Debbie McDonald and Brentina win the Grand Prix.
Photo by Charles Mann |
Brentina
Wins Grand Prix, Takes Lead in WEG Trials
By Stacey Nedrow-Wigmore |
June
8, 2002, Gladstone, NJ--Despite Brentina's breaking out into hives
just two hours before her ride time, Debbie McDonald and the Hanoverian
mare took the gold medal in the second Grand Prix of the selection
trials for the World Equestrian Games (WEG) dressage team. "I
was very emotional at the end of the test," said McDonald after
her second win during the trials with a 71.28 percent. She went
into the test riding a little conservatively, looking for a strong,
clean performance. McDonald said that even though the mare wasn't
feeling 100 percent, "she really came through for me."
Her scores moved her into first place over Sue Blinks and Flim Flam
in the overall standings, with Sunday's freestyle score to count
for the final 15 percent.
Christine Traurig and Etienne took second with 69.96 percent. "I
was really happy with him," she said. "I couldn't have
asked for more." Traurig didn't expect to be in contention
for a team spot since they came into the trials toward the bottom
of the qualifying list. "I just wanted to ride a consistent
test and do a good job," she said. The pair kept their fourth
place standings overall.
Traurig's 2000 Olympic teammate Guenter Seidel and Nikolaus 7 displayed
the bronze medal during the awards ceremony with 67.76 percent.
"I had a disappointing Grand Prix test today," he said.
"Nikolaus came into it today very good and very relaxed. He
just needed a little push to get going, and I didn't do it. He just
slept through the whole test. I'm not used to him being so relaxed."
Their scores dropped the pair from second to third place overall.
Tom
Noone and Fresco withdrew after a fall in the schooling area, and
Shelly Francis and Gala withdrew as well.
Results
Jury:
(E) Trond Asmyr, (H) Hilda Gurney, (C) Linda Zang, (M) Anne Gribbons,
(B) Volker Moritz
Place/Rider/Horse/Total/Percent/3-Day
Total/3-Day Placing
1. Debbie McDonald/Brentina/1782/71.82/60.086/1
2. Christine Traurig/Etienne/1724/68.96/58.230/4
3. Guenter Seidel/Nikolaus 7/1694/67.76/59.530/3
4. Sue Blinks/Flim Flam/1680/67.20/59.626/2
5. Steffen Peters/Grandeur/1664/66.56/56.856/5
6. Guenter Seidel/Foltaire/1617/64.68/55.674/7
7. Cherri Reiber/G Tudor/1608/64.32/53.640/9
8. George Williams/Rocher/1593/63.72/57.570/8
9. Betsy Steiner/Rainier/1586/63.44/56.466/6
10. Susan Dutta/Gumshoes-DC/1565/62.60/52.992/10
11. Lynda Cameron/Orion/1518/60.72/50.882/11
12. Shelly Francis/Gala/Withdrawn
13. Tom Noone/Fresco/Withdrawn
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