Media updates

Fabulous Freestyle Final in Prospect

Media updates
24 August 2013 Author: RGR

By Louise Parkes

It’s been a spectacular week of sport at the ECCO FEI European Championships in Herning, Denmark and there is huge anticipation ahead of tomorrow’s Blue Hors Dressage Freestyle Final which will bring the event to an exciting conclusion.

After yesterday’s dramatic and emotional Grand Prix Special, in which all of the leading contenders made inexplicable errors of course before British Olympic double-gold medallist Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro eventually won through for gold, it seems we must expect more of the unexpected.  Even the greatest proponents of this equestrian discipline which has been enjoying such an explosive level of popularity in recent years showed themselves capable of human error, just like everyone else.

Freedom of Expression

Tomorrow of course the Freestyle allows far greater freedom of expression.  As Cornelissen joked yesterday “you can’t make mistakes in Freestyle” to the same extent because there is no set formula for the test, although certain specific movements are obligatory.  Dujardin, and her trainer and fellow Olympic team gold medallist Carl Hester who will compete with Uthopia, have both confirmed that they will re-use the magical musical scores that accompanied them throughout their performances at London 2012.  Dujardin will therefore be a tough nut to crack, because not only is the quality of her work with Valegro breath-taking in itself, the patriotic musical accompaniment adds even more weight and stirs the emotions.

Her greatest rivals are likely to be Langehanenberg, who will be last into the arena, and Cornelissen who will be first to go as the final tranche of five riders take their turn. 

Always Helpful

The German rider’s last-to-go starting spot is always helpful, and her stallion Damon Hill has been in the form of his life this season, but while their technical excellence is never in doubt, their creativity and expression must be at its theatrical best if they are to overtake all those who have gone before them. 

For Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival their very presence at these Championships is already a triumph, and no matter what happens tomorrow afternoon they can return to The Netherlands with great pride.  The horse’s ability to bounce back following surgery for a heart condition is phenomenal in itself, and testament to the extraordinary care and attention he has received, and to the power of the bond that connects him to his devoted rider.  They already have Team silver along with Individual Grand Prix Special bronze in their grasp.

Edward Gal’s Glock’s Undercover is also within the final five into the arena tomorrow, along with Germany’s Kristina Sprehe and Desperados FRH who have shown so much promise and growing maturity over the past week.

All eyes will be on Dujardin however, who has already placed herself in yet another page of the history books be becoming the first-ever British rider to win Individual gold at the FEI European Championships when topping yesterday’s Grand Prix Special.

Startlist for Blue Hors FEI European Dressage Championship, Grand Prix Freestyle - here

Facts and Figures:

A total of 15 horse-and-rider combinations have qualified for tomorrow’s Freestyle Final of the Blue Hors FEI European Dressage Championship in Herning, Denmark.

The line-up includes defending Freestyle champions, The Netherlands’ Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival.

Reigning Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage champions, Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg and the stallion Damon Hill NRW, will be last into the arena.

Great Britain’s Michael Eilberg and the handsome grey mare, Half Moon Delphi, will be first to go at 13.30 local time.

If Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro manage to complete the double and add the Freestyle honours to the Grand Prix Special title they won yesterday, the Olympic double-gold medallists will become the first-ever British partnership to do so in the history the FEI European Dressage Championships which first took place in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1963.

Photo Caption:  Adelinde Cornelissen’s Jerich Parzival made a remarkable recovery following a serious health scare this summer to clinch Team silver and Individual bronze at the Blue Hors FEI European Dressage Championships in Herning, Denmark this week.  Tomorrow the dynamic Dutch duo return to the MCH arena as defending Freestyle champions.  Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton.

 

For further information on the ECCO FEI European Championships 2013 go to website: http://european-herning.dk/GB.aspx

FEI Online Press kits

Extensive information on the P.S.I. FEI European Jumping Championships, Blue Hors FEI European Dressage Championships and JYSK FEI European Para-Dressage Championships, can be found in the FEI’s Online Press Kit Zone: www.feipresskits.org. Each press kit includes an event preview, athlete biographies, competition timetable, Championships history and key contact details.  

FEI TV

The P.S.I. FEI European Jumping Championships and Blue Hors FEI European Dressage Championships will be live on FEI TV, the FEI’s official online video platform, starting on 20 August at 16.45 local time - see the complete live schedule here: www.feitv.org/live. Key performances and interviews with medal winners will be available as video-on-demand from the JYSK FEI European Para-Dressage Championships.

Media Contacts:

At Herning

Britt Carlsen

Press Officer

bc@wiegaarden.dk

+45 96 570 580

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