Monday, 03 June 2013 GLOCK News: 29 May - 2 Jun 2013

Elegance and dynamics in dressage ring and jumping arena

The CDI3* CSI3* Outdoor Gelderland, which was held in Arnheim (NED) from 29 May to 2 June, was a real magnet for international dressage riders and show jumpers, including GLOCK riders Edward Gal, Hans Peter Minderhoud and Robert Puck. Another event that weekend, the CSN-A Lassee (Lower Austria), saw GLOCK riders Dieter Köfler and Markus Stock competing in the first leg of the 2013 Casino Grand Prix series.

Our riders could not have got off to a better start in Arnheim. In the Audi Zenna Prijs on Thursday (29 May), GLOCK rider Robert Puck expertly guided GLOCK’s Ambelina who positively flew round the difficult 1.50 m course to finish with a clear round in ninth. Nine-year-old GLOCK’s Zaranza obviously also enjoyed being in Arnheim. Fault free and 18th in the two-phase 1.35 m jump on Saturday (1 June) and ninth in the jump-off for the 1.40 m Tour final on Sunday (2 June) made it a successful event.

With his natural talent for movement and expression, GLOCK’s Ziesto achieved high scores in Arnheim under GLOCK rider Hans Peter Minderhoud, winning both the St Georges (75.053%) and Intermediaire I Freestyle (79.650%). After GLOCK rider Minderhoud entered the arena for the third time with GLOCK’s Romanov on Friday (31 May), the pair looked well on their way to reaching 80%, but then the impressive 13-year-old Rohdiamant son saw something, was startled and thus lost valuable points in the Gaston Glock Grand Prix. “It’s a shame because I felt great riding here even during the warm-up and I was really looking forward to the test,” said GLOCK rider Hans Peter Minderhoud a little disappointed. The GLOCK duo’s second test of the weekend however went off much more smoothly: the two pleased the judges in the Grand Prix Freestyle, scoring 74.975% for third.

GLOCK rider Edward Gal trusted in the jet black KWPN stallion Voice for his competitions in Arnheim and — as when they debuted in Roosendaal — again succeeded in winning whenever they started. In Friday’s Gaston Glock Grand Prix (31 May) aboard the De Niro son Edward left all his rivals far behind, with a score of 75.723% and the judges unanimously putting him in first place. On Saturday night he proceeded to set a new record by breaking the 80 per cent mark on 81.225%. Following Lingh, Totilas, Sisther de Jeu, GLOCK’s Undercover and GLOCK’s Romanov, Voice is thus the sixth horse in succession with which GLOCK rider Edward Gal has received the highest accolade in freestyle to music of over 80%.

Casino start. In Austria, the CSN-A event in Lasse was the centre of attention last weekend where the first round of the Casino Grand Prix was being staged. GLOCK riders Markus Stock and Dieter Köfler competed here and were rewarded with many successes in the difficult classes. In the S* 1.40 m jump on Thursday, only four competitors went clear, including GLOCK rider Markus Stock and GLOCK’s Lightning who took fourth place. Dieter Köfler and GLOCK’s Zyrano posted a fast four-fault round, which also landed them safely in the top ten (eighth).

For the riders, Friday was all about qualifying for Sunday’s Casino Grand Prix. In the S** 1.45 m jump class, both GLOCK rider Dieter Köfler on GLOCK’s Zyrano in fifth and GLOCK rider Markus Stock on GLOCK’s Lightning in 16th place easily met the qualification criteria.

GLOCK rider Dieter Köfler then proved to be fast, fault free and unbeatable in the S** 1.45 m on Saturday (1 June). On Sunday morning, this time riding GLOCK’s Bonjour Vieux Pont, he put in a fast LM round to collect first prize as the happy winner. The highlight on Sunday was the first Casino Grand Prix of the season. As a wonderful end to his event, GLOCK rider Dieter Köfler on GLOCK’s Zyrano succeeded in qualifying for the jump-off and finished in runner-up position.

Notched up two wins in the arena: GLOCK rider Hans Peter Minderhoud and GLOCK’s Ziesto © Arnd Bronkhorst

Fantastic third place in the Freestyle: GLOCK rider Hans Peter Minderhoud and GLOCK’s Romanov © Arnd Bronkhorst

Caused a sensation: GLOCK rider Edward Gal and Voice © Digishots

Going strong: GLOCK rider Markus Stock and GLOCK’s Lightning © GHPC

Highly successful at the start of the Casino Grand Prix: GLOCK rider Dieter Köfler and GLOCK’s Zyrano © Andreas Schnitzlhuber | www.scan-pictures.net