Ticket sales for the 45th edition of Indoor Brabant started this month. Indoor Brabant, held in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, is hosting two World Cup Finals in 2012: show jumping and dressage. Don’t miss it and order your tickets now!

Tickets for Indoor Brabant can be purchased through Eventim. Please click here for vendor locations in the Netherlands.

Ticket sales for the 45th edition of Indoor Brabant started this month. Indoor Brabant, held in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, is hosting two World Cup Finals in 2012: show jumping and dressage. Don’t miss it and order your tickets now!

Tickets for Indoor Brabant can be purchased through Eventim. Please click here for vendor locations in the Netherlands.

Laura Bechtolsheimer led the cavalry-charge, as British riders sensationally claimed the top four places in the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2011/2012 qualifier at Olympia in London, Great Britain tonight. Riding Mistral Hojris, the horse with which she claimed three silver medals at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Kentucky, USA last year, the 26 year old rider scored 83.975 to pip fellow-countrywoman Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro, while 2011 European silver medallist, Carl Hester, slotted into third with Uthopia. And, rounding up the host-nation whitewash, Richard Davison steered Hiscox Artemis into fourth.

“I’m thrilled”, said Bechtolsheimer, “we won the Grand Prix here last year, but we have never won the Freestyle, and this is such a special show – the home crowd are great. It means everything to have won this competition!” she added.

A strong British result always looked on the cards following yesterday’s Grand Prix in which Dujardin and Valegro headed another British rout. On that occasion, Bechtolsheimer and her 16 year old chestnut had to accept second-best as the young lady who swept to centre-stage of international Dressage at this summer’s FEI European Championships was the only one of the 20 starters to break the 80% barrier when scoring 81.40 with her super-talented nine-year-old. Hester again finished third ahead of Davison, while Germany’s Nadine Capellmann and Elvis VA were the first of the visitors in the line-up when finishing fifth. They slotted into the same spot again tonight.

(Source: FEI/Louise Parkes)

Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2011/2012 – Standings after Round 4 at Olympia, London:

1. Tinne Wilhelmsson Silfven SWE – 52
2. Patrick Kittel SWE – 41
3. Richard Davison GBR – 38
4. Valentina Truppa ITA – 33
5. Hans Peter Minderhoud NED – 32
6. Isabell Werth GER – 32
7. Helen Langehanenberg GER – 30
8. Catherine Haddad USA – 26
9. Marc Peter Spahn BEL – 24
10. Sebastien Duperdu FRA – 23
11. Christa Laarakkers NED – 22
12. Siril Helljesen NOR – 22
13. Rose Mathisen SWE – 22
14. Aat Van Essen NED – 21
15. Laura Bechtolsheimer GBR – 20
16. Jenny Schreven NED – 20
17. Ulla Salzgeber GER – 20
18. Sidsel Johansen DEN – 19
19. Mikaela Lindh FIN – 19
20. Peter Gmoser AUT – 17
21. Mary Hanna AUS – 17
22. Charlotte Dujardin GBR – 17

Laura Bechtolsheimer led the cavalry-charge, as British riders sensationally claimed the top four places in the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2011/2012 qualifier at Olympia in London, Great Britain tonight. Riding Mistral Hojris, the horse with which she claimed three silver medals at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Kentucky, USA last year, the 26 year old rider scored 83.975 to pip fellow-countrywoman Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro, while 2011 European silver medallist, Carl Hester, slotted into third with Uthopia. And, rounding up the host-nation whitewash, Richard Davison steered Hiscox Artemis into fourth.

“I’m thrilled”, said Bechtolsheimer, “we won the Grand Prix here last year, but we have never won the Freestyle, and this is such a special show – the home crowd are great. It means everything to have won this competition!” she added.

A strong British result always looked on the cards following yesterday’s Grand Prix in which Dujardin and Valegro headed another British rout. On that occasion, Bechtolsheimer and her 16 year old chestnut had to accept second-best as the young lady who swept to centre-stage of international Dressage at this summer’s FEI European Championships was the only one of the 20 starters to break the 80% barrier when scoring 81.40 with her super-talented nine-year-old. Hester again finished third ahead of Davison, while Germany’s Nadine Capellmann and Elvis VA were the first of the visitors in the line-up when finishing fifth. They slotted into the same spot again tonight.

