Minderhoud and Flirt win Reem Acra round in Stockholm

The Netherlands’ Hans Peter Minderhoud reigned supreme in the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2015/2016 Western European League qualifier at Stockholm in Sweden today. The 42-year-old rider who, with Glock’s Johnson, claimed team gold and individual bronze at this summer’s FEI European Championships in Aachen (GER), steered another of his powerful string, the 14-year-old Glock’s Flirt, to victory ahead of host nation stars Patrik Kittel and Watermill Scandic. And it was a great day for the Dutch when Adelinde Cornelissen lined up third with the Jerich Parzival who won back-to-back Reem Acra titles in 2011 and 2012.

Eager to do well
Talking about his win this evening, Minderhoud admitted that he was “very eager to do well. Last year here in Stockholm I won the Grand Prix, but I had to settle for second place in the Freestyle,” he pointed out. However he felt victory was well within reach this time around. “I knew it was possible because we won yesterday, however yesterday the scores were very close so I couldn’t be sure, especially with Adelinde and Parzival and Patrik with Scandic in such good form.”    He said he had been encouraged by the sight of the winner’s prize. “When I saw the orange car in the corner of the arena I thought – hey, a Dutch person should win that! – and this is the first car I’ve ever won!” the delighted Dutchman said.