Recently crowned VLP Talent of the Year 2014, Belgian young rider Jorinde Verwimp is cementing her position as a dominating Under 25 Grand Prix rider in Europe and already opening the door towards team consideration for the 2014 European Dressage Championships in Aachen. At the Christmas CDI in Mechelen, Verwimp won the Short Grand Prix and U25 Grand Prix Kur.
Aboardher 14-year old Dutch warmblood gelding Tiano (by Lester x Hemmingway) Verwimp was the sole Belgian competitor in the division but still convincingly won the U25 Grand Prix on a score of 73.09%. Second and third place went to Dutch riders Kim Schmid on Theodoor (68.767) and Daniëlle van Mierlo on Ucento (67.860).
Judge Mariëtte Sanders-Van Gansewinkel commented on Verwimp's winning Grand Prix performance and said, "it was a perfectly controlled test with a beautiful piaffe and passage.”
In the U25 Kur to Music, Verwimp and Tiano scored 75.450% to win the class. The European Young Rider kur bronze medallist is trained by Anky van Grunsven for the past two years. Second place went to Coby van Baalen's student Kim Schmid on her grey KWPN bred Theodoor (by Metall). They received 73.500% from the panel of judges. Third place was also for a Dutch combination, Daniëlle van Mierlo and Ucento, who received 69.125%.
"I had the time of my life competing in Mechelen and winning both tests with my best buddy," said an ecstatic Jorinde. "He always gives the best of himself. He's the best horse ever."
Photo © Lena Lottsfeldt
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