Danish dynamic quartet takes team gold at ECCO FEI World championship in Herning

Blue Hors FEI World Dressage Team Championship Grand Prix paved the way for a young vibrant Danish team with four riders that made history on home soil landing gold in front of an enthusiastic crowd.

The four championship heroes all made close to their best performances in the team class, it is not every year a winning team has a drop score of 76.6 percent, nothing short of impressive.

The field of teams that were closing in on the podium places were after three riders more than a handful throwing the home nation Denmark, Germany, Great Britain in the mix with the Netherlands and Sweden for a while giving the team class quite a bit of suspense. The battle for the podium places were incredibly tight.

The much-awaited debut in the championship from Charlotte Dujardin and Imhotep, called Pete, made the Stutteri Ask Stadium to go completely silent in awe. She produced an amazing ride on the 9-year-old gelding giving Great Britain a boost with a score of 77.41 percent.

Daniel Bachmann-Andersen threw his fist in the air to state how immensely happy and proud he was over his partner for the championship Marshall-Bell. Germany’s third rider was the most decorated dressage rider to date Isabell Werth. With yet another horse she made a result worthy of a German championship team and scored 77.18 with DSP Quantaz.

Going into the last group of riders’ nerves were beginning to show on the faces of team members eagerly watching and awaiting the results. Great Britain’s last rider, young Charlotte Fry on her magnificent black stallion Glamourdale, really put pressure on the competition by a very good score of 80.84 percent. As last rider for the home nation and a crowd that really rooted for her, Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour was under pressure but performed as a seasoned gladiator; calm, cool, collected with razor sharp focus with her valiant steed Vamos Amigos. In a beautiful ride, the 10-year-old gelding showed his classical elegance and rhythm setting every movement perfectly on the spot under the guidance from Laudrup-Dufour. They entered the last halt, and the spectators went wild, score 81.86 percent and Denmark in the lead.

"Thank you to the audience – you rocked the arena to perfection. I was a bit nervous; I am always a little nervous. But today I calmed Nathalie and Kyra and told them; we can do this. My horse was nothing short of amazing. I feel so immensely proud for what me and my team members have done, we are all so proud of our achievement" said Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour with a smile on her face, reaching from ear to ear.

Last rider for Germany was championship debutante Fredric Wandres with his Duke of Britain FRH. A lot was riding on his shoulders, and they produced a good ride, but a few mistakes crept into the performance, they scored 76.66 percent. The German team thus secured a bronze medal keeping Great Britain in a silver position.

"Going out last for a team like Germany is of course pressure but we always have pressure. To ride for German team at a championship has been a childhood dream for me since I was a little boy. I am very proud that me and my horse made it into the team, that is not an easy task, and on to the podium, it is a dream come true.".

After receiving medals and cheers from the crowd the winning team and silver and bronze medalists performed a lap of honor on their horses.

The three teams make for shift in the dressage world with many new and younger riders in the mix and a considerable number of young talented Grand Prix horses that will be talked of in the years to come. Best on the field of play was the four Danish riders’ bringing gold to a proud community of dressage enthusiasts on home soil.

Quotes from riders.

Danish team rider Nanna Merrald Rasmussen
“We have not really grasped the fact that we have won yet. It is still unbelievable, and I was shaking like a leaf when Cathrine was riding.
It is amazing to finally have the margins on our side and actually win.”

Danish team Carina Cassøe Krüth

“I am married to one of the organisers, so I have had this championship under my skin for the last three years and of course I wanted to participate myself.”

Danish team Daniel Bachmann-Andersen

“My two teammates paved the way ahead of me in a fantastic way and my horse did his very very best and it is really cool to do a personal best with him here today. I am so very proud of our team and what we have achieved.”

Danish team Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour

“I heard Lottie Fry’s score in the warm-up so I knew the pressure was on, but I actually thrive under pressure and love to perform under such conditions.”

British team Charlotte Dujardin

“Everybody has asked me what I expect from my horse Imhotep, stable name at home is Pete, and I have given the same answer: I have no clue because he basically has not been anywhere. He is such a good one and I have great hopes for the future.”

German team Isabelle Werth

“We expected to be in bronze position, we knew we were not the favorites this year, but we all did a good job. We all felt and knew the Danish team were the favorites’ and I always know that Charlotte Dujardin brings something special to the competition. It has been a very open competition, great tension, and good sport.”

Notes

On the start list for Sunday was initially 46 combinations with 19 teams in the line-up. Two riders were eliminated during or after their ride by the judges or at tack control.

Link to final individual results, for detailed scores click on (DETAILS) for each combination
https://www.longinestiming.com/equestrian/2022/ecco-fei-world-championships-herning/resultlist_D1-I.html

Link to final team results

https://results.hippodata.de/2022/2124/docs/d1-tfinalresult.pdf

Judges in the team competition, seven judges serve on championships

JUDGES:

K - Anne Gribbons (USA)

E - Susanne Baarup (DEN)

H - Peter Storr (GBR)

C - Christof Umbach (LUX)

M - Elke Ebert (GER)

B - Mariette Sanders - v. Gansewinkel (NED)

F - Raphaël Saleh (FRA)

JUDGES SUPERVISORY PANEL:

David Hunt (GBR)

Mary Seefried (AUS)

Henk van Bergen (NED)

The 30 best riders from the Blue Hors FEI World Dressage Team Championship Grand Prix will take part in the Grand Prix Special on Monday at 13:30.

Blue Hors FEI World Dressage Grand Prix Special Championship

https://results.hippodata.de/2022/2124/docs/herning_2022_-_startlist_d02_grand_prix_special.pdf

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