(Source: FEI/Louise Parkes)

Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2011/2012 – Standings after Round 4 at Olympia, London:

1. Tinne Wilhelmsson Silfven SWE – 52
2. Patrick Kittel SWE – 41
3. Richard Davison GBR – 38
4. Valentina Truppa ITA – 33
5. Hans Peter Minderhoud NED – 32
6. Isabell Werth GER – 32
7. Helen Langehanenberg GER – 30
8. Catherine Haddad USA – 26
9. Marc Peter Spahn BEL – 24
10. Sebastien Duperdu FRA – 23
11. Christa Laarakkers NED – 22
12. Siril Helljesen NOR – 22
13. Rose Mathisen SWE – 22
14. Aat Van Essen NED – 21
15. Laura Bechtolsheimer GBR – 20
16. Jenny Schreven NED – 20
17. Ulla Salzgeber GER – 20
18. Sidsel Johansen DEN – 19
19. Mikaela Lindh FIN – 19
20. Peter Gmoser AUT – 17
21. Mary Hanna AUS – 17
22. Charlotte Dujardin GBR – 17

Patrik Kittel headed up a Swedish one-two in the third leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2011/2012 series in Stockholm, Sweden this weekend. But it was a close-fought affair as the 35-year-old rider and his 11 year old gelding, Toy Story, only pipped Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven and Don Auriello by 0.1 of a percentage point, while Germany’s Isabell Werth (Warum Nicht FRH) and Helen Langehanenberg (Responsible) had to settle for third and fourth places respectively.

In a weekend full of interesting twists and turns, multiple champion Werth finished well down the line in seventh place in Saturday’s Grand Prix won by Vilhelmson-Silfven. And, adding to the litany of surprises, was a very pleasant one for Norway’s Siril Helljesen who steered her lovely mare, Dorina, into Grand Prix runner-up spot.

But Kittel’s latest Freestyle victory underlines his great strength in depth. He has 13 Grand Prix-level horses now at the base in Muenster, Germany which he has been operating for the last 15 years. “I’m very lucky to have so many right at the moment” he said this afternoon, “Toy Story does not have a great amount of experience but he is very talented and he really took me by surprise today!” he pointed out.

(source: FEI/Louise Parkes)

Standings Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2011/2012 after three qualifications:

1. Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén, SWE 53
2. Patrik Kittel, SWE 41
3. Valentina Truppa, ITA 33
4. Isabell Werth, GER 32
5. Hans Peter Minderhoud, NED 32
6. Helen Langehanenberg, GER 30
7. Catherine Haddad, USA 26
8. Richard Davison, GBR 25
9. Marc Peter Spahn, BEL 24
10. Sebastian Duperdu, FRA 23
11. Siril Helljesen, NOR 22
12. Aat van Essen, NED 21
13. Rose Mathisen, SWE 21
14. Ulla Salzgeber, GER 20
15. Mikaela Lindh FIN 19
16. Sidsel Johansen DEN 19
17. Peter Gmoser, AUT 17
18. Mary Hanna, AUS 17
19. Monica Theodorescu GER 15
20. Nars Gottme, NED 15

Patrik Kittel headed up a Swedish one-two in the third leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2011/2012 series in Stockholm, Sweden this weekend. But it was a close-fought affair as the 35-year-old rider and his 11 year old gelding, Toy Story, only pipped Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven and Don Auriello by 0.1 of a percentage point, while Germany’s Isabell Werth (Warum Nicht FRH) and Helen Langehanenberg (Responsible) had to settle for third and fourth places respectively.

In a weekend full of interesting twists and turns, multiple champion Werth finished well down the line in seventh place in Saturday’s Grand Prix won by Vilhelmson-Silfven. And, adding to the litany of surprises, was a very pleasant one for Norway’s Siril Helljesen who steered her lovely mare, Dorina, into Grand Prix runner-up spot.

But Kittel’s latest Freestyle victory underlines his great strength in depth. He has 13 Grand Prix-level horses now at the base in Muenster, Germany which he has been operating for the last 15 years. “I’m very lucky to have so many right at the moment” he said this afternoon, “Toy Story does not have a great amount of experience but he is very talented and he really took me by surprise today!” he pointed out.

(source: FEI/Louise Parkes)

Standings Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2011/2012 after three qualifications:

1. Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén, SWE 53
2. Patrik Kittel, SWE 41
3. Valentina Truppa, ITA 33
4. Isabell Werth, GER 32
5. Hans Peter Minderhoud, NED 32
6. Helen Langehanenberg, GER 30
7. Catherine Haddad, USA 26
8. Richard Davison, GBR 25
9. Marc Peter Spahn, BEL 24
10. Sebastian Duperdu, FRA 23
11. Siril Helljesen, NOR 22
12. Aat van Essen, NED 21
13. Rose Mathisen, SWE 21
14. Ulla Salzgeber, GER 20
15. Mikaela Lindh FIN 19
16. Sidsel Johansen DEN 19
17. Peter Gmoser, AUT 17
18. Mary Hanna, AUS 17
19. Monica Theodorescu GER 15
20. Nars Gottme, NED 15

Dutch national dressage coach Sjef Janssen was successfully operated on a brain tumor last week. He was operated in the Radboud Universitary Clinic in Nijmegen. It was a benign tumour and “our worst worries have faded to the background,” said his wife Anky van Grunsven in her column in the national newspaper De Telegraaf. The organisation of Indoor Brabant wishes Sjef a successful recovery.

