Dutch team coach Sjef Janssen has made his final decision on the Dutch Olympic dressage delegation following the CDIO Grand Prix Special at the 2012 CDIO Aachen. Patrick van der Meer has outscored Imke Schellekens-Bartels and is selected as fourth, individual Dutch Olympic rider.
Van der Meer and Schellekens-Bartels were sent to Aachen for a final ride-off following the two official Dutch observation trials in Hoofddorp and Rotterdam. Coach Janssen was still unsure who to pick and asked both riders to compete in Aachen as final test.
Van der Meer and his Dutch warmblood gelding Uzzo (by Lancet x Indoctro) scored 72.936% in the Grand Prix and 74.800% in the Special. Schellekens scored 71.596% in the Grand Prix and 72.689% in the Special.
Van der Meer will join Adelinde Cornelissen, Edward Gal and Anky van Grunsven in London.
"Of course I'm very happy that I can go to London, but my joy for the progression we made is even bigger," Van der Meer explained. "In Hoofddorp he did three good tests. To my feeling Rotterdam was even better and now I'm even more happy about the Grand Prix and Special than in Rotterdam. This is good for my self-confidence. Let's hope we can continue to progress at the Olympic Games."
Photo © Astrid Appels
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