Despite the absence of the world’s number one, Anky van Grunsven, due to a back injury, a Dutch rider nevertheless won the grand prix at Olympia, the London International Horse Show 2008.

 

The current Dutch champions, Adelinde Cornelissen and Parzival, headed the grand prix with 75.75%. Cornelissen and the 11-year-old Dutch-bred gelding by Jazz are fourth in the world rankings and relegated van Grunsven and IPS Painted Black to the runner-up slots in both the grand prix and FEI World Cup qualifier at last month’s Stockholm CDI-W.

 

Cornelissen has ridden Parzival since he was five and he is her only grand prix horse. Until 2007, she worked full-time teaching English. The pair was excluded from the Dutch Olympic team, despite being national champions and finishing second to Isabell Werth at Aachen CDIO.

 

Laura Bechtolsheimer, who set a record British international grand prix score here last year of 75.33% with the 13-year-old Mistral Hojris (pictured) was undeterred by the pressure and took second place with another impressive score, 74.875%.

 

British-based Finn Kyra Kyrklund and Max took third while Carl Hester and Liebling II finished sixth on 67.667%. Richard Davison and the Countess of Derby’s nine-year-old Artemis made their grand prix debut to take 10^th place while Jodie Lister and Nicky finished 13^th.

 

The World Cup qualifier takes place tomorrow night, 17 December, starting at 8pm, and can be viewed live on Eurosport 2. The start list can be viewed here.

 

For the full results, click here.