Dutch dressage riders win FEI Nations Cup Geesteren

KNHS
JP IMG 7082 CHIO2018 256 Edward GAL GLOCKS ZONIK N O P NED

The Dutch Dressage team has won the FEI Nations Cup of the Netherlands in Geesteren. This victory was very welcome on their journey to the Longines FEI European Championships in Rotterdam in August. A strong Swedish team became second. "We're back in the international playing field," says chef d'equipe Alex van Silfhout. "This gives hope for the EC's in Rotterdam."

“I'm really happy with this victory," says a smiling chef d'equipe. "Winning from the Swedish team with good, strong horses.... Our team here was strong and what makes me confident, we can even do better. We have to plan carefully towards Aachen and the European Championships. I'm confident on what we can do in Rotterdam."

Edward Gal again was the best for TeamNL. With Glock's Zonik he won both the Grand Prix as well as the Freestyle. "We're improving every time, that makes me really happy!"

Anne Meulendijks and MDH Avanti N.O.P. became third in the Freestyle and sixth in the Grand Prix. "I'm so happy! I expected to be the fourth rider in the team here but with these scores my results really count. I see the European Championships coming closer!"

Emmelie Scholtens is satisfied about the first Grand Prix Special she performed with Desperado. "Even with the mistake in the two-time changes we achieved a score well above 76%, that's great! I know what I need to work on the nextcoming weeks." So far Scholtens was considering both Apache and Desperado for the upcoming European Championships. "This Nations Cup made things more clear for me. I choose for Desperado now although I need to have a conversation with our chef d'equipe first.

The results for the experienced rider Hans Peter Minderhoud, seventh and fourth, didn't count for teamNL. "I liked the competition here in Geesteren but Glock’s Dream Boy N.O.P. was not in perfect shape. The past few months we had only scores above 75%. This time it was less but I trust it will be better before Rotterdam."

The next important competition for chef d'equipe Alex van Silfhout is CHIO Aachen (July 16 - 21) “I will not bring my strongest team there but some combinations which I want to have a closer look at. And for them a good opportunity to grow experience. After Aachen I will announce the team for the Longines FEI European Championships Rotterdam 2019."

results FEI Nations Cup of the Netherlands (Geesteren),

1. Netherlands, 17 pnts

Anne Meulendijks, MDH Avanti N.O.P. (v.United) GP 6e (&4.326%) + Freestyle3e (79.875)

Hans Peter Minderhoud, Glock’s Dream Boy N.O.P. (v.Vivaldi) GP 7e (73.522%) + GPS 4e (73.170%)

Emmelie Scholtens, Desperado (v.Vivaldi) GP 4e (75.913%) + GPS 2e (76.170%)

Edward Gal, Glock’s Zonik N.O.P. (v.Zack) GP 1e (78.304%) Freestyle 1e (82.250%)

2. Sweden, 19 pnts

3. Great Britain, 48 pnts

4. USA, 61 pnts

5. France, 65 pnts

6. Belgium, 85 pnts

  • Share this article