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With Permission Anky® Anky Ranked #1 on BCM Standings Olympic Medals 1992 - Barcelona World Championships: 1998:
WEG - Rome
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Netherlands
Schooling in the Olympic Arena 9/12 When the Dressage Team arrived this morning in Horsley Park it was a complete surprise for them to find out the head stadium was open for schooling. Yesterday the Australian and American Eventing riders got the possibility to ride in here. This was because they just arrived last Monday and hadn’t got the chance for schooling in the stadium last week. The Australian Event Team couldn’t bring their horses to the Horsley Park until the quarantine for all foreign horses had come to an end. The same is true for the American event team who arrived a month ago and was in quarantine in a stable north of Horsley Park. While the two event teams were schooling in the head stadium yesterday some other riders snuck into the ring with them. Because this was unfair to the rest of the teams the officials allowed schooling for all teams between 9 and 12 today. This was a nice surprise for the Dutch dressage riders and they were very happy. Vet Check 9/25, Draw on 9/24 9/12 Despite
all the requests from riders, trainers and other concerned parties the vet
check will not be changed to the 24th, but stays on the 25th. Everyone
preferred to jog the horses on Sunday, two days before the competition. As
compensation for this the officials will be holding the draw for riding
times on Sunday. Normally it is never the case that the draw takes place
before the vet check. For better preparation for the riders it is good to
know on which day (the 26th or the 27th) and what time they will be riding
the Grand Prix. The schedule will now be as follows: Team Trainer Jürgen Koschel still has his arm 9/12 Today Jürgen almost had to go on living without his right arm. When arriving at Horsley Park this morning Ellen Bontje was really restless to go train Gestion Silvano. She slammed the sliding door of the new super deluxe Olympic car with a big bang. Unfortunately at the same moment Jürgen remembered he forgot his bag and went to reach for it. You can guess what happened next. The door nearly crushed his right arm. At first it looked horrible, but after visiting the doctor in Horsley Park the final prognosis was swollen and bruised with a haematoma. Luckily no broken bones or torn tendons. Anky to Carry the Dutch Flag in Opening Ceremonies 9/13 “During the Opening Ceremony this Friday the Dutch flag will be carried by Anky van Grunsven”. This was announced during the packed press conference held at Holland Heineken House this afternoon. Anky:” I’m very honored, it is one in a million chance to carry the flag in an Opening Ceremony.” By the way this is not Anky’s first time to have this honor. “When I was riding as a little girl in the pony club, I carried the flag during the parade on top of my pony. Unfortunately Bonfire can’t help me this time.” No equestrian rider has ever carried the flag for Holland and this gives nice support to this discipline. After this announcement Anky was mobbed by the press and became busy giving interviews. Also attending the press conference were Ellen, Arjen and Coby; they too gave interviews. Foltaire Doing Well 9/13 Foltaire, Günter Seidel's mount, is recovering really well. He has started light training and is expected to compete. Today hundreds of volunteers arrived in Horsley Park, apart from the FEI stewards who arrived earlier in the week. You see these groups of volunteers everywhere, being trained in their new jobs. Approaching this Friday is the Opening Ceremony. The riders have to be in the Olympic Village already at half past three. This will be a long wait for the riders, but it will be worth it, especially now they know that Anky is carrying the flag. Coby Enthusiastically Greets the Prince 9/13 Prince Willem-Alexander, the heir to the Dutch Throne, was present at the press conference in Holland Heineken House this afternoon. Coby van Baalen has a warm place in her heart for the Prince. At the exact moment she set her eyes on the Prince, she didn’t think twice and rushed up to greet him. The Prince, as usual surrounded by his bodyguards, was shocked when an unknown person, dressed in orange, quickly approached. The bodyguards reacted as if she was a terrorist by pouncing on the Prince to protect him. Fortunately it appeared to be an overenthusiastic Coby van Baalen and everything ended up happily after all. Witness to this all was Frank Garritsen (Arjen’s partner) and captured it all on video. Copyright © Dressage un Ltd. All rights reserved.
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