A New Story victorious to overall DPC title

LATHUM - It was the NWPCS-approved stallion A New Story (by Jonkers’ Jayden) who came out on top at the DPC finals in Lathum on Saturday, Aug. 24. With a total of no less than 90.5 points, he won the four-year-old class under Bo Leijten - and they set the highest score of the day, with which the combination also won the overall championship.

From judges Paulien Alberts and Marlies van Baalen, A New Story (breeder Mr. Venema) received no less than a ten for his trot. “What a beauty that is,” said Marlies van Baalen immediately after the section. “It was the only ten we gave this day. Other than that, he had almost all nines. A New Story is a super complete pony and he gave a very nice image.” Paulien Alberts adds, “He is already showing a lot of carrying. Bo presented him very nicely, which brought out his natural ability very well.”

Consequently, thirteen-year-old Bo Leijten has nothing but praise for him. “His trot is really not normal,” she laughs. “You don't know what you're feeling. A New Story ran super nice today, he was very relaxed and was right on target.” Last year Bo also won the four-year-old class with her pony Durello (by Diamond Touch). As now, she also had the highest daily score then, winning a saddle for the second year in a row from main sponsor Custom as an overall prize.

Sophie van Norel took second place. She rode the grulloruin Didgeridoo NE WE (by Kastanienhof Donnertrommler) to 84.5 points. The NRPS horse, bred by N. Elias, received a nine for his trot. “Sophie presented him fantastically,” said Marlies. “The combination went through the track very nicely.” Paulien agreed and highlighted some other good points. “Didgeridoo already has a lot of balance and carrying; he is very consistent. The number one had a little more schnitt in terms of type.”

Third place in this class went to Maddy Dijkshoorn with her NRPS trap mare Top Model (by Top Champion, breeder B. Wehrmann). “Top Model is a pony with a lot of looseness,” Marlies explained, “But she was still a little less stable compared to the other two. Maddy presented her very nicely.” “Yes,” also says Paulien. “Really a super fine pony, with a lot of spring and power. She may still gain a little more power.” The combination received 80 points including an 8.5 for the walk and trot.

Extremely good five-year-old leading group

Trudi Houwen, who along with Marlies judged the five- and six-year-olds, raved about the five-year-olds class afterwards. “This was a really good quality group, with an extreme amount of quality in the leading group. We saw a lot of good riders who know how to train.” Marlies is also very positive. “We saw, especially in the leading group, ponies that I expect we will see back nationally and internationally.”

The highest honor came to Bridget Lock, who sent Pronk Stables Geronimo Taonga (by Golden West, breeder W. Bos) to a total of 87.5 points. The NRPS-approved stallion received a nine for his walk, bearing and suppleness, and harmony. “Geronimo Taonga is a pony with a lot of quality, which we think can also score very well in the higher sport soon,” Trudi said. “For a five-year-old he already shows a lot of carrying power and self-carriage. In addition, he can switch well. Bridget presented him super professionally.”

Bridget herself was beaming from ear to ear after the awards ceremony. “Gerrie is fantastic; he's so cool to work with. He is very intelligent, so it is always careful not to ask too much and give him regular time off so he can recover, especially since he also has to combine the sport with stud service. I can still ride him until I turn eighteen next year, so the goal is to bring him out in the Z class.” The combination also won the national title in the M2 cat. D/E at the Hippiade last week.

For Vycho Lurvink, the only rider among all the amazons competing in the final, there was a very nice second place in this class. He rode D&R Sportpony's Night Prince (by Nightfever II, breeder J. van den Berg) to 84.5 points. The also NRPS-approved stallion received a nine for his walk and canter. “Night Prince is a pony who moves through the track with a lot of space and balance in movement,” said Trudi. “In addition, he has a very nice self carriage and although the picture in the bridle is still sometimes a little variable, it is a pony with a very positive attitude.”

Maddy Dijkshoorn took third place here, as she did in the four-year-old class. This time she did so with Cantares Dancer, an NRPS gelding sired by Can Dance. He was bred by S. Struckmann. The combination received 84 points. Highlights on their protocol were the nines for harmony and overall impression. “This combination gave a very pleasing overall impression. Cantares Dancer walked with a very nice, quiet attitude and showed a consistent performance. Trial technique this pony was also already well put together,” Trudi said.

Highest honor for C pony

In the six-year-olds it was the C-pony Wapiti SK (by Der Feine Lord, breeder J. Smits) who seized the gold. Together with rider Sterre Kraaijeveld, the combination scored 82.5 points. “Sterre presented Wapiti very nicely,” says Marlies. “She has a very fine bridle and is very stable in all parts, with a nice self carriage.” This was then also reflected in the marks, with an 8.5 for walk, canter, and harmony.

The combination has had a good season, as last week they became champions in the Z1/Z2 cat. C class at the Hippiade. Two national titles in one week is definitely the icing on the cake, Sterre believes. “Yes, what more could you want? Before the Hippiade we had trained a lot though, so I took it easy with her last week. The day before the final we rode again and again she ran fine. She had some tension at first, but fortunately I could solve that very nicely. Besides, at the DPC it is not so bad if there is some tension or a mistake sneaks in,” she says. “The judges do look through that, and I think that's also the beauty of the competition.”

Suze Meertens sent her palomino gelding Dirty Dancer NF (by Dreidimensional AT NRW, breeder N. Hoogendijk) to 79 points and finished second. The NRPS'er received an 8.5 for his walk and conformation, among other things. “Dirty Dancer is a pony who was presented very correctly and has a good bridle. He has self-carriage and for a four-year-old he already walks nicely uphill. He may gain a little more power in the near future. He has a lot of looseness and body use.”

Like the winner of this class, third place also went to a C-pony, namely the NWPCS gelding Heidepeel's Stitch (by Waxwing Penny Guy, breeder M.J.C. Jansen Bleeker) with Sandy Brammer. Their performance was good for 77.5 points, with eights for canter, carrying and suppleness, overall impression and conformation. “Stitch walked with a lot of power through the track,” says Marlies. “Sandy rode him really nicely!” Trudi adds, “They showed a very nice uphill image. Stitch has a lot of go, but there is also a lot of control. It's a very rideable pony.”

With the dressage finals behind us, the sights are now set on the DPC show jumping finals. This will be held on October 5 in Lathum. Registration can be done directly via dutchponychampionship.nl.

Text: Shanna Alderliesten
Photos: Nysar Media