Floriscount / San Amour I / Fürst Heinrich
International small tour and big scores from Deauville
Thursday - Prix Sct. Georg
Full result of PSG here.
Friday - Grand Prix
Full results of GP here.
Saturday - Grand Prix Special
Full results of Grand Prix Special here.
Grand Prix freestyle
Full result of Grand Prix freestyle here.
Sunday - Inter I freestyle
Full result Inter I freestyle here.
Grand Prix consolation
Danish Team for WEG selected
Danish national team coach Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein has named the 4 combinations representing Denmark at WEG in Tryon.
- Cathrine Dufour / Atterupgaards Cassidy
- Daniel Bachmann Andersen / Blue Hors Zack
- Betina Jæger Jensen / Mane Stream Belstaff
- Anders Dahl / Selten HW
Reserves are:
- Anna Zibrandtsen / Arlando
- Rikke Svane / Finckenstein TSF
News at Danish national federation today here.
VIDEO of Werth - Who was going to win Deutsche Bank Prize Grand Prix Dressage of Aachen 2018?
No absolute top favorite
Never ever in the history of CHIO Aachen has Sunday´s Grand Prix freestyle been so open.
Who was gonna take home this very special and prestigious title in 2018?
Weekness from Werth and Emilio in the Grand Prix and weekness from Graves and Verdades in Grand Prix Special. Solid quality performances from Dufour and Perry-Glass in both tests.
But Werth was back on track at took her 12th Deutsche Bank title - this woman is just impressive.
Some H2R notes about today's Grand Prix freestyle
- It did not look like a 100% Emilio as the extended walk became short / long hind, and the final transition at M was stocked.
- Verdades started out very hot but settled well during the test. Highlight from H2R point of view was trot half passes and pirouettes, many thing between is not really shown with relaxation and use of the top line.
- More well deserved ribbons for Danish Daniel Bachmann Andersen and Blue Hors Zack. As Daniel stated after CHIO Aachen 2018 "this was my biggest and most exciting experience ever".
- Dufour was just placed as 4th due to some disagreement from the judging panel. Three judges had her correct placed as no 2.
- Deep Impact with Severo Jurado Lopez did an outstanding freestyle which unfortunately just one of the judges rewarded today. It was a clear 83-84 level test.
- Emmelie Scholtens and Apache fully focused all the way. Lovely contact and super obedient.
See the entire results here.
Cathrine Dufour and Atterupgaards Cassidy - Dressage Champion of Aachen 2018
Dufour with another chapter for the Danish Dressage history
It was of course a great surprise for Cathrine when she realized that she has become the best overall performer together with Cassidy at CHIO Aachen 2018.
It was also a very close race with another Danish Warmblood, Gørklintgårds Dublet and American Kasey Perry-Glass, and also keeping both Werth and Graves behind as they both had one "offday".
Pure famous names at the list of former Dressage Champions of Aachen:
- 2017 - Weihegold OLD / Isabell Werth
- 2016 - Desperados FRH / Kristina Bröring-Sprehe
- 2015 - Valegro / Charlotte Dujardin
- 2014 - Damon Hill NRW / Helen Langehanenberg
- 2013 - Damon Hill NRW / Helen Langehanenberg
- 2012 - Desperados FRH / Kristina Bröring-Sprehe
- 2011 - Totilas / Matthias Alexander Rath
It was of course a great surprise for Cathrine that she became the best overall performer together with Cassidy. But also a very close race with another Danish Warmblood, Gørklintgårds Dublet with American Kasey Perry-Glass, and also keeping both Werth and Graves behind as they both had an "offday".
VIDEOS - Aachen with Danish combinations in top including Spains Severo Jurado Lopez
Today was another proud moment for Danish dressage
The two Danish top combinations Cathrine Dufour/Atterupgaards Cassidy placed 4th (84,835%) and Daniel Bachmann Andersen/Blue Hors Zack placed 6th (82,195%), while Danish based Spanish rider Severo Jurado Lopez/Deep Impact finished as no 8 (81,125%).
Even though the Australian and American judges unfortunately not agreed about Cathrine Dufour and Atterupgaards Cassidy for today's well deserved 2nd place, it was still clear from the British, German and Danish judges that her freestyle and level was obviously above the two American combinations.
The only small issue today was when Cathrine is going through the corner preparing for the one times, Cassidy is just a split second quicker than Cathrine, and he remember of course the trot transition in the Grand Prix. For sure Dufour is more than annoyed by herself today, as this was a pure rider error.
Daniel Bachmann Andersen and Blue Hors Zack just proved their strength ones again today with a top level freestyle, and still a small room for improvements.