Dutch national dressage coach Sjef Janssen was successfully operated on a brain tumor last week. He was operated in the Radboud Universitary Clinic in Nijmegen. It was a benign tumour and “our worst worries have faded to the background,” said his wife Anky van Grunsven in her column in the national newspaper De Telegraaf. The organisation of Indoor Brabant wishes Sjef a successful recovery.

Ludger Beerbaum claimed the honours for Germany on Sunday, 20 November, in the fifth leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping Western European League series on his home turf at Stuttgart. Madeleine Winter-Schulze’s 10-year-old mare, Gotha, has been going from strength to strength in the hands of the five-time Olympian in recent months, and produced a superb jump-off round to clinch maximum points for the 48 year-old veteran who won the prestigious series title 18 years ago.

It was no walk-in-the-park afternoon for the world’s top competitors, with only six of the 39 starters finding all the answers to the demanding 13-fence first-round track set by Christa Jung. The German course designer stretched them from the first fence to the last, and the eight retirements on course were testament to the degree of difficulty.

“It was not too technical but it was quite big – Christa did a good job,” Beerbaum said afterwards. “There were mistakes at all the fences, except, I think, the first – it was selective,” he added.

The complexity of the course failed to faze young Swiss rider Janika Sprunger however, the 24 year old springing one of the surprises of the day when bringing Uptown Boy Boy home for the first clear of the competition when sixth into the ring.

Followed suite

Another 15 would jump before she was joined by Ireland’s Denis Lynch and Abbervail van het Dingeshof, and then reigning individual European Champion, and the man who won the third leg of the current Rolex season in Lyon, France last month – Sweden’s Rolf-Goran Bengtsson – followed suit with Quintero La Silla.

The home crowd could at last heave a sigh of relief when Marco Kutscher brought Cornet Obolensky home without incident. With 15 German representatives in the line-up they had watched many fail to make the cut, including three-time World Cup title-holder Marcus Ehning who retired Noltes Kuchengirl after leaving four fences on the floor. But when Beerbaum earned his place in the decider alongside his fellow-countryman, and Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat did likewise with Nino des Buissonnets, then a clash of titanic proportions was guaranteed in the race against the clock.

Cruised home

Sprunger led the way, and didn’t allow the pressure to get to her as she cruised home with no faults on the board in 38.34 seconds, and when Lynch’s gigantic gelding hit the grey oxer, previously fence four but now the third-last obstacle on the track, then she remained at the head of affairs.

But Bengtsson set a new standard when stopping the clock on 36.55 seconds after an exciting run that saw him take a tight right-hand turn to the newly-introduced Rolex oxer, the third fence on the track, and jumping the left-hand side of the wall which was four from home. Kutscher’s stallion was quick and clean, but this German partnership didn’t challenge for the lead when clearing the line in 37.37 seconds. Beerbaum, however, meant business from the outset. “The course suited my horse, there were two deciding turns to the right and she really gave me everything” he said afterwards. Quick to the third, he shaved off more valuable fractions of seconds with a daring ride to the penultimate double to clear the finish in 35.70 seconds, and that was now the target for last-to-go Guerdat.

His 10 year old has a great turn of foot, but, when the turn from the wall to the following oxer didn’t come up quite right he lost time there, and with 35.93 showing on the clock as he raced through the finish he had to settle for second spot this time around, while Bengtsson slotted into third.

Today’s result sees Bengtsson now taking taking over at the top of the Western European League League followed by Swiss riders Pius Schwizer in second and Steve Guerdat in third. Great Britain’s Nick Skelton has collected 37 points on the US circuit in recent months and currently lies fourth ahead of Ireland’s Denis Lynch in fifth.

(Source: FEI/Louise Parkes)

Ludger Beerbaum claimed the honours for Germany on Sunday, 20 November, in the fifth leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping Western European League series on his home turf at Stuttgart. Madeleine Winter-Schulze’s 10-year-old mare, Gotha, has been going from strength to strength in the hands of the five-time Olympian in recent months, and produced a superb jump-off round to clinch maximum points for the 48 year-old veteran who won the prestigious series title 18 years ago.

