Dutch Team Clinches CDIO5* Nations Cup Title on Home Soil in Rotterdam

Rotterdam, Netherlands – June 23, 2018 – The CDIO5* Nations Cup in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, concluded on Saturday with a top podium placing and a home soil win for the Dutch team. The Nations Cup results are based on the best three scores from the Grand Prix, the best two scores from the Grand Prix Special. Comprised of Edward Gal, Madeleine Witte-Vrees, Hans Peter Minderhoud and Emmelie Scholtens, the Netherlands rode away with the Nations Cup title.

The winning Dutch team. Photo by Arnd Bronkhorst
The winning Dutch team. Photo by FEI/Arnd Bronkhorst.

The team had a strong start to the competition on Thursday, leading with a score of 13 points. Dutch rider Edward Gal and Glock’s Zonik N.O.P., a 10-year-old Danish Warmblood stallion, earned the highest individual placings in the Grand Prix Freestyle, a score of 80.075 percent, to help the team secure gold.

“Zonik felt really good,” Gal explained. “In the warm-up area he reacted very strongly to Patrik Kittel’s mare and in the ring he was a bit nervous, but he carried on wonderfully. I was glad we got to ride in this stadium today, because he has to get used to an atmosphere like this.”

Edward Gal and Glock’s Zonik N.O.P. Photo by FEI/Arnd Bronkhorst.

“We made an error in the pirouette that cost us, but I’m very pleased,” he continued. “There were some really good parts.’’

Hans Peter Minderhoud aboard the 10-year-old KWPN stallion Glock’s Dream Boy contributed to the team’s overall score by placing second in the Grand Prix Special with a score of 73.83 percent. Emmelie Scholtens and Apache, a 13-year-old Danish Warmblood stallion, earned fourth place in the Grand Prix Special, helping the Dutch team secure their win over the Swedish team. Madeleine Witte-Vrees and the 11-year-old KWPN stallion Cennin finished in sixth in the Grand Prix Freestyle with a 74.915 percent.

The team from Sweden, comprised of Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven, Juliette Ramel, Therese Nilshagen and Patrik Kittel, took silver at the Nations Cup after earning a team total of 21 points. Nilshagen and the 11-year-old Oldenburg stallion Dante Weltino Old clinched first place in the Grand Prix Special with a score of 74.149 percent, greatly contributing to the Swedish team’s placing. Kittel and Well Done de la Roche CMF, a 10-year-old Swiss Warmblood mare, earned second place in the Grand Prix Freestyle with a score of 77.5 percent. Ramel and Buriel K.H., a 12-year-old KWPN gelding, scored 73.596 percent in the Grand Prix Special to place third. Vilhelmson Silfven and Paridon Magi, a 15-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding earned fifth place in the Freestyle with a score of 75.35 percent.

Therese Nilshagen and Dante Weltino OLD. Photo by FEI/Arnd Bronkhorst.

The team from the United States maintained their third-place position from Thursday to finish the competition with a total score of 30 points. Steffen Peters and Rosamunde, an 11-year-old Rhinelander mare, claimed third place in the Grand Prix Freestyle with a score of 77.135 percent, while teammate Kasey Perry-Glass aboard the 15-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding Goerklintgaards Dublet took fourth place with a score of 77.06 percent. In the Grand Prix Special, Adrienne Lyle and Salvino, an 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding, placed fifth with a 71.915 percent. Olivia LaGoy-Weltz and the 14-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding Lonoir followed Lyle in sixth place with a score of 71.213 percent.

The U.S. Dressage team. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
The U.S. Dressage team. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

“A year ago, the United States won the Nations Cup in Rotterdam with great riding on super horses and some good luck that day. This week we did not have the same luck going our way; however, the thing I will remember forever, besides our superb riders and horses, is the moment when Adrienne Lyle had the misfortune of having Salvino’s noseband snap for no apparent reason,” Chef d’Equipe Dover explained.

“Her teammates, all of whom are actually still competing against her for one of four cherished spots on our World Championship Team, ran to help her take off the failed noseband and in record time, only rivaled by pit crews at NASCAR events, placed a new noseband on Salvino and allowed Adrienne to go on to masterfully ride the stallion to well over 71%!” he said. “It is because of times like this that I am reminded why I am so proud to be the chef d’equipe of the fabulous U.S. team!”

Results: CDIO5* Grand Prix Freestyle

Rider / Country / Horse / Total Score
1. Edward Gal / Glock’s Zonik N.O.P / 80.085
2. Patrik Kittel / SWE / Well Done de la Roche CMF / 77.500
3. Steffen Peters / USA / Rosamunde / 77.135
4. Kasey Perry-Glass / USA / Goeklintgaards Dublet / 77.060
5. Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven / SWE / 75.350
6. Madeleine Witte-Vrees / NED / Cennin / 74.915
7. Frederic Wandres / GER / Duke of Britain / 73.655
8. Kathleen Keller / GER / San Royal / 72.725

CDIO5* Grand Prix Special

Rider / Country / Horse / Total Score
1. Therese Nilshagen / SWE / Dante Weltino OLD / 74.149
2. Hans Peter Minderhoud / NED / 73.83
3. Juliette Ramel / SWE / Buriel K.H. / 73.596
4. Emmelie Scholtens / NED / Apache / 72.298
5. Adrienne Lyle / USA / Salvino / 71.915
6. Olivia Lagoy-Weltz / USA / Lonoir / 71.213
7. Anabel Balkenhol / GER / Heuberger TSF / 70.809

 

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