FEI World Cup Dressage about to start

The FEI World Cup Dressage season begins in earnest this weekend when Denmark hosts the opener of eight Western European League qualifiers. With the Final to be held next April (20-23) in Las Vegas, USA - only the second time the Final has been held outside Europe, and the first ever time the Dressage and Jumping finals will be contested at the same time and venue - it is no surprise that a top class field of early birds have flocked to start at Vilhelmsborg, Aarhus.

Of the top ten riders at the Athens Olympics, two are taking part here. Sweden's European individual bronze medallist Jan Brink (7th) will be hard to beat with the magnificent Bjorsells Briar, while the Danish contingent is led by Andreas Helgstrand and the perennial Blue Hors Cavan (9th).

From Germany starters include Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff, who placed fifth at the 2004 Final with her mare Wahajama-UNICEF, and 25-year old MBA student Ellen Schulten-Baumer. Well-known trainer Martina Hannover-Sternberg joins them on her World Cup debut with the 10-year-old mare Inara. Dutch Olympic team member Sven Rothenberger will campaign his Olympic mount Barclay II.

The British-based Finnish rider and top trainer Kyra Kyrklund is starting her own and Yvette Conn's exciting prospect Max, son of Master, on whom she won the Aarhus World Cup qualifier in 1997, and placed fifth in the following year's Final in Gothenburg. At just nine, Max has only competed twice before in Grand Prix (winning at Hickstead CDI this summer), but, well, that victorious 1997 start was his father's first ever!

Schedule:
Saturday October 30th 12.30: Grand Prix qualifier

Sunday October 31st 14.00: FEI World Cup Freestyle to Music

www.vilhelmsborg.dk

Media Contact: Show Office - Jette Bjerg Tel:             +45 86 93 84 19      
e-mail: csi@vilhelmsborg.dk


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