NEWS FROM THE FEI WORLD CUP™ DRESSAGE
Neumunster (GER), 21 February 2010

Photo Caption:  The Dutch partnership of Edward Gal and
Moorlands Totilas recorded their third win in the 2009/2010 FEI World Cup™
Dressage series at Neumunster , Germany today. 

TOTILAS IS UNTOUCHABLE AGAIN AT NEUMUNSTER

Edward Gal's sensational run in the 2009/2010 FEI World Cup™ Dressage series
continued at Neumunster in Germany today where he recorded his third victory
with Moorlands Totilas as they continue to take this sport by storm. 
Wherever he goes, the record-breaking 10 year old black stallion lights a fire
of excitement, and the capacity crowd at the German venue could hardly contain
their excitement when witnessing him in action on their home ground.  Neumunster
is in the heart of Holsteiner country, and jumping is very much the local
passion.  But Totilas carries a spell-binding quality that captures the
heart of every horse-lover, and the roar of approval from the 4,800 spectators
in the Holstenhallen as this special horse stole the limelight once again told
the full story.

Gal's Dutch team-mate, Adelinde Cornelisen finished second with Jerich Parzival
and Germany 's Isabell Werth slotted into third with Warum Nicht FRH ahead of
Denmark 's Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein in fourth - exactly the same positions
they had all filled in Saturday's qualifying Grand Prix. 

HELD THE LEAD
There were 15 starters in today's competition, and it was The Netherlands'
Jeannette Haazen and the 15 year old Nartan who held the lead at the halfway
stage with a mark of 75.15%.  However, with just five left to go, Gal and
Totilas dramatically re-set the parameters when posting 87.60% on the
scoreboard.  "There were some small mistakes in the one-tempi and
some mis-steps too, but I was really happy with our performance today" Gal
said afterwards.  "The passage and piaffe were marvellous and we did
a really good extended trot - it felt even better than Amsterdam because the
horse was not stressed like he was there, this time he was much happier"
he added.

Denmark 's Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein and Digby produced another excellent
performance for a mark of 77.50% when next into the ring, while Germany 's
Carola Koppelmann and the 17 year old Le Bo scored 76.80% to move temporarily
into third.  However the final two riders would change the order once
again.

NERVOUS TENSION
Second-last to go was Cornelissen with the chestnut Jerich Parzival whose
brilliance can sometimes be undermined by nervous tension in the ring.  At
Neumunster the spectators are very close to the edge of the arena, but despite
the intense atmosphere and the fact that he had never visited this venue
before, the gelding rose to the challenge to achieve a score of 82.50%. 
And when Germany 's Isabell Werth and Warum Nicht FRH were just over a point
further behind it was a Dutch one-two at the top of the result sheet.

Werth was pleased with her 14 year old "Hannes". She said "in
the last six months he has grown in character and in confidence, and today he
was much more concentrated". Cornelissen said she was very happy with her
second-place finish.  "We had a few mistakes, but I think Parzival
coped very well and I'm delighted with him".  She no longer shares
the lead at the top of the FEI World Cup™ Dressage leaderboard however, as
today's win has rocketed Gal way out in front with a total of 75 points. 
Along with his hat-trick of wins he also took second place with the mare
Sisther de Jeu at the opening leg in Odense , Denmark , last October.

There is huge competition in the Dutch camp because only three Dutch riders
will be permitted to compete in the final at 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
next month and just a few points separate Cornelissen - now lying second on the
leaderboard with 58 - from Imke Schellekens-Bartels in third with 55, Haazen in
fourth now carrying 50 and multiple-champion Anky Van Grunsven who lies fifth
47 points.  The next leg in Gothenburg , Sweden in seven days time will
therefore be crucial.

ROUSING RECEPTION
Gal commented today on the rousing reception that he and his winning horse
received at Neumunster . "Yesterday we got a standing ovation, and today
it was crazy during the prizegiving - the crowd was fantastic and its wonderful
to ride a horse that is so loved by so many people." He knows that, with
Totilas, he can afford to make some mistakes and yet still win a competition,
but he insists he does not allow himself to become complacent.  "I
don't take anything for granted, we all have some difficult days and you don't
know the result until after the test is over -  after all he is still a
horse!" he pointed out.

The last qualifying opportunity in the 2009/2010 FEI World Cup™ Dressage series
takes place in Goteborg , Sweden next weekend 26/27 February.  For all
information on the Swedish fixture check out website www.goteborghorseshow.com
or contact Press Officer Mayvor Thorin, Email - mayvor.thorin@gotevent.se,
Phone - +46 705 82 84 20.

