Frank Hosmar’s faithful campaigner Alphaville N.O.P. came back from the brink to score a poignant individual bronze in the World Para Dressage Championships results table – 10 years on from his first team appearance.
Frank and the evergreen 17-year-old have been a fundamental part of the Dutch team as the nation’s strength in para dressage has grown, winning medals at every single senior championship from 2012 onwards.
A decade ago, this partnership were fresh from collecting their first medals as a combination – individual and freestyle bronze — at the London Paralympics. Fast forward to 2022, and the duo have another bronze to add to their dazzling career haul, after scoring 75.26% in the Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Championships results.
But the Dutch rider revealed that just to be here with Alphaville is the real victory.
“It is a miracle that I am here with Alphaville,” said Frank, who owns the horse with A Hosmar-Keekstra and Adelinde Cornelissen. “This winter he was so sick, and the vets recommended that I put him down. He is my best friend so I had to try and save him.
“I fought really hard for him, he has been my partner since he was four years old and now he is 17. It was a long way back for him but I am so happy with my result here today in the arena – the best thing is that Alpahville is back and here with me.”
Belgium’s Michèle George and her double Paralympic gold medal-winner Best Of 8, who she co-owns with Camille Vangheluwe and Wendy Laeremans, were crowned individual champions, scoring 76.42% to take the world title.
The margin between silver and bronze was eye-wateringly close in this grade V individual competition, with Britain’s Sophie Wells and Don Cara M, owned by Roland Kinch, securing silver by a margin of 0.02% over the Dutch combination.
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