Record crowds attended the recent World Cup Qualifier in Minsk, Belarus. Soaring temperatures and a carnival atmosphere on the Freestyle day ensured a wonderful shop window for the dressage sport
and a great day out for around 10,000 spectators who came along.
The qualifying classes on Friday and Saturday were well supported with a strong contingent from Russia as well as good entries from Belarus, Estonia, Israel, Latvia and Ukraine. In the big tour there was a healthy competitive spirit between Irina Lis, Elena Kalinina and Alexandra Korelova with all their horses showing great talent in piaffe and passage.
The Intermediate II saw the exciting prospect Sugar Ray Lennix with Elena Kalinina taking the honours while in the Grand Prix the grey Balagur with Alexandra Korelova had the winning position.
In the World Cup Freestyle it was the local girl - Irina Lis with Problesk who came out on top with a faultless choreography set to beautiful classical music. The crowds were ecstatic and having been quiet throughout all the tests really gave vent to their enthusiasm in the prize giving. The outstanding combination in the small tour was Ella Ivanova with Blesk winning all classes by a clear margin with wonderful harmony and elasticity throughout. The organisers and sponsors were all very satisfied with a great weekend for both the competitors and riders.
by Isobel Wessels
Images copyrighted: Dirk Caremans - No reproduction without permission
Related Links
Happiness and Drama at 2003 CDIO Jozefin
Scores of the 2003 World Cup Dressage Finals