By Louise Parkes
It was smiles all round in Stockholm, Sweden today where Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven clinched victory in the Reem Acra FEI World Cup⢠Dressage qualifier on home turf for the second year in a row. Riding the brilliant Don Auriello, the 46-year-old rider headed The Netherlandsâ Edward Gal and the exciting Glockâs Voice, while the Dutch duo of Hans-Peter Minderhoud and Glockâs Romanov slotted into third.
It was an important day for Vilhelmson-Silfven, underpinning the strength of her relationship with the 11-year-old gelding who continues his impressive upward curve of confidence and capability. It wasnât all plain sailing, with a few stumbles interrupting an otherwise excellent performance, but such is the quality of this horseâs work, and of his belief in his rider, that they quickly recovered to come out on top.
Sweden fielded five of the 15 contenders in todayâs class, but it was Denmarkâs Nanna Skodborg Merrald and Millibar who finished fourth ahead of Germanyâs Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and Unee B in fifth.
These two young riders are making a big impression this season, the former also finishing fourth on home ground at the opening leg of the 2013/2014 Western European League qualifying series at Odense in October, while von Bredow-Werndl has been making her presence felt in every leg so far.
Source: FEI.org
