George Williams Take Two In the CDI Grand Prix at 2003 Dressage at Devon

Devon's local favorite George Williams returned to Dressage at Devon arena with a big bang. Riding two horses in the CDI Grand Prix tour, Williams won both the Grand Prix for Special and the Grand Prix for Freestyle. Aboard his diva mare Rocher (by Rolls Royce) Williams stayed a category above his fellow competitors. The dynamic duo scored 69.833% in the Grand Prix qualifier for the Freestyle.

"Rocher showed a very nice trot tour, but there could have been more impulsion in the piaffe," Williams said. Williams' ride was mistake free and his mare was attentive to the aids. The total image was one of total balance, and the mare stayed uphill till the end of the test. "I misjudged my warm up a bit," Williams confessed, "I needed five more minutes because I didn't get her as soft as I wanted."

Finishing second in that class was an excellent Cindy Ishoy on Proton (by Patriarch). Ishoy showed a very correct test, but the transitions could have been smoother. The judges gave the Canadian pair a 66.208%. Proton is bred by Hofgut Albfuhren in Germany and was purchased by Ishoy as a five-year old at Ulli Kasselmann's in Hagen, Germany.

Williams' entree at 2003 Dressage at Devon was a big bang as he took his second Grand Prix victory of the day aboard his KWPN gelding Marnix (by Hinault). The recently Grand Prix promoted Marnix scored 66.125% in the Grand Prix qualifier for the Special, easily claiming the lead, the blue ribbon, the trophy and the purse money for that class. Monica Sinks and her Carera followed in second place with 61.167%

"It was Marnix' fifth Grand Prix. He did the best I expected of him," Williams explained. George described Marnix as a horse that has the tendency to internalize his perceptions, often resulting in tension. "He needs to be more comfortable with the environment and with the Grand Prix test," Williams said. Marnix did get a little deep and curled up his neck in the test, but the potential for high scores was there.

George Williams has been training with Klaus Balkenhol in Germany for four months this year. His most important achievement through the tutelage of Balkenhol is that Rocher has become more elevated and through. "Thoroughness has been the core issue," Williams highlighted.

by Astrid Appels

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