Gold for Glamourdale in Ermelo

The KWPN licensed stallion Glamourdale, ridden by Great Britain’s Charlotte Fry (22), has been crowned champion seven-year-old at the Longines FEI WBFSH World Breeding Dressage Championships for Young Horses in Ermelo, the Netherlands, 2 – 5 August 2018. The sensational Glamourdale was awarded a score of 87.050% for an emphatic victory following his third place in Friday’s qualifying round.

In yesterday’s final, the top four horses from qualifying were still at the top, but all in a different position. The eventual top three are solely stallions, silver going to KWPN stallion Governor (Totilas x Jazz) and Friday’s winner Fuersten-Look (Fürstenball Old x Londonderry) who had to settle for bronze due to a costly mistake. 

The black powerhouse Glamourdale (Lord Leatherdale x Negro), beautifully presented by Charlotte, was simply breathtaking. The Joop Rodenburg bred stallion of Van Olst Horses gave the jury goosebumps with his impressive moves. “What an incredible final,” said commentating judge Susanne Baarup. “The trot is very powerful, with lots of impulsion. A beautiful rhythm, also in the half-passes. For a 10 we would like to see a more noticeable difference in the transitions to the extension, so a 9.8.” The lowest mark, a 7.6, was given to the walk that is a pure four-beat but could display more overtrack and freedom in the shoulder. “However, the powerful canter has so much quality, nice from the ground and with so much ability to collect that we happily give a 10”, says Baarup. The lovely changes and contact resulted in a 9.4 for submission and a 9.5 for perspective. “An attentive and work-willing horse that undoubtedly has a bright future ahead of him.” The total of 87.050% proved enough for the world title.

“I have to thank Glamourdale, he gave me all he’s got!” said an exuberant Charlotte Fry. “He really knew how important this was, he left it all in the arena. I have not watched the last ride of Isabel Freese, I was too nervous. And then I heard a steward say: ‘Charlotte Fry is the winner’. I was speechless, I have never experienced something quite like this. I cannot believe it, I think I should cry, but it has not really dawned on me yet. I am so thankful that I get to ride such a good horse! We keep practicing towards the Grand Prix at home.”

Just like last year, the silver went to Adelinde Cornelissen and the J.B.J.M. Streppel bred KWPN stallion Governor, a son of Totilas out of the sister of Adelinde’s previous top horse Parzival (84.143%). The black stallion fluently moved through the test. “Very well presented by Adelinde!” said Baarup. “The trot is powerful and elastic and he performed the half-passes so fluently: a 9. The walk is relaxed, with good overtrack, nice rhythm and the talent for collection is evident, an 8.5. In the uphill jumped canter, Governor displays a lot of posture and ability for collection, a 9. And yet, the highest marks are for the submission and perspective, this very well-trained stallion is so obedient, so work-willing: a 9.5."

Adelinde is enthusiastic about the stallion of G.A.M. Korbeld. “He always feels so good, it simply was a wonderful ride. Of course, there are always small things that could have gone better, but I am so happy with him: he really wants to do it for me. I am grateful to the owners that they let me ride such an exceptional horse and to the whole team around me, because they are essential. Also credit to the breeders, without them we would be nowhere.”

With the KWPN-approved stallions in the lead, the best combinations of the qualification round still had to start, but a big mistake brought the Johannes Sabel bred Fuersten-Look (Fürstenball x Londonderry) to 84.036% and the third place. Isabel Freese steered the Hanoverian stallion to a 10 for his powerful, elastic, light-footed trot. “Lovely use of his body. The walk was spacious and relaxed, a 9. In the big canter he already showed his ability to collect, although he could be a little more active in his hind legs in the extended canter, but unfortunately there was the mistake in the last line. Therefore an 8.7. Unfortunately, we had to take this mistake into account in the submission, even though we are dealing with a work-willing, well-trained horse bursting with potential. An 8.5 for the submission and a 9.3 for the perspective,” says Baarup. “This happens sometimes, unfortunately,” responded Isabel Freese.

President of the jury Jean Michel Roudier was wildly enthusiastic about the quality in the final. “What an incredible display of dressage! The horses were presented in a sympathetic manner and I think we will see many of these talents back in the Grand Prix. A big thanks to the organization of this fantastic event and to Longines, because without a grand sponsor there is no grand sport. Finally, also compliments to the breeders, what a group of wonderful horses we have seen today!”

Results of the British riders:
First Qualification for 5-Year-Old Horses
24th Iondale (Everdale x Donnerhall) owned by Van Olst Horses, ridden by Charlotte Fry, 7.88
28th Inclusive (Everdale x Uptown) owned by Van Olst Horses, ridden by Charlotte Fry, 7.60

Small Final for 5-Year-Olds
15th Iondale ridden by Charlotte Fry, 7.60
17th Inclusive ridden by Charlotte Fry, 7.52

First Qualification for 6-Year-Olds
38th BKS Fantasia (Fürstenball x Rubin Royal) owned by Georgina West, ridden by Sara Gallop, 6.62

Small Final for 6-Year-Olds
24th BKS Fantasia ridden by Sara Gallop, 6.80

First Qualification for 7-Year-Old Horses
3rd Glamourdale (Lord Leatherdale x Negro) owned by Van Olst Horses, ridden by Charlotte Fry, 85.070%

Final for 7-Year-Olds
1st Glamourdale ridden by Charlotte Fry, 87.050%