Fantastic sport at the BB Horse Arena

The Para Dressage riders showed us their a-game in today’s freestyle finals at the ECCO FEI World Championships

Italian Sara Morganti dancing for gold

With her horse Royal Delight Sara Morganti were in the zone today at BB Horse Arena riding her final test in Herning. They danced together in their test, following their music and fulfilling a dream. The combination took a medal at the European Championship in Herning in 2013 and now rode good enough for gold, scoring over 80 %.

Silver medalist Rihards Snikus and his horse with the fitting name King of the Dance made a tiny mistake in a volte and that most likely cost him too much. Together they danced to among other tracks Spanish influenced tunes of “La Camisa Negra”. Bronze medalist Michel Murphy and his horse Cleverboy were equally pleased with their performance. Michael was over the moon about this week’s achievement, winning two bronze medals during his time at Herning2022.

Quote from Sara Morganti, Italy, Gold medal

”It is hard to say if I could have done more. I am very happy with because I did what I wanted to do. I always say that if I leave the Field of Play feeling like I have giving it my all at this moment in time – then I am always happy. I felt that I was with my music today. Everything went really well here in Herning, it has been a fantastic week. “

Grade I
Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Individual Championship presented by JYSK Prize podium with medals

Gold: Sara Morganti with Royal Delight 17-year-old gelding by Royaldik, 80,653 %

Silver: Rihards Snikus with King of the Dance 14-year-old gelding by Kadius LS, 78.400 %

Bronze: Michael Murphy with Cleverboy 15-year-old gelding by Vivaldi, 78.387 %

Judges presiding in Individual Championship for Grade I
E - John Robinson (GBR)
H - Jeannette Wolfs (NED)
C - Katherine Lucheschi (ITA)
M - Suzanne Cunningham (AUS)
B - Kjell Myhre (NOR)

Link to result Grade I

Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Individual Championship presented by Elsass Fonden

Danish Katrine Kristiansen owns Grade II with another gold medal

From day one of the championships, Danish Katrine Kristiansen has been riding almost in a league of her own despite seasoned rivals in the class. In the individual championship she left the competition behind her, producing a flawless test for over 80 %. She thanked her horse for the success throughout the week.

Runner-up Lee Pearson was pleased with his ride and how his horse coped with the atmosphere in the arena but perhaps not equally thrilled with his score. Still, Lee Pearson goes back home to Great Britain with another silver medal and written into the para-dressage history books yet again by mesmerizing the crowd. The big podium surprise was bronze medalist Georgia Wilson who came with a new fresh and young horse and did a super freestyle being championship debutante as well. She was truly delighted and very proud to have contributed to the British medal tally.

Quote Katrine Kristensen, Denmark, Gold medal
“It was a bit hard for me as I was a little bit in front of my music, I had to think really hard on what to do next. I am so satisfied with Quater today because he was really calm, very much with me in the arena. I did some more difficult exercises in my floorplan, for example a half-pass. It has been an amazing experience for me with such a new horse. The medal ceremony for the teams was nothing short of amazing. This week will stay with me forever.”

Grade II
Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Individual Championship presented by JYSK Prize podium with medals

Gold: Katrine Kristensen (DEN) with Goerklintgaards Quater 14-year-old gelding by Quaterback, 80,354 %

Silver: Lee Pearson (GBR) with Breezer 11-year-old gelding by Bacardi, 77.860 %

Bronze: Georgia Wilson (GBR) with Sakura 8-year-old mare by Supertramp, 75.834 %

Judges presiding in Individual Championship for Grade II
E - Jeannette Wolfs (NED)
H - Katherine Lucheschi (ITA)
C - Suzanne Cunningham (AUS)
M - Kjell Myhre (NOR)
B - Marco Orsini (GER)

Link to result  Grade II
Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Individual Championship presented by Elsass Fonden

Danish Tobias Thorning Jørgensen excels with personal best score

He was one of the favorites from the start and 22-year-old Tobias Thorning Jørgensen had a lot of expectations resting on his young shoulders. Tobias and his mare Jolene Hill fulfilled every expectation and even going further in a very fluent test with numerous highlights, scoring 10’s in several movements as well as in choreography and music and interpretation. With a new personal best of over 86 % Tobias left the rivals way behind him, grabbing his third class-victory, second gold medal as well as team silver.

Silver medalist Lotte Krijnsen was really happy about making it to the podium but also a bit surprised. She felt already after her test that it was a good ride, and her mare gave her a really good feeling in the ring, making her enjoy herself in the arena. Bronze medalist Natasha Baker has numerous medals, but it was her first bronze ever. She is taking with her the ability to trust in her mare Keystone Dawn Chorus; “She took care of me today,” she said after her ride.

