Beautiful weather for day 1 at Ullevi Stadium in Gothenburg, where the atmosphere was pure excitement whether you were at the press center or catching up with the riders or trainers - everyone were excited and ready for the Championships to start.
As expected the Germans were strong from the start, and Helen Langehanenberg and Damsey proved why they were selected for the team with a 74,985% individual top score, followed by her teammate Dorothee Schneider with Sammy Davies Jr. with 74,585%.
Both German ladies delived strong tests and with their experiences they are able to make "the guided tour" quite easy for their horses. When you try to make a kind of re-view from the two test, it´s all about top timing. For Damsey a test without any technical issues, but where Helen maybe didn´t get the full respons in the piaffes today, and for Dorothee she was also showing a bit of compromise for her first piaffe, and like Helen she also managed to do her test without any major issues.
Swedish Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfvén and Rose Mathiesen were representing their country at home soil today. Unfortunately there were not many spectators at the huge grandstand at Ullevi Stadium to cheer on their country men. For Rose Mathiesen and Zuidenwind it became a test with to many issues along the way, keeping them away from a really steady and harmonius overall picture. Tinne managed to show her not very flashy or expressive Paridon Magi in a very safe and controlled way, and not exactly as high ranked as no 4. For sure her canter tour carries her test.
Diederik van Silfhout is a true championship rider. And it is a pleasure to watch how he has been able to develop Four Seasons over the last months. Diederik is able ask for maximum and Four Seasons respons him fully. Also Patrick van der Meer and Zippo were showing great form, eventhough Zippo also delivers his best, he is a horse with a kind of limited package, with maximum outcome for his rider.
The Danish team
It is no secret that the Danes are very high ranked if your asking at the press center. Talking about the medals Denmark is mentioned everytime for a top spot - of course behind the Germans.
So for that reason, but also from the form and qualities they are here at the Championships with, they will for sure be a major player when the final part of the team competition starts tomorrow.
From today´s two Danish combinations Agnete Kirk Thinggaard with Jojo AZ and Anna Zibrandtsen with Arlando the Danish national team coach Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein tells: "I´m very satisfied about today´s results. Agnete really had her ride of her life together with Jojo AZ, pity with the error at the zig-zag, as I have never seen Jojo as motivated and active as we saw him today. Anna Zibrandtsen and Arlando delivered a top job, unfortunately with a rider error by the two time tempies, but the rest was top quality. I must say day one here with the Danish team ranked as no 3, just makes day two even more exciting," says Nathalie.
And from young Anna Zibrandtsen herself was today´s test again something special. "Arlando is just a very very special boy, he always try to do his best."
Anna show Arlando in an easy steady and light form, where he just dances lightfooted all the way. And with the sharp eyes the average scoring from the extended walk was today 6,3, which was a very good and well deserved score.
Who will get the Silver and the Bronze tomorrow?
It is a very open Championship with Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden around the same results from today, and not to forget Britain which only showed one combinations today, and will show both Spencer Wilton/Super Nova and Carl Hester/Nip Tuck tomorrow.
Quote from Carl Hester about Danish Dufour and Cassidy after watching them at the training today: "No one can show an outline the way she can show her horse - it´s just amazing."