It was no walk-in-the-park afternoon for the world’s top competitors, with only six of the 39 starters finding all the answers to the demanding 13-fence first-round track set by Christa Jung. The German course designer stretched them from the first fence to the last, and the eight retirements on course were testament to the degree of difficulty.

“It was not too technical but it was quite big – Christa did a good job,” Beerbaum said afterwards. “There were mistakes at all the fences, except, I think, the first – it was selective,” he added.

The complexity of the course failed to faze young Swiss rider Janika Sprunger however, the 24 year old springing one of the surprises of the day when bringing Uptown Boy Boy home for the first clear of the competition when sixth into the ring.

Followed suite

Another 15 would jump before she was joined by Ireland’s Denis Lynch and Abbervail van het Dingeshof, and then reigning individual European Champion, and the man who won the third leg of the current Rolex season in Lyon, France last month – Sweden’s Rolf-Goran Bengtsson – followed suit with Quintero La Silla.

The home crowd could at last heave a sigh of relief when Marco Kutscher brought Cornet Obolensky home without incident. With 15 German representatives in the line-up they had watched many fail to make the cut, including three-time World Cup title-holder Marcus Ehning who retired Noltes Kuchengirl after leaving four fences on the floor. But when Beerbaum earned his place in the decider alongside his fellow-countryman, and Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat did likewise with Nino des Buissonnets, then a clash of titanic proportions was guaranteed in the race against the clock.

Cruised home

Sprunger led the way, and didn’t allow the pressure to get to her as she cruised home with no faults on the board in 38.34 seconds, and when Lynch’s gigantic gelding hit the grey oxer, previously fence four but now the third-last obstacle on the track, then she remained at the head of affairs.

But Bengtsson set a new standard when stopping the clock on 36.55 seconds after an exciting run that saw him take a tight right-hand turn to the newly-introduced Rolex oxer, the third fence on the track, and jumping the left-hand side of the wall which was four from home. Kutscher’s stallion was quick and clean, but this German partnership didn’t challenge for the lead when clearing the line in 37.37 seconds. Beerbaum, however, meant business from the outset. “The course suited my horse, there were two deciding turns to the right and she really gave me everything” he said afterwards. Quick to the third, he shaved off more valuable fractions of seconds with a daring ride to the penultimate double to clear the finish in 35.70 seconds, and that was now the target for last-to-go Guerdat.

His 10 year old has a great turn of foot, but, when the turn from the wall to the following oxer didn’t come up quite right he lost time there, and with 35.93 showing on the clock as he raced through the finish he had to settle for second spot this time around, while Bengtsson slotted into third.

Today’s result sees Bengtsson now taking taking over at the top of the Western European League League followed by Swiss riders Pius Schwizer in second and Steve Guerdat in third. Great Britain’s Nick Skelton has collected 37 points on the US circuit in recent months and currently lies fourth ahead of Ireland’s Denis Lynch in fifth.

(Source: FEI/Louise Parkes)

Adelinde Cornelissen was presented with the 2011 Reem Accra FEI Best Athlete Award during the closing dinner of the annual FEI General Assembly in Rio de Janeiro.

Adellinde was dressed in a beautiful golden dress, which was designed  by Mrs Reem Accra personally. Reem Accra is main sponsor of the World Cup Dressage. “I am extremely pleased to have won this award and was happy to make the trip to Rio de Janeiro to receive this award in person,” said Cornelissen, who succeeded Edward Gal.

Cornelissen won the 2011 World Cup Final in Leipzig, won individual gold in the Grand Prix Special and Freestyle to Music during the EC in Rotterdam and won bronze with the Dutch dressage team. She was also the winner of the World Cup qualifier in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. All successes were achieved with the KWPN gelding Jerich Parzival (by Jazz).

(source: KNHS)

Adelinde Cornelissen was presented with the 2011 Reem Accra FEI Best Athlete Award during the closing dinner of the annual FEI General Assembly in Rio de Janeiro.

Adellinde was dressed in a beautiful golden dress, which was designed  by Mrs Reem Accra personally. Reem Accra is main sponsor of the World Cup Dressage. “I am extremely pleased to have won this award and was happy to make the trip to Rio de Janeiro to receive this award in person,” said Cornelissen, who succeeded Edward Gal.

Cornelissen won the 2011 World Cup Final in Leipzig, won individual gold in the Grand Prix Special and Freestyle to Music during the EC in Rotterdam and won bronze with the Dutch dressage team. She was also the winner of the World Cup qualifier in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. All successes were achieved with the KWPN gelding Jerich Parzival (by Jazz).

(source: KNHS)