Three Young Superstars Crowned at Longines FEI/WBFSH World Breeding Dressage Championships

Ermelo, Netherlands – Aug. 6, 2018 – The Longines FEI/WBFSH World Breeding Dressage Championships for Young Horses 2018 certainly didn’t disappoint as 22,000 visitors from all across the globe enjoyed five days of competition. This was the third time for the event to take place in Ermelo (NED), and it included a total of 180 horses from 19 studbooks lined out in the three age categories.

“The KWPN was the main supplier with 31 horses followed by Hanoverian (17) and DWB (16),” project leader Joris Kemperman explained. “The gold medals were obtained by Westphalian in the 5-Year-Olds, Hanoverian in the 6-Year-Olds and KWPN in the 7-Year-Olds. A thrilling battle for the studbooks, and also for the audience!”

Jurado Lopez Severo and D’Avie. Photo by FEI/Hippo Foto Stefan Lafrentz

The Westphalian stallion, Revolution, claimed the Five-Year-Old title, the Hanoverian, d’Avie, topped the Six-Year-Olds and the KWPN, Glamourdale, clinched pole position in the Seven-Year-Old division. And as the chairman of the organizing committee, Aat Both, pointed out, “the overall quality was formidable!”

Five-Year-Olds

Winner of the first qualifying competition, Revolution (Rocky Lee x Rouletto) earned a massive 9.62 points and posted two perfect-10 scores in the Final. Ground Jury member Maria Colliander described him as “a rock star, a powerhouse” after he pinned the Hanoverian stallion, Destacado (Desperados x Londonderry) ridden by Germany’s Matthias Alexander Rath, into runner-up spot and the Oldenburg mare, Candy OLD (Sir Donnerhall x Furst Heinrich) with Rath’s compatriot Eva Moller on board into third.

Helgstrand Andreas and Revolution. Photo by FEI/Hippo Foto Dirk Caremans.

Revolution’s Danish rider, Andreas Helgstrand, was very proud of his rising star, “I always say that all of our horses are for sale, but this one is special to me. What else can you wish for? He has such a nice character, it is out of this world! I previously owned the triple world champion Sezuan, but I think Revolution is even more complete!”

Six-Year-Olds

In the six-year-old division, it was a special moment for Spanish rider Severo Jurado Lopez when he collected his fourth gold medal and his third in succession at Ermelo.

His Hanoverian chestnut d’Avie (Don Juan de Hus x Londonderry) collected 9.26 points to finish just ahead of Germany’s Laura Strobel with the Rheinlander Villeneuve (Vitalis x Dancier), while bronze went to Dutch rider Dinja van Liere with the KWPN Hermes (Easy Game x Flemmingh) who scored 8.78. “D’Avie is a superb horse with a bright future ahead!” said judge Isobel Wessels.

Six-Year-Old Podium: Laura Strobel, Severo Jurado Lopez, Dinja Van Liere. Photo by: FEI/ Hippo Foto Dirk Caremans

“I have to thank my horse for this medal – he was good the first day, but today could not have gone better!” Lopez said.

Seven-Year-Olds

The four that were heading the leaderboard in the oldest category of horses going into the finale remained at the top, but not in the same order. Glamourdale (Lord Leatherdale x Negro) was in third as the day began and the powerful black stallion proved to be the show-stealer, also picking up a 10 for his fantastic canter.

Charlotte Fry and Glamourdale. Photo by FEI/ Hippo Foto Dirk Caremans.

Posting a mark of 87.050 for British rider Charlotte Fry (22) he was almost three percentage points clear of the KWPN stallion Governor-Str and Dutch rider Adelinde Cornelissen who were taking their second silver medal in 12 months, while Norway’s Isabel Freese steered the Hanoverian, Fuersten-Look (Furstenball x Londonderry), into bronze. The latter were the leading pair as the day began, but a mistake in the last line of their test cost them dearly.

“I have never experienced anything like this, I can’t believe it! I am so thankful that I get to ride such a good horse,” Fry said.

“Good riders bring out the best in these young talents,” the ground jury president, Mariette Sanders explained. “I’d like to compliment the breeders who were successful in making the right match between mare and stallion. This is of utmost importance for the future of our sports, that we continue to breed better horses and that top riders develop their talent.”

Seven-Year-Old Podium: Adelinde Cornelissen, Charlotte Fry, Isabel Freese. Photo by FEI/ Hippo Foto Dirk Caremans.
No Comments Yet

Comments are closed