The Netherlands’ Hans Peter Minderhoud replicated his win in the grand prix on Friday to top the leaderboard again today (Sunday 27 March) and win the Reem Acra FEI World Cup final 2016 in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Riding Glock’s Flirt, a 15-year-old chestnut by Florestan, he clocked up 82.357% with two competitors still to come.
But neither Denmark’s Anna Kasprzak (Donnerperignon) nor home crowd favourite Patrik Kittel (Watermill Scandic) could better the score.
Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven — another Swede — finished second with Don Auriello, while German rider Jessica von Bredow-Werndl (Unee BB) climbed a place to finish third, as she did in 2015.
Hans Peter said: “I have be riding Flirty for two years and he was a nice grand prix horse when I got him, but I didn’t expect him to be a winner. He’s a very easy character and I think he was proud today.”
Hans Peter earned €50,000 for his efforts, while Tinne won €43,000 for second and Jessica €32,100.
Tinne’s horse Don Auriello coped well with the deafening noise from the home crowd, the tension only evident in the halts, which weren’t immobile. “It’s an indescribable feeling riding with such a great audience,” she said.
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The winner of the bronze medal, Jessica, said it was “super to be back on the podium.”
Reem Acra Winners 2016. Image by Claes Jakobsson
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Patrik Kittel couldn’t repeat his podium finish with Scandic and had to settle for fourth place.
Irish rider Judy Reynolds climed from ninth and just out of the money in the grand prix to finish eighth and claim €6,300 with a 77.339% test on her Jazz gelding Vancouver K. She is the first rider from her nation to ever contest the dressage World Cup finals.
Over 11,000 people watched the class in the impressive Scandinavium Arena, but there were a number of empty seats.
Next year’s final takes place at Omaha in Nebraska, USA (27 March-2 April), while Gothenburg will host the 2017 European Championships.
For a full report on the World Cup finals, including analysis and comment, pick up a copy of Horse & Hound on Thursday 31 March.
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