Netherlands in control at Arnhem CDIO

Peter Storr and Gambrinus were the best of the British team at the Arnhem CDIO run alongside the European show jumping championships in the Netherlands.

Peter and Pinkie Heintz’s 10-year-old Hanoverian stallion were able to put a disappointing result at last months CDIO in Aachen behind them to produce a consistent test here to gain over 66% and 15th place.

Laura Richardson (Millenium) and Nicky Barrett (Giorgio S) were both making their senior British team debut and just seven marks divided the two in the grand prix finishing in 21st and 22nd place respectively. The British team finished in sixth place.

The Netherlands controlled the team grand prix competition with Olympic gold medallist Anky Van Grunsven heading the leaderboard with the Dutch-bred stallion Gestion Idool and compatriot Arjen Teeuwissen and Gestion Goliath just two marks behind.

It was a successful return to the competitive arena for Goliath who has been side-lined with a tendon injury sustained just after Sydney. The Dutch-bred passage/piaffe specialist showed he had lost none of his form to gain a unanimous verdict in the freestyle scoring marginally under 80%.

Peter and Nicky both opted for the freestyle with Peter finishing in ninth place scoring over 67.9% and Nicky and Giorgio S taking 11th position.

“It was probably a safe grand prix but I was pleased with the improvement and the consistent marks especially for the piaffe and passage,” said Peter who was one of two riders introduced to Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands who declared herself “spellbound” by the freestyle.

Laura Richardson opted for the grand prix special with Millenium, an Oldenberg stallion by Manstein and pulled put the stops to gain a personal best scoring over 68%. The class was won by the present Dutch national champions Gonnelien Rothenberger-Gordijn riding the stallion Jonggor’s Weyden.

Click here to view the results.