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Jan Brink

More than 11.000 enthusiastic visitors (11.227) witnessed their Swedish hero Jan Brink ride his famous Swedish stallion Briar to the win, in their very last show on home ground. His score was 77,200%.

The renowned Globe in Göteborg hosts no less than three World Cup competitions this year; dressage, show jumping and the Final Four in Hand included. Fifteen competitors from six nations competed including Sweden, Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium and the United States of America. The judges were Linda Zang (chair, USA), Gustav Svalling (Swe), Annette Fransén Iacobéus (Swe), Kjell Myhre (Nor) and Dieter Schüle (Ger).

Emotions

Already from his hotel room Jan Brink started focusing on this challenge to give the very best of himself and his 18 year old stallion Briar for their very last ride on home ground. "I felt emotional in a positive way. Doing the last test ever in your own country, is quite something", said Jan Brink. From the moment the pair entered the arena in the Globe the audience went wild. Everybody knew this pair had made history for Sweden and they honored him with standing ovations, clapping, yelling and cheering. "Yes, I really wanted to show my home country what this Swedish horse had brought them. And I was so inspired that I really did manage to make Briar go the extra mile! Briar still isn't feeling old and he could go on doing this for a longer time, but I have decided that this was to be his last show. It's wonderful that we managed to preserve the best for the end now", Jan continued.

Chair of the judges American Linda Zang said she enjoyed every minute of the competition, keeping the tension up right until the very end. "It was really good sport. I enjoyed it all the way", Linda Zang said. She added that she wasn't aware how close the competition had been until she had actually studied the results. From last week's Neumünster Horseshow she had travelled to Gothenburg and from here will now go back to America to judge the Palm Beach Derby and wait for the World Cup Final to come. Linda Zang judged some riders twice within a week. "I was attracted by the nice uphill and forward image of Donatha S showed by Ellen Schulten Baumer. Here in Göteborg they showed much more to their advantage" Zang concluded.

In the Grand Prix Briar and Brink really were close with Catherine Haddad and Cadillac. But Catherine Haddad didn't quite have the full attention of Cadillac today for his first piaffe and passage tour and so she lost the ability to keep her horse in front of her leg. At the press conference Catherine explained she had been sick with food poisoning, which made her less concentrated during her test.

Premiere

For Jan Brink and Briar the Göteborg Horseshow was their farewell. For Swedish colleague Minna Telde the Gotebörg Horse show however formed the premiere. She rode a brand new Freestyle with new music on the U2 theme. Linda Zang was very impressed by the Swedish pair, taking an extra risk by performing a new Freestyle. "I only got my music last Monday and was thrilled with Don Charly's response to the music. He responded better than I expected in doing the two tempi and one tempi changes right to the music", Minna Telde explained. After Christmas Minna Telde bought the former owner of Don Charly out and now the horse belongs to her completely. "Which is a very good feeling", Telde concludes. Because of her good results she has almost qualified for the Final. "If I want to be certain, I shall add the last show in 's-Hertogenbosch to my schedule", Telde said,

Tension is building up towards the Final

Anky van Grunsven had to withdraw from competing as serious back problems left her home. She intended to ride IPS Salinero in Göteborg as she needs to ride two WC qualifiers to meet the regulations to defend her title. Now only 's-Hertogenbosch is left, which might cause her stallion IPS Painted Black to be her horse for the Final.

Jan Brink will refrain from travelling to 's-Hertogenbosch. "I am very much in favor of the s'-Hertogenbosch Horseshow but do have to keep in mind the welfare of my horse too. It might be too much in regard to Las Vegas", Brink concluded.

Results

1. BRIAR Jan Brink (SWE) 77,200%
2. DON CHARLY Minna Telde (SWE) 75,600%
3. DONATHA S Ellen Schulten Baumer (GER) 74,85%
4. GALLIANO Maria Eriksson (SWE) 72,35%
5. VIVO Maria von Essen (SWE) 72,200%
6. ROYAL RUBIN Heike Kemmer (GER) 71,450%
7. CADILLAC Catherine Haddad (USA) 71,35%
8. PREMIER Aat van Essen (NED) 70,150%
9. VISUMS Louise Nathhorst (SWE) 69,150%
10. NORMANDIE JB Annette Christensson (SWE) 68,700%
11. ALBERT Joan K. Jensen (DEN) 67,800%
12. WITHNEY VAN T GENTHOF (BEL) 67.500%
12. OVATION Christa Laarakkers (NED) 67,500%
14. RAINMAN Camilla Toll (SWE) 65,00%
15. AJAX II Nina Bengtsson (SWE) 63,950%

Western European League

Standings following 8 competitions in WEL + 6 CEL

1 2. Isabell WERTH GER 80
2. Hans Peter MINDERHOUD NED 68
3. Adelinde CORNELISSEN NED 60
4. Jan BRINK SWE 57
4. Monica THEODORESCU GER 57
6. Jeannette HAAZEN NED 54
7. Minna TELDE SWE 51
8. Heike KEMMER GER 50
9. Ellen SCHULTEN BAUMER GER 49
10. Christa LAARAKKERS NED 43
11. Catherine HADDAD USA 42
12. Stefan VAN INGELGEM BEL 39
12. Nathalie ZU SAYN WITTGENSTEIN DEN 39

WEL:

1 Odense (DEN) 15-18 October
2 Stockholm (SWE) 28-30 November
3 London Olympia (GBR) 16-22 December
4 Frankfurt (GER) 18-21 December
5 Mechelen (BEL) 26-30 December
6 Amsterdam (NED) 20-25 January
7 Neumünster (GER) 11-15 February
8 Göteborg (SWE) 19-22 February
9 's-Hertogenbosch (NED) 19-22 March

Note: The FEI World Cup Dressage Champion does not earn points in his/her starts but is automatically

qualified to the next Final with two FEI World Cup Dressage starts completed.

Riders not belonging to the WEL or CEL cannot earn points in the WEL unless they have declared to compete in the WEL 2008/2009. These riders may however transfer the results in WEL qualifiers to their own League.

Points earned by CEL riders will be transferred to the CEL points Standings list.