Laura Graves and Verdades
Rotterdam, Netherlands – June 23, 2016 – The United States team, including Shelly Francis, Laura Graves, Kasey Perry-Glass and Steffen Peters, got off to a strong start Thursday at the Rotterdam Nations Cup CDIO5*. With good performances from all members of the team, the U.S. sits in second on an average score of 75.64 percent, behind the home team of The Netherlands, who lead on an average score of 77.207 percent.
Thursday’s Grand Prix was the first of two days of Nations Cup competition; the event concludes on Saturday with two members of each team competing in the Grand Prix Special and two members in the Grand Prix Freestyle.
Led by Chef d’Equipe Robert Dover, the U.S. Team drew second in the order of seven teams and began the day under rainy skies that eventually gave way to sunshine. Shelly Francis and Patricia Stempel’s Doktor were the lead-off combination for the U.S., scoring 70.68 percent. Kasey Perry-Glass and Diane Perry’s Goerklintgaards Dublet were able to overcome a couple excitable moments to deliver a solid test that scored 74.58 percent.
Team veteran Steffen Peters rode Four Winds Farm’s Legolas 92 in a confident performance that earned a 76.04 percent from the judging panel. Placing second overall in the Grand Prix were Laura Graves and her own Verdades on a score of 76.3 percent. The Netherlands’ Hans Peter Minderhoud won the Grand Prix with a score of 79.24 percent aboard Glock’s Johnson TN N.O.P.
On Saturday, Graves and Perry-Glass will contest the Special, while Francis and Peters will represent the U.S. in the Freestyle.
CDI3* competition at Rotterdam will begin with Friday’s Grand Prix on Friday, when the U.S. will represented by Allison Brock and Rosevelt, Francis and Danilo, Arlene “Tuny” Page and Woodstock, and Peters and Rosamunde. Rotterdam is the last of three designated observation events that serve as part of the selection process for the 2016 U.S. Olympic team.
Results: Rotterdam Nations Cup CDIO5*
Team Standings After Grand Prix
1. Netherlands – average of 77.207
Danielle Heijkoop/Siro/70.780*
Adelinde Cornelissen/Jerich Parzival/76.140
Diederik van Silfhout/Arlando N.O.P./76.240
Hans Peter Minderhoud/Glock’s Johnson TN N.O.P./79.240
2. United States – 75.640
Shelly Francis/Doktor/70.680*
Kasey Perry-Glass/Goerklintgaards Dublet/74.580
Steffen Peters/Legolas 92/76.040
Laura Graves/Verdades/76.300
3. Sweden – 74.660
Rose Mathisen/Zuidenwind 1187/69.620*
Juliette Ramel/Buriel K.H./73.880
Patrik Kittel/Deja/74.380
Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven/Don Auriello/75.720
4. France – 71.133
Stephanie Brieussel/Amorak/67.740*
Ludovic Henry/After You/69.240
Pierre Volla/Badinda Altena/69.720
Karen Tebar/Don Luis/74.440
5. Great Britain – 70.627
Lara Griffith/Rubin Al Asad/71.360
Michael Eilberg/Woodlander Dornroschen/67.860
Laura Tomlinson/Rosalie B/72.660
Gareth Hughes/Classic Briolinca/NS*
6. Germany – 70.573
Kathleen Keller/Daintree 3/68.080*
Juliane Brunkhorst/Fuerstano/71.260
Bernadette Brune/Spirit of the Age OLD/68.460
Charlott-Maria Schürmann/Burlington FRH/72.000
7. Belgium – 70.240
Delphine Meiresonne/Wipsy VH Heihof/67.400
Mario van Orshaegen/Wilco V/66.000*
Jeroen Devroe/Eres DL/71.220
Jorinde Verwimp/Tiamo/72.100