Isabell Werth (GER) claimed her first FEI Dressage World Cup™ qualifier victory of the season straight away with Wendy de Fontaine, delivering a Freestyle score of 86.155%. While not a personal best, it was more than enough for a clear win and marked Werth’s second consecutive win in Basel. Home athlete Charlotta Rogerson (SUI) caused a real sensation with Bonheur de La Vie, producing two personal bests and finishing second on 81.290%. Raphael Netz (GER) and DSP Dieudonne completed the podium in third, further strengthening their lead in the FEI Dressage World Cup™ standings.
With Dressage firmly established on the programme in Basel in recent years, the impressive and towering St. Jakobshalle continues to attract ever-growing crowds. With three Swiss athletes competing, the stands were frequently filled with waving red-and-white flags and an enthusiastic home audience.
Strong performances before the break
Before the interval, Delia Eggenberger (SUI) produced a solid Freestyle with Fairtrade (owned by Isabelle Ros), marred only by a small mistake after the final extended canter on her joker line. The gelding showed clear expression in piaffe and passage, though there is still room for more sit. Their performance earned a score of 73.185% and eighth place, bringing them back for the prize-giving.
Just ahead of them, Morgan Barbancon (FRA) and Sir Donnerhall II OLD (owned by the athlete and Marie Carmen Mestre Pons) had already won the crowd’s applause. Riding to a Freestyle with a French theme, Barbancon’s now 20-year-old stallion proved he is still very much on form. With no major errors and many demanding sequences, though at times with a slightly unstable contact, the combination finished seventh on 74.930%.
Before the break, Dominique Filion (NED) impressed with The Boss (owned by Bas Reesink). Only recently stepping onto the World Cup circuit, the Dutch athlete followed up a very strong fifth place in the Grand Prix by climbing one position higher after a very polished Freestyle. Their score of 76.785% marked a new personal best and secured fourth place.
Harmonie and confidence rewarded
Just behind Filion, Svenja Kämper-Meyer (GER) finished fifth with her home-bred mare Amanyara M FRH (owned by Hans-Jürgen Meyer). The light-footed mare responded to the smallest of aids, and the harmonious picture was underlined on the final centre line, which Kämper-Meyer rode entirely one-handed. Their Freestyle was rewarded with 76.420%.
"Wendy was really on fire yesterday. I’m happy that today she was so much more focused. ”
Isabell Werth
(GER)
After a very strong fifth place in the Grand Prix, Bettina Kendlbacher (AUT) drew the final starting position in the Freestyle with Broadmoars Don Alfredo AWÖ (owned by Broadmoar KG). The always happy chestnut continues to gain strength in piaffe and passage, but a few small hiccups in the canter tour slightly affected the technical score. The pair finished sixth on 74.995%.
Home hero Rogerson thrills Swiss crowd
Perhaps the loudest applause of the day was reserved for the runner-up: Charlotta Rogerson (SUI) and Bonheur de La Vie (owned by the rider and James Rogerson). Competing in front of a home crowd, the pair achieved personal bests in both the Grand Prix and the Freestyle, with their 81.290% marking the highest Swiss Freestyle score in many years. Finishing second on both days, the 28-year-old athlete could hardly believe what had unfolded over the weekend.
“It’s incredible. I still don’t really realise what’s going on. Bonheur is an amazing horse and we are starting to understand each other better and better in the arena. I’m so grateful to have this opportunity, grateful for this horse… this is a dream coming true. I still need to pinch myself.”
Werth back on top with Wendy
Shortly after Rogerson, it was time for world number three Isabell Werth (GER) and Wendy de Fontaine (owned by Chateau De Fontaine and Madeleine Winter-Schulze). For Werth, Basel marked her first FEI Dressage World Cup™ appearance of the season and only her second competition after a longer break with the mare.
“Wendy was really on fire yesterday. I’m happy that today she was so much more focused. We only started a little bit tense in the canter. I think we need a few more competitions in a row to get where we want to be. The piaffe, passage and canter pirouettes were fantastic today. Her little sneeze in the one-tempis caused a mistake, but today I got my two-tempis right,” Werth smiled, referring to the error in the Grand Prix.
Werth will ride DSP Quantaz, with whom she won in Basel last year, at the qualifier in Amsterdam (NED), before travelling on to the qualification in Wellington (USA). If everything falls into place, her plan is to target the Final in Texas (USA) with Quantaz.
Netz strengthens World Cup lead
Third place also went to Germany. Current FEI Dressage World Cup™ standings leader Raphael Netz (GER) presented an impressive Freestyle with DSP Dieudonne (owned by Sonja Kristina Krall), with the piaffe and passage showing clear improvement. The extended gaits of the 13-year-old gelding were a clear highlight.
“We really enjoyed our freestyle. Today Dieudonne was focused, which isn’t always the case. This is only his second World Cup competition and he still needs to get used to arenas like this and such big crowds. I enjoy riding this amazing horse every single day.”
With his third place in Basel, Netz now sits on 59 points in the World Cup standings, further consolidating his lead. Austria’s Bettina Kendlbacher moves up to fourth place overall.
The next FEI Dressage World Cup™ qualifier will take place in Amsterdam on 23 and 24 January, so don’t miss a hoofbeat.