RESULT:  1, Moorlands Totilas (Edward Gal) Ned 87.60%; 2,
Jerich Perzival (Adelinde Cornelissen) ned 82.50%; 3, Warum Nicht FRH (Isabell
Werth) Ger 81.40%; 4, Digby (Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein) Den 77.50%; 5, Le
Bo (Carola Koppelmann) Ger 76.80%; 6, Nartan (Jeannette Haazen) Ned 75.15%; 7,
Triviant (Matthias Alexander Rath) Ger 74.85%; 8, Apollo van het Vijverhof
(Jeroen Devroe) Bel 73.60%; 9, Donatha S (Ellen Schulten-Baumer) Ger 72.80%;
Equal 10, Favourit (Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven) Swe 72.10% and Gredstegards
Casmir (Sune Hansen) Den 72.10%; 12, Edwador (Katarzyna Milczarek) Pol 71.85%;
13, Hinnerk TSF (Hubertus Schmidt) Ger 71.80%; 14, Sal (Nuno Palma e Santos)
Por 69.15%; 15, Florian (Pierluigi Sangiorgi) Ita 67.50%.

2009/2010 FEI WORLD CUP™ DRESSAGE - STANDINGS after Round 8 at
Neumunster (GER) - (Provisional)
1.    Edward Gal 75
2.    Adelinde Cornelissen  58
3.    Imke Schellekens-Bartels  55
4.    Jeanette Haazen  50
5.    Anky Van Grunsven 
47
6.    Matthias Alexander Rath 45
7.    Isabel Werth 44
8.    Monica theodorescu  41
9.    Aat Van Essen  38
10.    Nathalie Zu Sayn-Wittgenstein37
10.    Jeroen Devroe   37
12.    Carola Koppelmann  36
12.    Patrik Kittel 36
14.    Laura Bechtolsheimer   32
14.    Hubertus Schmidt  32
16.    Hans Peter Minderhoud  30
17.    Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven  27
18.    Peter Gmoser  25
19.    Catherine Haddad  24
20.    Ellen Schulten-Baumer 21

Full standings at http://eventcontent.hippoonline.de

FACTS AND FIGURES:
15 horse and rider combinations competed in today's competition
8 nations were represented - Germany , The Netherlands, Denmark , Sweden ,
Belgium , Poland , Portugal and Italy .
The judging panel was : at E - Mariette Withages; at M - Katrina Wust; at R -
Peter Holler; at B - Leif Tornblad and at C - Wim Ernes.
This was the 60th anniversary show at Neumunster .
The Neumunster arena was first opened in 1936.

QUOTES:
Edward Gal - "I feel that my horse (Moorlands Totilas) is getting more
confident all the time:
Isabell Werth - "What is special about competing at this show in
Neumunster is that every rider who comes into the ring is greeted like an
Olympic champion!"
Isabell Werth - "Today I was very happy with the passage and piaffe from
Hannes"

WEBSITE: http://www.reitturnier.de/index2.htm

Western European League Calendar 2009/2010:
1 Odense (DEN), 17 – 18 October
2 Lyon (FRA), 29 – 30 October
3 Stockholm (SWE), 28-29 November
4 London Olympia (GBR), 15-16 December
5 Frankfurt (GER), 19-20 December
6 Mechelen (BEL), 26-27 December
7 Amsterdam (NED), 22-23 January
8 Neumünster (GER), 20-21 February
9 Göteborg (SWE), 26-27 February
FINAL 's-Hertogenbosch (NED), 25-27 March
 
FEI World Cup™ Dressage, the only worldwide series in this
discipline, has entered its 25th season. The series, created in 1985, comprises
four leagues: Western European, Central European, North American (including
Canada ) and Pacific ( Australia , New Zealand , Asia ). Each FEI World Cup™
Dressage qualifier consists of a Grand Prix test , which in turn is a
qualification for the Freestyle to music competition, where league points are
accumulated towards places in the Final. Judged on both technical and artistic
merit, the FEI World Cup™ Dressage combines art, sport and partnership between
horse and rider at the highest level and consistently proves a winning formula
with audiences all over the world.
 
Technical Note: The FEI World Cup Dressage™ Champion does not
earn points in his/her starts but is automatically qualified to the next Final
with two FEI World Cup™ Dressage qualifiers completed. Riders not belonging to
the Western European League (WEL) or Central European League (CEL) cannot earn
points in the WEL unless they have declared to compete in the WEL 2009/2010.
These riders may however transfer the results from a maximum of three (3) WEL
qualifiers to their own League. Points earned by CEL riders will be transferred
to the CEL standings.
 
THE COMPLETE RULES CAN BE DOWNLOADED FROM www.feiworldcup.org
 
The Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), founded in 1921,
is the international body governing equestrian sport recognised by the
International Olympic Committee (IOC) and includes 133 National Federations.
Equestrian sport has been on the Olympic programme since 1912 with three
disciplines - Jumping, Dressage and Eventing. It is one of the very few sports
in which men and women compete on equal terms. It is also the only sport which
involves two athletes - horse and rider. The FEI has relentlessly concerned
itself with the welfare of the horse, which is paramount and must never be
subordinated to competitive or commercial influences.