Saturday, September 30, 2000
News Online

Bonfire's hot display

Anky van Grunsven of the Netherlands, riding Bonfire, set a record freestyle score and beat defending champion Isabell Werth of Germany for the Olympic individual dressage gold medal.

The result reversed the top order from the 1996 games, where Van Grunsven took silver behind Werth. Both have announced their competition veteran horses, both aged 17, will retire after the Olympics.

In an energetic and mistake-free freestyle test, Van Grunsven earned 86.05 percent for a combined score of 239.18 from the three days of competition.

The president of the judge panel, Eric Lette of Sweden, announced later that Bonfire’s 86.05 percent was a record freestyle score in a major competition.

PETER WATTS
Sunday Times