MSJ Freestyle & Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour - photo: Krisitine Ulsø Olsen/Laudrup-Dufour
Debut in Frankfurt
It was Cathrine and Freestyle´s first ever performance in Frankfurt this weekend, and it became a weekend for the history book in more than one way. It is exactly two years since Cathrine and Freestyle made their debut together in Kronenberg, and today they performed a new Personal Best with impressive 91,085%.
First of all it was Top12 debut in Frankfurt as Stockholm was not able to continue to host this high class competition. When Werth heard about the issue, she reached out to Frankfurt organiser Matthias Rath and Top12 became a reality.
Huge support from sponsors
When watching the prizegiving ceremoni it was impressive with the support from sponsors for the sport. The total price money for today´s final was impressive 250.000 euro with 65.000 euro for the winner, 50.000 euro for 2nd placed and 45.000 euro for 3rd place.
Top 3 - photo: Kristine Ulsø Olsen/Laudrup-Dufour
Top 3
The competition today became with a very special top 3. No doubt Justin and Zonik Plus World no 1 were favourites, but could he keep Werth and Wendy behind, and where would Cathrine and Free be?
Werth and Wendy showed a super strong performance with lots of highlights but unfortunately an error for 1 times.
Super entry, strong start with piaffe/passage, super half passes, super piaffe turn, half pass passage, WOW piaffe and transitions, super extended walk tour, tiny tension collected walk, strong canter start super pirouette, good 2 times, nice extensions, could show bit more suppleness hind for 2nd pirouette, error for 1 times, no joker line, beautiful final passage/piaffe tours WOW. 87,165% - all 5 judges with them as no 3.
MSJ Freestyle & Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour came to the freestyle final with a 3rd place in the Grand Prix. When entering the crowed electric arena they looked super confident and focused.
Strong start, at the aides, super balanced piaffe, smooth power extension, supple half pass right, passage half pass left, super piaffe turn out into passage half pass right, super half pass left uphill supple, super in and out of super piaffe at the spot with activity and balance, active collected walk, to piaffe turn, to canter pirouette, WOW, tiny flat extended canter super back to pirouette, super 2 times, super 1 times at diagonal waiting for the music, super priouette, super half passes canter, extension super, into extended walk, super relaxation, into collection and then double pirouette, to piaffe pirouette to other side - OUTSTANDING NEVER SEEN THEM BETTER!!!! 91,085% with judges placement 2 - 1 - 2 - 1 - 1, with only 3 point difference up to the winner Justin Verboomen and Zonik Plus.
To underline H2R statement above Cathrine´s long time trainer/”professor” Kyra Kyrklund made this post ⬇️
It was Cathrine´s victory today unfortunately not fully reflected at the scoreboard.
Cathrine also told after today´s performance: “I´m incredible proud. For the first time Free and I truely melted together. It was a very touching moment.”
Focus
Justin keep improving together with his young partner Zonik Plus, and it is with very very strong competition every time he enters the arena. No doubt that Isabell, Cathrine or Lottie any time wants to take over the winner seat.
Just 1 year ago Justin and Zonik Plus entered the international scene, and now with 13 international victories including Aachen and individual Europan Champion.
Bit open halt, from there a smooth expressive powerful and harmonious trot tour, crusing in and out of piaffe and passage, supple half passes, good walk tour, WOW pirouette! good 2 times on curved track bit tense, WOW pirouette just sitting and cantering, good line of 1 times, WAUW double pirouette to piaffe turn opposite way, passage toward final halt. New Personal Best 91,195% (89.964% European Championship 2025).
Besser geht Dressur nicht
“Harmony and Fairness price” went to Isabell Werth and was decided by the spectators.
From Christoph Hess his Harmony and Fairness price went to Danish Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour. As he explain during the interview he had kind of goosebumbs when watching her performance with MSJ Freestyle. What was special: “She was able to bring calmness into her performance, with high degree of difficulty and creativity in her coreography. The way Cathrine was able to make the combination of piaffe and pirouettes at the centerline was second to non,” said Hess.