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Three Dutch para dressage winners secure team top ranking

Para equestrian dressage was another show of excellence and ability on Day two of the discipline’s premiere at CHI AL SHAQAB 2015 on Friday.

Voets was born with a joint disease that weakens both of her legs and she later had a fall off a horse further damaging her legs requiring lots of “not always successful” surgery. Like almost everything else riding is painful for her. “But pain is an emotion and you can control it,” Voets sees it matter-of-factly. “Horse riding is just too important for me. When I am on a  horse I forget everything else.”  The double WEG-medalist won on 70.854 despite a slight hiccup when her new mare Zoya Sollenburg clipped a board and got slightly spooked. Roberta Sheffield and Double Agent came second on 69.431. “I had a little glitch in the canter change but the quality overall felt better than yesterday.” With dual citizenship Sheffield rides for Canada but is based in England where she trains with grand Prix rider Gareth Hughes. With her chestnut mare Double Agent she was a national champion back in 2014. 

The grade 4 competition saw a repetition of  the first day’s duel with Dutch Frank Hosmar winning on Alphaville N.O.P. scoring 72,897. “I am very pleased. This was a nicer ride than yesterday’s team test.” Multi medalist Michele George again came in second and 0.8 points behind. “I can’t beat him”, the Belgian was disappointed with the ranking, but not with her mare Saganne, earning a 9 for extended trot.  “ She competed as I wanted her to.”  Third place went to German Lena Weifen and her long standing partner Don Turner, rewarding for all the last minute excitement when she was called to compete in Doha as a late replacement made her rushing to get all the paperwork and packing done on time.

Delivering her performance in walking in the smaller 20x40 arena, world’s No 3 Elke Philipps won again. She presented Regaliz in fluid harmony yet energetic, despite starting to feel the drain of the competition. The German pair earned straight 8’s in their collective marks for equestrian feeling and accuracy that Philipps is known for. Second and third placed Laurentia Yen Ti Yan and Gemma Rose Jen Foo represent Singapore and Asia in para equestrian, preparing in Germany for the CHI AL SHAQAB 2015. 

With 35 championship wins, he is the para equestrian top athlete and  Lee Pearson from Great Britain ruled the ranking in his grade 1b, earning several 9’s for powerful extensions and a triple 8 for equestrian feel and skill of the rider. Most satisfied with his WEG-championship horse Zion Pearson admitted: “I love him to bits. He is so wonderful and tried so hard.” 

Dutch Rixt van der Holst and Uniek led the competition again, scoring 74.143 despite some tension in the walk. “He reacted too much to my leg aid”, the double gold medalist from Caen explained. Second again, Briton Natasha Baker and her former eventing horse Cabral (72.238): “Before we got in I was so nervous I even forgot how to do a square halt but in the arena things went well. Maybe he is a little tired and reacting to the heat. But we can deal with that.”

In para dressage three results are added for a team ranking. For their three individual wins The Netherlands took the money for the team test. Bringing seven riders to Doha mirrors successful work at home where it is quite usual to have para dressage included at large dressage shows, thus giving the riders a good opportunity to practise and to gain competition experience. The Dutch steward for para dressage at CHI AL SHAQAB, Willem Jan Luiten, credits their sponsor for this. “Rabobank gives our riders the opportunity to train with top instructors and they want organizers to take the extra effort for para-dressage. It is all about money. With a good sponsor you can achieve more.” 

Results for Para Equestrian Dressage - second test and team result:

Grade Ia

1. Elke Philipp/ Regaliz (GER) 75.507

2. Laurentia Yen Ti Tan/ Ruben James (SIN) 73.116

3. Gemma Rose Jen Foo/ Cassis Royal (SIN) 67.681

Grade 1b

1. Lee Pearson/Zion (GBR)75.402

2. Nicole den DULK/ Wallace (NED) 74.655

3. Anne Frederique Royon/J’Adore (FRA)66.897

Grade II

1. Rixt van der Holst/ Uniek (NED)74.143

2. Natasha Baker/ Cabral (GBR)72.238

3. Demi Vermeulen / Vaness (NED)71.762

Grade III

1. Sanne Voets/ Zoya Sollenburg (NED)70.854

2. Roberta Sheffield/ Double Agent (CAN)69.431

3. Ann Cathrin Lübbe/ Cypres (NOR)65.285

Grade 4

1. Frank Hosmar/ Alphaville N.O.P. (NED)72.897

2. Michelle George/ Saganne (BEL)72.024

3. Lena Weifen/ Don Turner (GER)  68.968

Team result:

1.NED

2.GER

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