Charlotte Heering, Nanna Skodborg Merrald, Anne-Mette Binder, Cathrine Dufour and Daniel Bachmann Andersen - photo credit: H2R/Christine Prip
Denmark back at the podium
Great sport and high quality made the right podium at yesterday’s final part of the team competition at the European Championships in Hagen.
For nearly all podium combinations there were some hiccups during their tests.
Isabell Werth and Weihegold OLD - photo credit: H2R/Christine Prip
🥇Germany
For the Germans both Dorothee Schneider and Helen Langehanenberg were struggling with some technical issues from their test the first day, and going into 3rd slot with the team after day 1 was a new situation for the German team, but said that the two strong ladies Werth and Bredow-Werndl were determined to secure another team medal. Werth and Weihegold did performe a good test, but with an error for the two times, very limited walk tour and the last sparkling piaffe tours were missing, and from the sideline a very well scored test.
TSF Dalera BB and Jessica did their thing and they are on very good form coming back from Tokyo, and with an errorfree high quality test without full power they secured the German gold.
Britain’s Charlotte Fry with Everdale just finished their top performance day 1 at the European Championships - photo credit: H2R/Christine Prip
🥈Great Britain
Day 1 top performance was from British Charlotte Fry with KWPN stallion Everdale. They both looked very motivated and fresh going into another big championship and they just delivered a top performance and personal best with 77,671%. Tokyo reserve combination Gareth Hughes with Sintano van Hof Olympia showed a polish and effortless test and as always very balanced and discret aides from Gareth.
Carl and Charlotte were both performing good tests but with some minor issues for both of them. For En Vogue with Carl Hester it was a few tensions and an error for the 15 one time tempis at the diagonal, while Gio looked a bit tired body wise with some minor mistakes for the canter tour but still very well scored.
Cathrine Dufour and Bohemian - photo credit: H2R/Christine Prip
🥉Denmark
Denmarks Tokyo reserve combination Bufranco with Charlotte Heering going into the team competition with holding box from the vet check and luckily 2 hours before the start with a ✅ ACCEPTED from the re-inspection. They were showing a good test but clearly missing more power for the piaffe tours and with an error at the end of the 1 times.
Former Olympic silver medalist 16 year old mare Atterupgaard´s Orthilia and Nanna Merrald has only been at start two times before at international level back in Salzburg in January and Hagen in April, but Nanna really showed her skills also taking over this top mare and performed a super test without any technical issues, keeping Tille supple and well balanced all the way in a light frame. Only disturb for the overall picture is the often open mouth. Nanna and Tille posting Personal Best score with 75,078%.
First to go for Denmark day 2 was just 9 year old Danish Warmblood gelding Marshall-Bell with Daniel Bachmann Andersen. Since they entered the international arena together in April the big well moving gelding has develop impressively. The team Grand Prix was their just 5th international Grand Prix and personal best with impressive 76,366% - no exercise weaknesses and clearly potential for +80%.
Bohemian and Cathrine Dufour was last to go for the Danish team and they really showed a fantastic test trending 83% before going into the zigzag, best ever outline and trot extension, but unfortunately Bohemian seems to be a bit hind the aides and missing a clear change between the half passes, and then again after almost finishing the first canter pirouette Bohemian it looks as if Cathrine has to remind him being in front of her and he kind of over react to her aides - two expensive mistakes but still a bronze medal secured for the Danish team.