2004 CDIO Aachen

Anky van Grunsven Writes History By Winning Aachen Grand Prix Championship

July 21, 2004

For the first time in the 106-year old history of the CHIO Aachen did a Dutch dressage rider win the Aachen Grand Prix Championships. At the 2004 CDIO Aachen, Dutch rider Anky van Grunsven placed second in the Grand Prix and won the Special and Freestyle, claiming the overall championship title as well. Aboard the Hanoverian gelding Salinero (by Salieri x Lungau), Van Grunsven received the monster score of 83.65% and kept her biggest competitor, Ulla Salzgeber, behind her.

"I've never won in Aachen, so this is a new victory for me," Van Grunsven said exuberating with joy. Van Grunsven owed her Aachen victory formost to her ability to ride absolutely errorless tests. Salinero was not overheated, he looked more relaxed and confident in his work.

Riding her "Esprit des Chansons" freestyle, Van Grunsven excelled in riding smooth piaffe passage transitions and lovely pirouettes.

Van Grunsven rode a 100% clean score and thanks to Stephen Clarke's 3% and 5,5% point advantage in comparison to his Ulla Salzgeber's score, Van Grunsven took the lead in the CDIO Grand Prix kur and won the overall 2004 Aachen Grand Prix dressage championship.

With her Aachen victory added to her list of achievements, Anky is at the moment the gold medal favorite at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens next month. But this adds no pressure on Van Grunsven's shoulders. "I already won the gold once and I don't expect Salinero to win it. I just want to enjoy the show and ride for a medal; which color doesn't matter," Van Grunsven said.

Text and Photos copyrighted: Astrid Appels/Eurodressage - No reproduction allowed