Girl power in the FEI Dressage Nations Cup: Dutch team win

It has been some years ago since the Dutch dressage team competing at CHIO Rotterdam only had female members, but today Dinja van Liere, Emmelie Scholtens, Thamar Zweistra and Lynne Maas have given the home crowd a splendid win in the team competition. Dinja van Liere and Hermès were superb in the Grand Prix Special, winning with 77,957%.

Dinja: "It was fantastic that the crowd was so enthusiastic, it's nice that they show they appreciate what your're trying to do. CHIO Rotterdam is the most beautiful show we have in our country, I think."

Patrik Kittel, winner of the Grand Prix Freestyle, couldn't agree more. "I've never been more succesful anywhere than in Rotterdam. Riding in the evening with the flood lights on and with a big crowd is a challenge, but I like it. It's what we want for our sport, to be there for the people who live dressage."

Thamar Zweistra was very pleased with Hexagon's Ich Weiss's performance in the Freestyle. "It went a lot better than Thursday, he was great and tried so hard for me." Emmelie Scholters, who had a baby daughter 4,5 months ago, was happy to be back in the arena. "I couldn't wait, it's fantastic to be able to compete in shows again. Indian Rock enjoyed having all the spectators there. Before, he competed in stallion shows, so he's used to people clapping and the atmosphere. He was very relaxed tonight."

Team captain Alex van Silfhout: "The ladies had the right focus at the right moment. They did a super job. They showed here that, when it has to be done, they can do it. The atmosphere in the stadium was great, it's nice to have the crowd back again."

This concludes the dressage action for this year's CHIO Rotterdam. Dressage director Patrick van der Meer: "I'm very proud, and happy of course with the wonderful result by the Dutch dressage team. We've seen some great sport here. For the organisation, the event couldn't have gone any better than it has."