Dutch championship
The Dutch Championship was somewhat beheaded by the absence of Emmelie Scholtens and Desperado N.O.P. (v. Vivaldi) in the freestyle final, but that does not mean that the Dutch title in 2022 will go less deserved to Dinja van Liere and Hermès. Silver went to Thamar Zweistra and nine-year-old Hexagon's Ich Weiss, followed by Marieke van der Putten with Tørvesletten's Titanium RS2. The victory in the freestyle of the Dutch senior championship is also the first freestyle victory for Hermès and Dinja van Liere. The combination was very close in Germany twice (last year in Aachen and this year in Hagen), but the win went to a German combination both times.
In the Grand Prix in Ermelo, Van Liere and Hermès still had to settle for second place just behind Emmelie Scholtens and Desperado N.O.P.. Scholtens had to cancel (one hour before her start time) because Desperado was not fit, so the track was free for Van Liere . But then it just needs to happen. Hermès ran one of his better freestyles in Ermelo (Equivalent to Aachen 2021) with two mini heels (piaffe-step transition and a miniscule error in one series of twos) and received 83.155% (81.325-84.15%) from the jury. That added to the 77.956% from the Grand Prix made a total of 161.111 and by far (more than 10%) the championship win. Of course we liked the competition with Emmelie and Desperado N.O.P. that would have been exciting.
Big Tour
It was an exciting battle for the Bronze medal between our stallions Johnny Depp and Dante U.S.
In the 1st ZZ-Zwaar class, Renate van Uytert sent our KWPN stallion Johnny Depp to a 3rd place with a score of 73.05%, followed by Just Wimphof with a score of 72.29%. In fifth place another Van Uytert stallion, Dante U.S. (by Dante Weltino) under Diederik van Silfhout with a nice score of 71.714%. This talented stallion is only 6 years old! So a total of three Van Uytert stallions in the top 5 in the ZZ-Zwaar: Johnny Depp, Just Wimphof, and Dante U.S.
Our eight-year-old Johnny Depp (by Bordeaux) came in the freestyle under Renate van Uytert to 75.192% and a sixth place. The good score from the first part (73.047%/3rd) ensured that the stallion achieved Bronze in the Championship. Our half brother to Total U.S., the AES approved six year old Dante U.S. (Dante Weltino x Sir Donnerhall I) came second with Diederik van Silfhout in the freestyle with 76.47. Our stallion, together with Paul Schockemöhle, impressed in Ermelo with his spectacular movements. With the score from the first part (71.714%) the total was a fourth place in the Championship.
Because you can only start one horse in the final, our stallion Just Wimphof rode the small final. With a score of 72.33% there was a big victory.
Juniors
Lara van Nek has already collected quite a few medals (especially among the children) with Fariska of our stallion Vivaldi, but a gold medal at the Dutch Championship was not yet part of the duo's collection. Until today: Van Nek won the freestyle with a PR of 76.158%. That added to the 70.353% from the first part made Van Nek and Fariska Dutch Champion.
Where the twelve-year-old golden Fariska is a real veteran in youth sports, the number two in the championship is absolutely not. Our six-year-old KWPN stallion Lennox U.S. (by Grand Galaxy Win T) took silver under 18-year-old Jill Bogers. The stallion of Joop van Uytert and Paul Schockemöhle scored 75.083% in the Freestyle (3rd place). That added to the 70.252% (3rd place) from the first part, made the combination a total of 145.333. Rowena Weggelaar moved up in the standings after fourth place (69.798%) in the first part, after she scored a PR of 75.192% (2nd place) in the freestyle with Klieveer's Don Quichot of our stallion United.
Reason for joy for Joop van Uytert: not only his six-year-old stallion Lennox took the silver medal, but also the numbers 1 and 3 of the championships descend from his stallions.