![Harmony secures second World Cup win for Imke](https://www.equisport.pt/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/24.12.06.jpg)
Prayers for peace on earth seem to bring her victories in dressage! After her wonderful first ever win of a World Cup™ qualifier recently in London, Dutch national champion Imke Schellekens-Bartels proved her winning mood again and grew to the occasion to win her second special Christmas atmosphere World Cup™ qualifier in Mechelen, Belgium. “It is never evident and easily done, even not when having won the Grand Prix already”, a happy Imke Schellekens commented on her win. Yesterday in Grand Prix the Hanoverian mare Sunrise felt somewhat tired when entering the full house arena with cosy temperatures above 24 degrees. Therefore both Imke and Edward Gal reduced their time of the warming up and entered the arena with a more fresh horse today. Imke Schellekens praised light footed and elegant Sunrise. “Today she felt wonderful, although the tiny mistake in the one tempi changes l eft room for improvement. The mare is so sensible and easy to ride, she gives me a most comfortable and reliable feeling. Now the time has come to make our choreography more difficult and to find more challenges in decreased difficulties.”
Happy runner up Edward Gal
Country fellow Edward Gal and the black stallion G4S IPS Gribaldi became the runner up today. He did a harmonious test, but had some comments on his own timing: “Sometimes I was in front, sometimes I was behind the music. As I on purpose diminished the time for warming up, Gribaldi might have been too forward moving and less collected at the beginning. However our performances are far above my expectations after the sell of Lingh so I’m happy too”, Edward Gal said.
Energy on the fingertips for Haddad
The third happy rider was American German-based Catherine Haddad who became third showing her horse Maximus on the chosen dramatic film music that leads to the dead of Roman emperor Maximus. Catherine Haddad commented: “Both yesterday and today I had technically very clean tests, which makes me feel very proud. Maximus really wants to do it for me and it is this music which brings the warrior out of him. Today he was not only better to ride, but also easier. He brought his energy more on my fingertips!” Catherine Haddad now will take some time to completely rewrite the choreography of her Freestyle to set up more difficulties.
Accident Mariette Withages
The chairman of the judges Mariette Withages suffers from fractures of three ribs when falling of the steps to the plane of the previous World Cup™ in Frankfurt. This prevented her not to judge for the enthusiastic crowd in Mechelen. “I think there is no other World Cup™ qualifier in such a great ambiance with such a great audience. For me it is difficult to understand why no German rider takes advantage of such a great show”, Mariette Withages commented. On winner Imke Schellekens-Bartels who now leads the standings, she concluded: “For me the harmony of the pair was a pleasure to the eye. And harmony that’s what dressage is all about.”
Results (27.12.06)
Freestyle with music – World Cup Qualifier – Mechelen
1. Imke Schellekens (Hol) / Sunrise: 78.7%
2. Edward Gal (Hol) / Gribaldi: 74.15%
3. Catherine Haddad (USA) / Maximus: 72.55%
4. Laurens van Lieren (Hol) / Hexagons Ollright: 72.35%
5. Jeroen Devroe (Bel) / Paganini: 72.35 %
6. Hubert Perring (Fra) / Diabolo St Maurice: 69.85 %
7. Miguel Ralão Duarte (Por) / Oxalis de Meia Lua: 68.7%
8. Philippe Maynier (Fra) / Nashville: 68.3%
9. Simonne Staub (Sui) / Robespierre: 68.2 %
10. Jeanette Haazen (Hol / Quicksilver: 67.7%
Provisional standings after 6 of 15 competitions
(+ 5 in Central European League)
1. Imke SCHELLEKENS-BARTELS NED 57
2. Ellen SCHULTEN BAUMER GER 56
3. Laurens VAN LIEREN NED 54
4. Edward Gal NED 44
5. Isabell Werth GER 41
6. Wayne CHANNON GBR 39
7. Marlies VAN BAALEN NED 37
8. Fiona BIGWOOD GBR 34
9. Catherine HADDAD USA 33
10. Kyra KYRKLUND FIN 32
10. Andreas HELGSTRAND DEN 32
Check below the full results.