Severo Jurado Lopez and Deep Impact showed a strong freestyle with high degree of difficulty and without any technical issues. Exactly the Danish judge saw the test at the level where it should have been - 83,750%.
3rd part of CDIO Grand Prix Special with strong combinations
First to go after the break was Danish Daniel Bachmann Andersen with KWPN stallion Blue Hors Zack. It was a top motivated combination with full focus all the way. The trot/passage tour were with power and expression, and it is clear that Zack really has gained super strength for the passage tour which are regular with good quality, the first piaffe is a bit cautious while the 2nd is with better energy and balance, super nice canter tour where you really get the feeling that Daniel is able to attack the series making them huge, with nice ground cover divided over the full diagonal, unfortunately a bit too motivated for the ones at the centerline as there were two extra today. 75,00% - and their first individual ribbon at Aachen.
Next to go was Dorothee Schneider with Sammy Davis Jr. showing a strong test, small disturb at one extended trot - something dangerous at the long side and error at 15 one times. rest with power and expression with super timing.
Dante Weltino OLD with Therese Nilshagen showed their best test to date, not from the scoring but today's series were clearly improved as they were more uphill than usual. Lightness and power is a very difficult combination, but Therese is managing the powerful stallion with the lightest aides and even a bit too light contact sometimes.
Cathrine Dufour and Atterupgaards Cassidy never disappoint and today with another top test, just a small issue for one extended trot where Cassidy jumps into canter, but from there a very solid and accurate test, where the transitions are spot on the letters. When watching the placements from the judges Danish judge H.C. Matthiesen actually had the "correct" top with Helen Langehanenberg as winner, Dufour 2nd, Kasey Perry-Glass 3rd and Werth as no 4.
Today Laura Graves were struggling with an even more tense Verdades than in the Grand Prix. It looked as if Verdades have seen the same at the long side as Sammy Davis Jr. did, but unfortunately he nearly ran away twice, of course some costly mistakes, and with an error for the two times, but also clearly missing the relaxation for the piaffe / passage tours today.
Kasey Perry-Glass shows herself and her Danish Warmblood gelding Gørklintgårds Dublet as best American combination. Fully controlled and balanced test with flow and go, keeping the high standard all the way with a super focused Dublet without any technical issues.
Helen Langehanenberg WOWs again today with Damsey. Super sharp nearly 80% test, with just some tiny issues for a couple of transitions, but lovely suppleness, easy light contact and obedient Damsey all the way. And this horse just does the extended walk for a very clear 10 as also rewarded, but unfortunately only from two judges.
See the entire results here.
Team results
List of nominated combinations for Bundeschampionate - More success for Danish HP Horses at Elite mare show in Rastede
2nd part of CDIO Grand Prix Special with Werth and Emilio back on track
Severo Jurado Lopez and Deep Impact - photo credit: H2R
Timing timing and timing
After a just 72% Grand Prix test Werth and Emilio really had something to prove today. And Werth is not the one coming back with "I´ll just give it a try today", when she enters it´s serious.
Smooth trot/passage tours, good and a bit cautious piaffe tours, and you can really feel its all about timing and today with compromise from Werth, in order to bring Emilio positive back on track - missing complete! But not a 100% clear test as an error at the end of the two times creeping in and also lacking a clear change after the extended canter, bit stocked for the transition from canter to trot at M, which also might show that Emilio is not at his best form together with Werth for Aachen. Impressive 79,128%.
Severo with strong and clear test
Severo and Deep showed an effortless and "easy" Grand Prix Special, very powerful for the extensions with nice transition to passage, which you might wish a bit more bouncy and supple but still with super regularity. Lovely half passes with suppleness, strong canter tour without any issues. 74,851%
Steffen Peters and Rosamunde with a 72,462% - it looks mostly like Peters Aachen 2018 is about the 72% tests.
FOR SALE:
1st part of CDIO Grand Prix Special with a very unfortunate situation for the Danish team
Anders Dahl with Selten HW at Danish Championship 2018 - photo credit: Thomas Bisgaard
Danish team was suppose to be represented with two combinations for today's first part of the CDIO5 Grand Prix Special with Anders Dahl with Selten HW as the first of the Danes followed by Anna Zibrandtsen with Arlando.
Unfortunately Arlando became suddenly lame when preparing at the 10 minutes arena. A very unfortunate mishap for the Danish team and for team coach Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein going into the very last considerations about which combinations for WEG.
