News

Triumph on Home Turf for Tinne Vilhemlson-Silfven

Dec 2, 2012

Sweden's Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven set the crowd alight when claiming victory with her 10-year-old gelding, Don Auriello, at the fourth leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2012/2013 series in her home town of Stockholm. The competition was staged at the Ericsson Globe, the largest hemispherical building in the world. The host nation that just celebrated its centenary had further reason for celebration as Swedish riders clinched three of the top-five finishing spots.

Germany's Kristina Sprehe and her handsome stallion, Desperados FRH, lined up second ahead of Sweden's Patrik Kittel and Watermill Scandic HBC in third, while young Danish talent, Anna Kasprzak finished fourth with Donnperignon, pinning Sweden's Minna Telde and Santana into fifth.

Sweden already had the whip hand at the halfway stage with Sofie Lexner's nice test from the gelding, Charming Boy, leading the way with a score of 71.375. Last into the ring before the halfway break however, compatriot Charlotte Haid Bondergaard had a much less comfortable time when Triviant, the former ride of Matthias Alexander Rath, being longlisted for the London 2012 Olympic Games, was too bold and strong leading to his rider's decision to retire towards the closing stages of their test.
This was not the only bad luck in Stockholm. In Grand Prix already Laurens van Lieren and Hexagon's Welnetta unfortunately had to leave the stage. GP chair of the judges Polish Wojtek Markowski noticed the slightest signs of a blood spur at the mouth at the very end of the test and decided to disqualify after the final halt. Minna Telde opened the second half of the competition with an even better score of 74.825 from the 11 year old stallion Santana whose light movement and bouncy canter created a pleasant picture. And this pair remained in front despite a crowd-pleasing performance from Norway's Lilann Jebsen and Pro-Set who were next to take their turn. This 15 year old stallion, formerly competed by British star Carl Hester, showed power and a real sense of purpose as he put 74.000 on the board.

Fifth-last to go however, Sweden's Patrik Kittel and Watermill Scandic HBC just blew that away with a fabulous performance that oozed quiet confidence and a clear understanding between horse and rider. Seamless transitions, crisp delivery of each movement and a superb sense of rhythm combined for a new target-score of 82.175 that would not be easy to beat.
Local man, 35 year old Kristian von Krusentiema who runs the family-owned Agesta Gard Riding Centre just outside Stockholm and who is also Chairman of the Swedish Dressage Trainers Club, steered the stallion son of the legendary Briar - Biggles - to a mark of 71.975 before Anna Kasprzak produced her challenge. And the young Dane, who will turn 23 next week, continued her impressive run of form with Donnperignon who, despite some difficulty in piaffe, demonstrated enormous ease with a series of transitions from one to two-time canter and great smoothness throughout his test to slot temporarily into second behind Kittel when putting 80.125 on the board.

Vilhelmson-Silfven however had stamped her authority in yesterday's Grand Prix with a winning mark of 79.149, and Don Auriello simply sparkled once again today as he flung out his forelegs in flashy extended trot during a show-stealing performance. The 45 year old rider, who has six Olympic Games and seven European Championships under her belt, produced lovely pirouettes from her 10 year old gelding whose expression suggests he enjoys every moment of his time in the ring, and with a score of 84.700 they really put it up to the final competitor.

And Germany's Kristina Sprehe and Desperados FRH had to settle for runner-up spot for the second day in row despite a very strong test that earned a mark of 82.175.

The next leg takes place at London's Olympia Horse Show on Tuesday, 18 December.

Standings after Round 4 at Stockholm (SWE):

Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2012/2013

1. Valentina Truppa ITA - 52

2. Kristina Sprehe GER - 51

3. Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven SWE - 46

4. Marcela Krinke Susmelj SUI - 44

5. Edward Gal NED - 33

6. Anna Kasprzak DEN - 30

6. Patrik Kittel SWE - 30

8. Pia Fortmuller CAN - 28

9. Helen Langehanenberg GER - 26

10. Minna Telde SWE - 24

Source FEI/dressagedirect.com