RELEASE: June 23, 2016
AUTHOR/ADMINISTRATOR: USEF Communications Department
Rotterdam, The Netherlands – The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team of Shelly Francis, Laura Graves, Kasey Perry-Glass, and Steffen Peters got off to a strong start in Nations Cup competition in Rotterdam Thursday. With strong performances from all members of the team, the U.S. sits in second on 226.92, behind the home team of The Netherlands, who lead on a total of 231.58. Thursday’s Grand Prix was the first of two days of Nations Cup competition; the event concludes on Saturday with two members of each team competing in the Grand Prix Special and two members in the Grand Prix Freestyle.
Led by Chef d’Equipe Robert Dover, the U.S. Team drew second in the order of seven teams and began the day under rainy skies that eventually let way to sunshine. Shelly Francis (Loxahatchee, Fla.) and Patricia Stempel’s Doktor were the lead-off combination for the U.S., scoring 70.680%. Kasey Perry-Glass (Orangevale, Calif.) and Diane Perry’s Goerklintgaards Dublet were able to overcome a couple excitable moments to deliver a solid test that scored 74.580%. Team veteran Steffen Peters (San Diego, Calif.) rode Four Winds Farm’s Legolas 92 in a confident performance that earned a 76.040% from the judging panel. Placing second overall in the Grand Prix were Laura Graves (Geneva, Fla.) and her own Verdades on a score of 76.300%. The Netherlands’ Hans Peter Minderhoud won the Grand Prix with a score of 79.240% aboard Glock’s Johnson TN N.O.P.
On Saturday, Graves and Perry-Glass will contest the Special, while Francis and Peters will represent the U.S. in the Freestyle.
Complete CDIO5* Grand Prix Results
CDI3* competition will begin with the Grand Prix on Friday, when the U.S. will represented by Allison Brock and Rosevelt, Francis and Danilo, Arlene “Tuny” Page and Woodstock, and Peters and Rosamunde.
The CDIO5* Grand Prix Freestyle can be watched live on FEITV.org. For further livestream information, visit chio.nl/live.
