Photo Report: Day One - Pony and Junior Team Championship Test at the 2009 CDI-PJYR Weert

Thu, 05/07/2009 - 00:00
2009 CDI-PJYR Weert

Pony Riders

The winners of the pony team test, local heroine Antoinette Te Riele on Golden Girl. A few imperfections in the walk pirouette and simple changes did not tamper with the overall expressive image.

Great extensions, good walk and a fantastic balanced rhythm in trot made the pair score big. They won the class with a 73% score.

Cream rises to the top. For 14-year old Dana van Lierop, 2009 is becoming a great show season. Aboard her 8-year old Equestricons Lord Champion, Van Lierop is consistently scoring in the seventies. They finished second today.

THE rider who should have won the team test today was Danish Nanna Skodberg Merrald. She rode a supreme test on her Danish bred pony Centrum. Such rhythm, such balance and always constant and light on the bit. Merrald and Centrum clearly outclassed Te Riele, but they were not offered the victory by the judges: Unfair and a great pity for the sport that this pair goes unrecognized (probably because they were competing in Holland?!)

Probably the revelation of the show: Dutch Julia van Schaijk on Den Ostriks Dailan. This lovely chestnut gelding is quite small, but he has the most cadenced trot imaginable. Super cool that this duo was able to rise to top ten in the ranking!

Junior Riders

The Dutch junior rider shooting star of the 2009 show season is without a doubt Birgit van der Drift. After having won the CDI-YR Addington, Van der Drift is now conquering Weert with her Dutch warmblood bred gelding Twister (by Havidoff x Caruso)

Michelle van Lanen and her 18-year old Dutch bred stallion Incredible (by Voltaire) placed second.

Sanne van Grotel and Melvin (by Flemmingh) ranked third. Big canter during the award ceremony!

All photos copyrighted Astrid Appels/Eurodressage
No Reproduction Allowed without Permission/Payment

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