News
Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven turns tables on Patrik Kittel
Jan 27, 2013
Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven and Don Auriello rode the momentum from an enthusiastic crowd on Saturday evening to claim the 2013 World Dressage Masters (WDM) CDI5* Palm Beach championship. After finishing second to Swedish Olympic teammates Patrik Kittel and Watermill Scandic HBC in Friday's Grand Prix CDI5* at WDM, Vilhelmson-Silfven and Don Auriello took it up a notch to seize victory in Saturday's Grand Prix Freestyle CDI5*.
Vilhelmson-Silfven collected a personal best score of 84.075% for her electrifying freestyle performance. She received a standing ovation from the crowd as she exited the ring.
Kittel and Watermill Scandic H B C scored 82.525% for their freestyle. Their high placing tonight capped a successful string of performances at Jim Brandon Equestrian Center. Along with their victory and career-best Grand Prix score in the WDM Grand Prix on Friday, Kittel and Scandic took home wins in the Gold Coast Opener CDI-W Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle (Jan. 18-20).
Vilhelmson-Silfven and Kittel defeated two-time WDM Palm Beach champion Steffen Peters, who notched a third place finish for the United States with 80.175% on the promising Legolas 92. Peters said both he and his horse enjoyed the freestyle.
Heather Blitz and Paragon, the 2012 U.S. Olympic team alternates, took the fourth place spot with 74.900%. Five-time Danish National Champion Lars Petersen rode Mariett to take fifth place with 73.925%. Petersen, a local favorite who bases his training operation in Loxahatchee, FL, earned cheers from the crowd with his upbeat freestyle routine. David Marcus and Chrevi's Capital impressed spectators with their piaffe and passage, scoring 70.750% to finish in sixth. Adrienne Lyle and Wizard, winners of the Grand Prix Special CDI4* at the 2012 WDM Palm Beach, rounded out the order of finish in the Freestyle with 68.575%. Lyle trains with Debbie McDonald at Peggy and Parry Thomas's River Grove Farm in Idaho.
Hans Peter Minderhoud was scheduled to ride first in the Grand Prix Freestyle, but his horse, Withney van 't Genthof, was withdrawn from the competition. Instead, Minderhoud treated spectators to a special exhibition: he brought out Edward Gal's mount, Inter Floor Next One, for a dressage demonstration with Gal providing commentary. Gal withdrew from WDM on Friday due to illness.
Source Phelps Media Group