The Danish team winning the FEI Nations Cup in Compiègne
PART OF PRESS RELEASE
The World Team Champions, Denmark, took the Nations Cup at the Compiègne Internationaux de dressage, at the end of a day that also saw the success in the Freestyle of the individual World Champion and current World number two, Charlotte Fry.
The large number of spectators who came and filled the stands this Sunday at Compiègne’s Grand Parc equestrian stadium were treated to a great display of top level sport by a line-up that included five of the World's top ten.
Four months before the FEI European Championships in Riesenbeck (Germany, from the 4th to the 10th of September), Compiègne’s 5*CDIO Nations Cup was particularly eagerly awaited. The opportunity for riders not only to convince their selectors, but also to impress the judges.
Denmark, crowned World Champions last summer at home (36 points - the addition of the placings of three team members in each class), held-on perfectly to its overnight lead, triumphing ahead of the Netherlands (41 points) and Germany (45 points). It succeeds Sweden, who were the winners at the last two editions but who only managed 4th this year (50 points). ‘’We came here as part of our preparations for this year's major events, notably the European Championships," commented the Danish chef d’équipe Anne-Mette Binder. ‘’We’d chosen an experienced pair in Carina Cassøe Krüth and Heiline's Danciera, but also two other pairs made up of experienced riders but with horses that are not yet familiar with the top level. Today, despite a few mistakes at the beginning of the test, the riders managed to stay calm and I’m really proud of the team. After coming here two years ago, it was really super to return Compiègne. The stadium is superb and the atmosphere is excellent.’’
In the lead from the Grand Prix on Saturday, the Danes consolidated their position this Sunday morning in the Grand Prix Special - the Prix Barriquand. Despite a few mistakes in her test, Carina Cassøe Krüth, who rode her top horse, the mare Heiline’s Danciera, ensured hierarchy was respected. Already victorious on Saturday in the Grand Prix, she once again won over the judges and left the rectangle on a score of 76.107%. The World n°6 finished ahead of the Dutch rider Lynne Maas on Electra (74.596%) and Germany’s Bianca Nowag-Aulenbrock on Florine Old (73.234%), both of whom set personnel bests in the Special. ‘’I had a lot better feeling today than yesterday in the Grand Prix," analysed Carina Cassøe Krüth. ‘’Yes, I made two big mistakes which cost points but that's sport. We’ve a really strong team because it's not the same one as at the Worlds and yet despite this, we won. We’ve still got a lot of horse and rider combinations. This shows the strength of dressage in Denmark’’
In the Freestyle Grand Prix - Prix Ville de Compiègne, Lone Bang Zindorff on Thranegaardens Rostov validated Denmark’s success with a 4th place (77.390%). The World number 2 (with Glamourdale, the horse that gave her the World title in 2022), Great Britain’s Charlotte Fry partnering this weekend her 14 year old KWPN stallion Everdale (winner of the Grand Prix at Compiègne in 2021), was victorious in this last class of the competition with a superb test rewarded with the well deserved score of 85.675%! She was accompanied on the podium by Sweden’s Patrick Kittel, one of the most loyal competitors to this Compiègne event, on Touchdown (82.875%) and the Dutch Thamar Zweistra on Hexagon's Ich Weiss (79.445%).
The home nation, France, in a particularly tough context, finished in 6th place. Even if the objective was slightly more ambitious, the French clan left Compiègne satisfied for several reasons. ‘’The riders have worked well and they’ve been recompensed for it," commented Jean Morel, national selector. ‘’There’s still a lot of work to be done, both for the horses and the riders, but we’ve a homogeneous team and that pulls everyone upwards, without a ’pack leader' which suits me just fine as it avoids relational problems. The team is in the process of being formed but it will certainly further evolve as other riders are still coming forwards’’
Monique Marini: « We're very, very happy’’
It was an excellent edition," said Monique Marini, president of the competition. The packed stands on Sunday are a wonderful reward for the work undertaken by the entire organising team and all the people who contribute to the success of this event. A big thank you to all our partners, whether institutional or private. Thank you also to all the volunteers. We created this event to promote dressage. I think we’ve succeeded because today, dressage fills the stands. From a sporting point of view, the line-up this year was exceptional with several riders in the World top 10. Quality but also quantity because it’s rare to have ten teams entered in a 5*CDIO. It’s real recognition. We’re very, very happy. Roll on next year! "