Anders Dahl and Selten HW did not show a convincing test today, when going into the first piaffe Selten just rejected and kicked, but Anders managed to show the piaffe although it was not at the spot and still with some tensions, the 2nd piaffe becomes somewhat cautious and lacking clear energy and forward search, good 2 times, by the 15 one times the 3rd change became a bit small hind, nice first pirouette, first change for the 9 one times is not by the riders aides, 2nd pirouette with a bit quick turn, best piaffe at the centerline. Score 68,574%.
The list of participants for WCYH in Ermelo
Danish Kristine Møller and Spectre S 2nd in Reitpferdeprüfung today with 8,2
Kristine Møller with Spectre S - privat photo.
Another successful Sezuan son
Today LUX rider Christine Møller showed her and Jens Thorsen (breeder) 4 yr gelding by Sezuan / Silvermoon at Reitpferdeprüfung in Scharlachrennen Nördlingen scoring; Trot 8,0 - canter 9,0 - walk 7,5 - education 8,5 - exterior 8,0 = total 8,20.
Luckily breeder and co-owner Jens Thorsen has secured himself a sibling, as he has a 3 year old mare which is just graded.
Another spectacular test from Bella Rose and Isabell Werth
Mane Stream Belstaff with Danish Betina Jæger Jensen at Danish national Championships 2018. Photo credit: Thomas Bisgaard.
Today's co-commentator at Clipmyhorse was Sebastian Hinze, German U25 team coach, and together with Kim Kreling he did a nice job, even though they sometimes seems to be a bit to harsh when combinations making faults or the angels are not correct - it is damned difficult!
Isabell Werth and Bella Rose looks more and more like a WEG combination
It is just something special watching Bella Rose dancing, and her piaffe / passage is just SPOT ON - their 2nd piaffe tour with 3 x 10! The small parts with not top performance was the extended walk, some kind of not let go and lacking more clear beat rewarded from 5,0 to 7,5! For the two times an error crept in, and still the pirouettes are lacking more clear canter beat and airtime, explained from Sebastian Hinze as "traloppieren" (tro-cantering).
Still not a fully settled Zaire today with Jessica von Bredow-Werndl but well managed.
Unfortunately no Showtime for todays Grand Prix Special as he got a swallowed leg this morning and Dorothee would of course not risk anything.
Danish Betina Jæger Jensen med Mane Stream Belstaff just shows their great potential entering Deutsche Bank Stadium for the 2nd time showing a great performance. This horse just brings a lot of natural suppleness in the body and at the same time showing super regularity of the passage with smooth transition in and out of the extensions, lovely half passes with balance, expression and crossing, super walk tour, nice 2 times and super 1 times, bit conservative extended canter but looks like a considered decision from Betina, todays best canter for the first pirouette, just 10 piaffe steps for the final centerline. This combination is for sure at H2R Danish team for WEG. 71,340%
Hard to say but Steffen Peters might have the best horse for today's Grand Prix Special. Suppenkasper has it all, but seems that Mr. Peters just asking a bit too much for the passage tours as some tension creeping in, especially left hind, and the adding extra changes for both one times series today does not bring them higher in the overall ranking. Placed 4th with 71,340%.
Unfortunately young Danish Victoria Vallentin did not really agree with Ludwig der Sonnenkönig today about their piaffe tours, the first two with a small kick from Ludwig and final at the centerline where he stops, but Victoria manage bravely to start and finish the job again.
See the entire results here.
Behind the scene med Helgstrand Dressage top groom Mikkala
Mikkala og Ferrari OLD, aka "hunden"
Helgstrand Dressage top groom Mikkala H. Krog er også med fra start til slut i 2018 udgaven af CHIO Aachen, i år som groom for Deep Impact og Severo Jurado Lopez.
H2R har fanget Mikkala til spørgsmålet: "Hvad er Aachen?"
"Aachen er awesome ! Det er et stævne som alle burde opleve 🙂.
Jeg har været så heldig at opleve stævnet 3 gange, første gang var med Andreas og Akeem og det var en oplevelse for livet! 😉 Husker stadig tydeligt da kronprinsesse Mary kom forbi stalden.
Aachen har alt at byde på, især for os grooms er det fantastisk, maden er i top, og der er aldrig langt til noget, og hvis vi mangler noget så bliver det fikset. Som groom skal man altid være forberedt på det uventede, så når der skal pakkes så skal man altid tænke smart 😉.
Stævnet er svært for mange heste, så der gælder også om samarbejde mellem rytter og groomen under vejs. Det er vigtigt at kunne læse hesten og se hvad den har brug for, for der er run på med dressur, springning, eventing, voltingering, western og kørsel ... så der er nok at se til og se på når der er tid indimellem de faste rutiner."
