Bökeberg, Sweden –

Anky van Grunsven was named reserve champion at her first FEI event, the CRI1* Swedish National Championships in Bökeberg - a qualifier for the World Equestrian Games (WEG).

The horse she rode at the championships is Whizashiningwalla BB, owned by the standing NRHA Non Pro European Champion Cira Baeck's Eifel Gold Ranch Baeck in Belgium.

Van Grunsven said afterwards that "the basics of dressage are the same as in reining. There really is not a major difference at the very basic level

"As a matter of fact, there is much we have in common. While I wish that some of the smart things from reining could be adopted by dressage, like the clear and straight-forward Reining scoring system, the two sports are similar in the desire for an enhanced and refined display of horsemanship," van Grunsven said.

The Sweden National Championship Concours de Reining International (CRI)were a great  success, despite halted European air traffic.

Vital to the qualification process for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG), representatives from across Northern Europe scrapped their stifled air travel plans as volcanic activity in Iceland caused chaos and closed airports across the continent.  Instead, riders drove into beautiful Bökeberg facility in hopes of gaining the compulsory scores necessary for the increasingly intense effort to make their respective national reining teams for the much anticipated WEG.

 Saturday - The first competition on Saturday evening brought high energy to the Bökeberg arena as the reining athletes attempted to achieve their requisite scores for qualification.  Taking top honors was Mona Göransson representing Sweden aboard Mega Jac Dance and the large crowd on-hand was excited to cheer on their native champion and proudly hear the Swedish anthem at the close of the competition.

It was Sweden to fill out the podium with reserve champion Helen Hokkanen aboard Whizards Enchantress and third-place Peter Ljungberg competing with Blue Dry Peppy, both riding for Sweden.

Fourth place honors went to three-time Olympic gold-medal dressage legend Anky van Grunsven, who made her initial FEI voyage in the sport of reining showing Whizashiningwalla BB on behalf of The Netherlands and completing the top-five standings in the competition was seasoned FEI competitor Sanne Skovrider of Denmark was riding Lil Spin.

 Sunday – More FEI reining action returned to the Bökeberg facility with second chance to gain national qualification and the result of the competition was even more dramatic than the day prior.

After the second place horse from Saturday, Whizards Enchantress, was eliminated in the early morning horse inspection, the starting field was recharged with possibilities for the top placings. 

In the class, riders gave a full effort and the resulting scores revealed a tie for first place between Saturday’s champion, Mona Göransson for Sweden riding Mega Jac Dance and famed dressage icon, turned reiner, Van Grunsven  Both of a highly-competitive nature, it was decided that a run-off would determine the ultimate champion in the international-level class. 

With a quick drag of the arena and a few minutes to once again prepare, Göransson and Van Grunsven thrilled the audience as they enthusiastically supported each rider’s second effort.  Set to music including “Mission Impossible” and “Under Pressure” Göransson and Van Grunsven each left everything in the arena with the final result of the run-off in Göransson’s favor by a mere one-point spread.

Third-place honors went back to Sweden with Ruf Deal, piloted by Johan Svensson making the podium complete.  Fourth and fifth were Tove Schmidt and Helene Hokkanen showing Chic Diesel Olena and Sheza Flybaby, respectively.

Europe now turns its attention to Holland for the next FEI Coucours de Reining International and one of only a few remaining qualifying competitions.  This, while qualifying competitions are also taking place in North America at the National Reining Breeders Classic in Katy, TX as well as in South America at the Esprito events in Brazil.

The AQHA, on behalf of its international affiliate, the Swedish Quarter Horse Association, has supplied major funding of the Bökeberg event as a part of the Association’s continuing effort to increase exposure and awareness of the American Quarter Horse around the world.  FEI reining events are one of the ways the Association views as a high-impact approach to accomplish this goal.

With files from: fei.org and Horsetalk NZ

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