Quote Tobias Thorning Jørgensen, Denmark, Gold medal

”Everything went exactly as I wanted it in today’s test, I am so pleased. It is a new personal best, about two percent above my previous one on around 84 percent. I am so pleased with my ride. I am very proud of my horse, going in here in this heat, giving me more and more, being with me every step. She just kept going and going, such an amazing mare.”

Grade III
Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Individual Championship presented by JYSK Prize podium with medals

Gold: Tobias Thorning Jørgensen (DEN) with Jolene Hill 14-year-mare by Blue Hors Schufro Hit, 86.513 %

Silver: Lotte Krijnsen (NED with Rosenstolz 16-year-old mare by Rotspon, 76.673 %

Bronze: Natasha Baker (GBR) with Keystone Dawn Chorus 11-year-old mare by Dimaggio, 76,62  %

Judges presiding in Individual Championship for Grade II
E - Katherine Lucheschi (ITA)
H - Suzanne Cunningham (AUS)
C - Kjell Myhre (NOR)
M - Marco Orsini (GER)
B - Kristi Wysocki (USA)

Link to result Grade III
Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Individual Championship presented by Elsass Fonden

Sanne Voets reign supreme on top of Grade IV

She came, she rode, she won – none of her rivals could follow Sanne Voets up in the scores as she reigned supreme in grade IV. Together with Demantur RS2 N.O. P she danced in the arena and thrilled the crowd with a soft and harmonious performance. If Sanne winning gold was highly expected the silver medallist was a very welcome surprise. American veterinarian Kate Shoemaker rode her young and unexperienced mare in a beautiful test, dancing together and scoring over 80, a personal best for them.

Bronze medallist Rodolpho Riskalla had all in the crowd mesmerized as he got the crowd dancing in the seats together in his last dance with Don Henrico. Rodolpho is retiring his partner of many years while he is on top of his game. It was a very emotional Rodolpho expressing his gratitude towards his horse; “He has taken me all around the world, I owe him everything.”

Quote Sanne Voets, Netherlands, Gold medal
“I am so proud of my horse Demantur and I am so immensely fond of him. We have not had the best season, but I am so happy that he really gave his all for me here at the last day. I have not yet had time to process my ride, it is all so emotional.”

Grade IV
Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Individual Championship presented by Elsass Fonden

Prize podium with medals

Gold: Sanne Voets (NED) with Demantur RS2 N.O.P. 14-year-old gelding by Vivaldi, 82.485 %

Silver: Kate Shoenmaker (USA) with Quiana 8-year-old mare by Quaterstern, 80.275 %

Bronze: Don Henrico (BRA) with 19-year-old stallion by Don Frederico, 78.385 %

Judges presiding in Individual Championship for Grade IV
E - Kjell Myhre (NOR)
H - Kristi Wysocki (USA)
C - John Robinson (GBR)
M - Marco Orsini (GER)
B - Jeannette Wolfs (NED)

Link to result  Grade IV
Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Individual Championship presented by Elsass Fonden

Riding like a queen – Michèle George took gold

Belgian super amazon Michèle George has ruled grade V from day one of the ECCO FEI World Championship and with her magnificent mare Best of 8 they have painted a very pretty picture in the arena. Today they really danced together to catchy tunes and rode a flawless test even though Michèle spoke about initial tension it was not visible for the bystanders. Riders feel every heartbeat of their horse, so no doubt was George right.

As runner-up and in third placing some very seasoned and decorated medalists resided. In silver position was the amazing Alphaville and his knight Frank Hosmar and they pulled out all the stops in today’s freestyle and rocked the arena to some real catchy tunes from the 80’s era. Bronze position went to Sophie Wells and her beautiful gelding Don Cara M scoring so very close to the 80 % after a beautiful and harmonious test that brought out applause from the spectators.

Quote Michèle George, Belgium, Gold medal

“My mare behaved like a queen, and it was very difficult with the show jumping going for medals, she was very tense, but I managed it and she settled. I am very proud to have shown the harmony and to be really dancing, I tried to convince the judges and it really worked. My first days here were very tense but my felt my mare growing every day. My main motto is to enjoy my horse and not think so much about medals, after all it is the reason why I started to ride way back when. I adore my horse.

Grade V

Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Individual Championship presented by Elsass Fonden

Prize podium with medals

Gold: Michèle George (BEL)with Best of 8 12-year-.old mare by Bonifatius, 82.86%

Silver: Frank Hosmar (NED) with Alphaville N.O.P. 17-year-old gelding by Sandreo, 80.775 %

Bronze: Sophie Wells (GBR) with Don Cara M 13-year-old gelding by Don Jovi, 79.255 %

Judges presiding in Individual Championship for Grade V
E - Suzanne Cunningham (AUS)
H - John Robinson (GBR)
C - Jeannette Wolfs (NED)
M - Kristi Wysocki (USA)
B - Katherine Lucheschi (ITA)

Link to result  Grade V
Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Individual Championship presented by Elsass Fonden

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