Kongen, prinsen og hunden
Når Aachen er slut, er MIkkala tilbage en enkelt uge i Uggerhalne før lastbilen igen skal pakkes. Næste stop er UVM i Ermelo. Her har Mikkala ansvaret for de 3 heste som chefen Andreas Helgstrand skal ride, nemlig Revolution, Zhaplin Langholt og Ferrari OLD, aka kongen, prinsen og hunden.
"Ermelo er altid specielt, både fordi vi er en rigtig stor flok fra Helgstrand afsted med mange ungheste, men jo også altid ekstra sjovt når vi høster succes," fortæller Mikkala.
Direkte fra UVM i Holland til EM for ponyer i England
Selvom Mikkala også har været med som pony groom da Alexander Helgstrand var yngre, så er det faktisk Mikkala´s debut sæson som international pony groom. Mikkala var nemlig med da Alexander sammen med Adriano B fornyligt stod øverst på skamlen til nordiske mesterskaber i Norge.
Så når turen lige efter Ermelo står på EM for ponyer i England er Mikkala igen på farten og ansvarlig for groomingen af Alexanders pony. For at få tidsplanen til at hænge sammen, kører Alexander sammen med Adriano B til Holland til en nærliggende stald, hvor de kan træne frem mod direkte afgang mod England når UVM er slut.
"Jeg har et super dejligt job i hverdagen, men elsker jo også at komme ud at være en del af de store stævner, når muligheden bryder sig", fortæller Mikkala mens hun lige er ude at trække en tur med Deep Impact i Aachen.
VIDEO - Last and strongest part of CDIO Grand Prix with Laura Graves and Verdades taking the victory
Cathrine Dufour and Atterupgaards Cassidy - photo credit: H2R
80,606% win for American Laura Graves with Verdades
Super strong start, supple half passes with lots of power, super nice halt with rein back, active piaffe tours with good transitions (it is of course the eyes watching but from H2R point view the piaffe/passage is more like a tense exercise than a supple over the back exercise). It is very much about control when watching a test like this, not many or no moments of relaxation today. Video below.
Unfortunately the streaming via Clipmyhorse just stopped right after Danish top combination Cathrine Dufour and Atterupgaards Cassidy entered their test. From the scoreboard there was just a small issue around the transition from collected walk to passage - the rest was spot on and even with a clear 10 from judge at M Australian Susan Hoevenaars for the canter pirouette to the right. 78,494% and 2nd place.
Both Emmelie Scholtens and Therese Nilshagen showed strong tests with their stallions.
It was not Isabell Werth and Emilio´s day today. Already from the first extended trot Emilio looked a bit against the rider hand at the end, and he was clearly not the the mood for the piaffe tours as use to be one of his highlights. Today with some resistance and a small levade for the first two piaffe tours, and for the final Isabell wisely chose to show a very cautious piaffe. 72,518%. (From H2R point of view it might look like an extraordinary selection of Bella Rose from the German Federation, as she was not competing at the German national championships in Balve for being Werth´s no 1 horse for WEG).
Third part of CDIO Grand Prix with Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and Dalera BB in top
Already from watching them around the arena they look amazing. And from the start you can feel that this combination just enjoying being in there. Smooth start, supple half passes, nice halt bit tense rein back, expressive extended trot sharp back into passage at V, active piaffe with lovely sit and nice transitions, the walk becomes a bit tense for the collected walk tour, the canter tour is still not as settled as the trot tour, but nice control especially for the pirouettes, small insecurity for the final piaffe. 76,848%.
The strong Danish team combination Daniel Bachmann Andersen and Blue Hors Zack shows a great test with two minor things as the rein back becomes with 6 steps and an error for the two times. Superb supple half passes with balance, expression and crossing, top qualities for the one times. 74,177%
Spanish Beatrice Ferrer-Salat and her 17 year old Delgado are still in the game and valuable for the team scoring 73,059%.
Second part of CDIO Grand Prix with Danish Warmblood Gørklintgårds Dublet in top
American Kasey Perry-Glass with her Danish Warmblood gelding Gørklintgårds Dublet showed a strong and very well balanced test. Dublet is not a spectacular mover, but the correctness and balance without any technical issues combined with and his sharp hindlegs brings him into 2nd place with 76,801%.
Danish Anna Zibrandtsen is showing a solid test unfortunately with a costly error in the mid of the one times where Arlando stops the changes (maybe because of lack of signal from the rider). The first piaffe is a bit cautious lacking some more activity, nice transitions, 2nd piaffe is with better activity, good control for canter pirouettes, small lack of beat for final extended trot, super nice final centerline. 70,435%.
