With two beautifully executed tests, Chantal Nijpjes and the mare Norelfee underlined the high level in this 38th edition of the dressage competition for the Steketee Gouden Ruif. This is a competition of PC De Scheldestad in Vlissingen.
The rider from Sint Laurens sent the five-year-old Impersario daughter to victory in M1 twice in a row with the appealing scores of 70.33 and 70.16 percent. Norelfee made her debut in this class. “What a great horse to ride,” Nijpjes said. “Norelfee came to our stable two years ago as a rookie. It is a very willing horse. No mare strokes. If you trust her and convince her, she will do anything for you. And I’m doing pretty well.”
“This is only Norelfee’s second time away from home,” the rider continued. “Last year I started her once in L2 and we also achieved scores of above 70 percent. Today for the first time started in M1 and again she showed herself very well. Especially in the extensive corridors she formed a nice picture and we scored high points.”
The Walcheren rider is very satisfied with the mare so far, but according to her there is much more to it. “Norelfee has all the makings of a good dressage horse. She has good basic gaits. She has a lot of potential for the trot and canter and can collect wonderfully. Truly a horse for big work. But that takes time. Norelfee is still young and not exterminated. She still needs to get stronger and gain competition experience. I ride her for breeder Benno van Gist and he puts no pressure on me. So I don’t have to force anything and I can follow my own schedule. I will now ride her for a few more competitions in the M level. She will soon turn six and we will move on to Z1.”
Overall winner
Ivanna Kleijn became the surprising winner of the Golden Ruif with the gelding Maxx Factor Ddl. The rider from Grijpskerke sent the six-year-old Franklin son to victory twice in a row in class B with 69.50 and 68.66 percent. The difference in the overall ranking with the number two, Claudia Witte from Vrouwenpolder with the Desperado daughter Omara TC, was only 0.2 percent.
“I definitely didn’t expect this,” was Kleijn’s response. “I could only have competed in two races and you had to compete in at least three… So this was my last chance. Claudia had previously won the L class with 71.33 and 68.33 percent, so the pressure was enormous. But It worked. Maxx deserves all the credit. I’ve only been driving it for six months. He is a horse with a great character and he went for it. He was completely focused on me and I felt he ran two flawless tests.”
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Tags: Chantal Nijpjes hitting high level rookie Sports Zeeland
