Anky wins again

April 4, 2004

Anky van Grunsven won the FEI World Cup Final for a record breaking sixth time in Duesseldorf today with her new star Gestion Salinero. The Dutch rider was the unanimous victor with all five judges, and on 83.45 per cent, scored three per cent higher then her pupil Edward Gal who took runner up position on the Dutch stallion Gestion Lingh.

"I could not believe it could go so well", said van Grunsven, who admitted to feeling nervous at the start of her winning freestyle, which was the nine year-old Salinero's best performance yet. She had to wait for both Gal and Guenter Seidel (USA) to ride before her victory was confirmed and joked afterwards that she had told Gal he could be very good as long as he did not beat her!

For Edward Gal, this was a thrilling result at the Dutch rider's first ever FEI World Cup Final. He said: " It was great just to be here. I had a good feeling in Friday's Grand Prix, and in the freestyle Lingh was even better."

For third place, German rider Hubertus Schmidt produced a harmonious performance with the mare Wansuela Suerte to narrowly beat his compatriot Heike Kemmer and Bonaparte.
All the finalists scored over 70 per cent. Dr Volker Moritz, the judge at C, commented: "It was a fascinating competition, fantastic sport. Everyone went better than in the grand prix and the winners produced both power and harmony."