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| Angelica Augustsson and Midtown du Tillard with Rolex's Magali Dubois Vaucher. By Roland Thunholm/FEI. |
Swedish hearts were bursting with pride as a bright young super-star was born in the Scandinavium Arena at Gothenburg, Sweden, (27 Feburary 2011) where local girl Angelica Augustsson galloped to victory in the penultimate qualifying round of the 2010/2011 Rolex FEI World Cup leg. There was an outpouring of emotion in the aftermath and even hardened German veteran Ludger Beerbaum, who slotted into third behind Australian runner-up Edwina Alexander, expressed his amazement at having taken part in one of the most thrilling competitions seen on the international circuit in recent history.
"For any sport it is fantastic to see very talented up-and-coming young people and what we saw today was the cream," he said. "It doesn't come better than this and we will remember today for a very long time."
Course design praised
Dutch course designer Louis Konickx earned high praise from riders all weekend and produced another master-piece for the final test of the show, which culminated with 12 combinations going through to the jump-off. Three home riders were among them, but the first of these Douglas Lindelow, 21, and Talina left the door open when hitting the penultimate oxer while fellow-countryman Peder Fredricson was eliminated with H&M Arctic Aurora Borealis after a fall at the fifth fence.
Angelica, however, immediately lifted Swedish spirits with a stunning run as third drawn on Midtown du Tillard. This 11 year old Crusing mare looked a handful to ride in Friday's feature class.
"She's not very organised on the flat but she really wants to clear the fences," said Angelica, 24, who came home in 33.69 seconds to really put it up to the rest of them.
Couldn't be caught
None could catch the leaders. Switzerland's Hansueli Sprunger and Kepi de Valse produced the next clear round two horses later, but was more than two seconds off the pace, while Ludger gave it his best shot with Gotha but was still more than a second slower.
After a run of faulting rounds, last to go Edwina Alexander set off with a fast pace on Ciske van Overis who seemed to thrive when allowed to increase her speed enabling her rider to snatch second spot in showed 34.08 seconds.
Emotional
Angelica couldn't hold back the tears during the prize-giving ceremony.
"I didn't expect this at all," she said afterwards.
But after steering her black gelding Walter 61 into runner-up spot behind Frenchman Philippe Rozier in Saturday's Grand Prix, third-placed Ludger Beerbaum predicted that it wouldn't be long before this young Swedish talent would enjoy her first major success. He didn't expect it would be so soon however.
"This was a really fantastic day for our sport," he said. "It was the way Angelica did it, winning in front of her home crowd. It was very special and I am very happy to be part of it."
Angelica has been working for horse agent Dietmar Gugler in Germany for the past four years and her story is an inspiration to young people hoping to make their way in this tough sport.
As a child she helped in the local riding school to earn riding lessons and when she was nine years old, she started riding with the Zetterman family and joined Alexander and Daniel on the pony circuit.
"My family isn't wealthy, so I never had a horse of my own but we rented stables and I rode horses for different people, including some for the Zettermans," she explained.
It was while trying out horses at Gugler's yard four years ago that he spotted the intuitive talent she is now displaying. So he offered her a job and she has made her way up the levels of the sport with help from trainers Ted Netterkvist and Gerry Mullins.
"This is my first 5-star show, my second time riding Midtown over a 1.60m track and my second time asking her to gallop against the clock," said Angelica. "I don't know what to say"
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