Adelinde Cornelissen and her small tour horse Tiara made a winning international show debut when they took the first place in the Prix St Georges at Jumping Mechelen, the international World Cup Qualifier in Mechelen, Belgium, on Tuesday morning 27 December 2011. Owned by Stable van Nobelen, the 11-year old black mare Tiara (by Jazz x Gardeoffizier) received 72.211% from the judges.
The panel consisted of Jacques van Daele (BEL), Wojtek Markowski (POL), Susanne Baarup (DEN), Mariette Withages (BEL) and Isobel Wessels (GBR). Sixteen combinations competed in the Prix St Georges including a large field of Belgian riders.
Cornelissen presented Tiara with much energy and routine. The black mare was very smooth and flowing in the trot work. In the half pass left the hindquarters came slightly first but the cross-over was very good. The extensions had good engagement from behind and ground cover. The canter work was very solid though the nose could have been more out and she should have foamed more in the contact. The pirouettes were well controlled, the right one being the best one of the two. In the extended walk there needed to be more overtrack.
Danish Fie Skarsoe and Dagmar Börner's 10-year old Dutch warmblood gelding One Night Stand (by Olivi x Ferro) was on Cornelissen's heels with their 71.816% score. The gorgeous black gelding is not gifted with the biggest trot and gets very wide behind in the extensions but he shines with his quality training, relaxation and lovely contact in the mouth. The canter pirouettes, especially the right one, were great and the flying changes were big. There was a slight communication error in the transition from extended canter but overall One Night Stand presented a very sympathetic silhouette.
Belgian Philippe Jorissen and the beautiful long-legged Rhinelander mare Agneta (by Abanos x Entree) would have been the winners of the class had the rider not gone off course. The bay mare has matured into a very promising FEI horse. Though she has a funky collapse in her hip while trotting, she is quite powerful from behind. Light in the bridle, Agneta excelled with her bouncy trot work and huge flying changes. Pity the rider is swinging much in the saddle in the tempi's as the total image would have been even more harmonious. The walk was the mare's weakest point. She became tense and lateral in the collected walk and the overtrack in the extension should increase. Jorissen scored 71.053% to finishe third.
Aachen based German Jana Kun, a former European Pony Champion, rode the Hanoverian gelding Beau Geste (by Weltmeyer x Rubinstein) to a fourth place. The 10-year old chestnut gelding has that proto-typical Weltmeyer hindleg and is unshakable in his cadence. Kun rode an immaculate test with the gelding but could have had much more impulsion and energy in the trot work. The tempi's every three strides should have been straighter in the body and though the canter pirouettes were nice, the horse should show more lift in the shoulder. Nevertheless Kun displayed very proper riding and Beau Geste was always up in the bridle and soft in the mouth. The combination received a well earned 71.026%.
Dutch Hans Peter Minderhoud and Team Nijhof's popular KWPN breeding stallion Johnson (by Jazz x Flemmingh) returned to the show ring after a long break since the 2011 Dutch Championships to slot in fifth with 69.658%. The beautiful bay stallion with his attractive knee action showed experience and maturity in the small tour movements, but was a bit unsettled in the contact. He bopped his head a bit throughout the test and pushed himself high in the collected walk. A highlight of the test were the straight tempi changes.
Text and Photos © Astrid Appels - NO REPRODUCTION ALLOWED
Related Links
Scores 2011 CDI-W Mechelen
Cornelissen Romps Away with Grand Prix Victory at 2011 CDI-W Mechelen