British Fiona Bigwood and Dutch Danielle Heijkoop and Madeleine Witte-Vrees triumphed in the big tour classes as the 2016 CDI Roosendaal came to a close on Sunday 5 June 2016. Bigwood and Orthilia shone in the Grand Prix Special, while Danielle Heijkoop captured the Grand Prix for Kur on her show come back on Siro. Madeleine Witte-Vrees and Cennin bagged the Kur to Music.
The Grand Prix Special comprised of skilled combinations with Britain's number two, Fiona Bigwood and Atterupgaards Orthilia (by Gribaldi x Donnerschlag) topping the board with 77.059%. American Steffen Peters and Legolas finished second with 75.863%, while Swedish shooting star Juliette Ramel and her sensitive but hyper-talented Buriel were third with 74.373%. Americans Laura Graves and Verdades placed fourth with a score of 74.255% after a mistake in the first pirouette. Peters also competed in the Grand Prix earlier in the day with Rosamunde to place third with a score of 72.220%.
"So happy and thrilled with Tillie today," said Bigwood after her win. "I went down the last centre line with a tear rolling down my cheek. What a horse."
The Grand Prix for Kur was won by Danielle Heijkoop and her Dutch warmblood gelding Siro (by Gribaldi) who made their come back to the CDI ring after a one year break due to an injury. The pair scored 73.980% to edge out compatriot Madeleine Witte-Vrees on the licensed stallion Cennin (by Vivaldi x Donnerhall) with 73.020%. Steffen Peters and his Rhinelander mare Rosamunde were third with 72.220% as the mare had some difficulties in the canter work.
"This was a good start at the right time," said Heijkoop. "I've been training Siro for half a year now since his injury. I chose Roosendaal because it's not a big international shows. Still it brought some tension. It's always different away from training at home or a national shows. Siro spooked from a car with trailer right before the Grand Prix, so I rode a bit more conservatively."
In the Kur to Music Witte-Vrees and Cennin swapped placed with Heijkoop and Siro. Witte-Vrees, who was submitted to the Dutch Olympic long list after Roosendaal, scored a winning 77.650%, while Heijkoop was second with only a fraction of a point less with 77.550%. Peters and Rosamunde were third with 77.250%.
"Cennin is only nine years old and I know he can do better. The differences with Danielle and Siro were very small. Yesterday in the Grand Prix Cennin did no go at full potential. Because I had a mistake in the kur the degree of technical difficulty went down. I'm very happy with how the weekend went," said Witte-Vrees.
Photos © Digishots
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