with Parzival - that's all I every think of".

Isabell Werth, when asked which horse she will take to the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage final in Leipzig - "I'd love to take Satchmo, he's 17 now and I think he deserves it and it will be a highlight of his career".

Hans Peter Minderhoud, talking about Exquis Nadine - "I'm very happy with her, she's very eager at the moment and in great shape.  I'd like to take her to the final but I will talk with my owners before the decision is made".

Wim Ernes, President of the Ground Jury - "the judges were very pleased today, yesterday we had a good group to judge but the standard was even higher today". 

Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2010/2011 - Standings after tenth and final qualifying leg of Western European League at 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands:

1.    Adelinde Cornelissen NED                     -        80
2.    Ulla Salzgeber GER                                -        77
3.    Isabell Werth GER                                 -        74
4.    Hans Peter Minderhoud NED                 -        63
5.    Catherine Haddad USA                         -        58
6.    Patrik Kittel SWE                                   -        57
6.    Richard Davison GBR                             -        57
8.    Helen Langehanenberg GER                 -        56
9.    Tinne Wilhelmson-Silfven SWE              -        55
10.    Christa Laarakkers NED                      -        53
10.    Nathalie Zu Sayn-Wittgenstein DEN   -        53
12.    Jeroen Devroe BEL                             -        44
13.    Nina Hofmann SWE                             -        37
14.    Matthias Alexander Rath    GER           -        35
15.    Mikaele Lindh FIN                                -        33
16.    Sune Hansen DEN                               -        29
17.    Aat Van Essen NED                             -        26
18.    Stefan Van Ingelgem BEL                    -        25
19.    Charlotte Haid-Bongergaard SWE       -        24
19.    Lilann Jebsen NOR                               -        24
19.    Ulrike Prunthaller AUT                          -        24

Western European League Calendar 2010/2011:
1        Odense (DEN), 21-24 October
2        Lyon (FRA), 27 October - 1 November
3        Stockholm (SWE), 26-28 November
4        London Olympia (GBR), 14-15 December
5        Frankfurt (GER), 15-19 December
6        Mechelen (BEL), 26-30 December
7        Amsterdam (NED), 20-23 January
8        Neumünster (GER), 17-20 February
9        Göteborg (SWE), 24-27 February
10      's-Hertogenbosch (NED), 24-27 March
FINAL Leipzig (GER), 27 April - 1 May