Hans Peter Minderhoud shows a very good test with Zanardi without any technical issues, just some tensions for the rein back. You really get the feeling that Zanardi now is growing up in the arena, or maybe he is just for the very big arenas like in Aachen. 72,842%
Dorothee Schneider and Sammy Davis Jr. shows a very expressive test and for Dorothee the timing is just in top except the one times today with an error. 75,916%
Spains Severo Jurado Lopez and Deep Impact is also showing a strong test, with highlights for the extended trot tours, super nice frame all the way, bit early start for the 1st piaffe where Deep is travelling a bit forward, small miscommunication for the transition from collected walk to passage. 74,161%
VIDEO - Daniel Bachmann Andersen og Blue Hors Zack viste flot form i dagens CDIO5 Grand Prix i Aachen
Blue Hors Zack og Daniel Bachmann Andersen DM 2018 - photo credit: Thomas Bisgaard
En af hjørnestenene på det danske team
Gennem hele sidste sæson har Daniel og Zack virkelig spillet sig på holdet med stærke præstationer, som samtidig er kombineret med at ekvipagen har rigtig god "dommertække", som betyder at dommerne kan lide hvad de ser, også selvom der måske indsniger sig en fejl eller to under vejs.
Som Daniel selv fortæller herunder så sneg der sig en fejl ind i toer serien i dag, og et enkelt trin for meget tilbagetrædningen.
Highlights I dagens tur var klart trav traversaderne som var smidige, udtryksfulde med flot bæring og god krydsning samt super flotte store og gennemsprungne ettere.
Parret slutter individuelt som nr. 10, med meget lille margin op til 7. pladsen, og har ihvertfald nu endegyldigt vist at de er klar til VM i Tryon senere på året.
Dagens Grand Prix tur:
First part of CDIO Grand Prix - Langehanenberg and Damsey FRH just steps back at the top of the scene
Lovely with Sönke Rothenberger as co-commentator at Clipmyhorse - this just steps up the entire competition, and he is adding a lot of experience and sharp eyes. (Could be nice if Clipmyhorse daily commentator would let Sönke just speak).
Helen Langehanenberg and Damsey FRH showed a strong test, and as this was their first test after a small baby break for Helen. Their partnership seems to be so cemented and they just know each other for the perfect timing. Good start, super nice diagonal, half passes could be with more bend and suppleness through the body, good halt with rein back, 1st piaffe tour is a bit forward but lovely rhythm and keeps the activity with super regular expressive passage tours and smooth transition, top walk tour, 2nd piaffe becomes a bit cautious, loosing the passage a bit before transition to canter, super and very strong canter tour, good final. 77,034%
American Steffen Peters and Rosamunde is struggling a bit with the balance and clarity for the piaffe tours today, to much on/off steps, some tensions for the canter tour, the pirouettes becomes a stocked or just lacking bit more let go, final transition at M for trot becomes a bit stocked. 71,335%
1st Danish team competitor Anders Dahl with Selten HW, good start, nice half passes, super halt but bit tense rein back, good transition to passage, lack more forward search for the piaffe and loosing the clarity of the rhythm, bit tense collected walk, same lack of clear rhythm for 2nd piaffe tour, canter tour with error for change after extended canter and error for 1 times, good pirouettes, bit unbalanced final piaffe. 70.093%
VIDEO - Isabell Werth and Bella Rose wins CDI4 Grand Prix at CHIO Aachen today
Deutsche Bank stadium in lovely evening light when last combination leaving
Both top scores today with error in both two times and one times
77,587% for Werth with Bella Rose and 75,652% for Schneider with Showtime, and both test with room for improvement.
The lightness Bella Rose is going with is just impressive, and picking up a detail from Werth´s test today could be the way she just sit back taking a half halt from a lovely extended trot into the first passage without any tensions or disturb, just full focus and respons from Bella Rose. The pirouettes lacking more clear canter rhythm and airtime.
Showtime and Dorothee with bit unbalanced transitions out from today's piaffe tours, and today also with slightly forward trend for the piaffes.
Today Jessica von Bredow-Werndl seems to have her hands full, and even though she is doing a very technical correct test the overall impression is a bit too tency.
Huge judging disagreement for Steffen Peters with Suppenkasper today placing them 10-3-11-4-13. Yes there were some uneven/tense passage steps from hind, where Suppenkasper lifts his left hind leg higher than the right, and the collected walk with some tensions like the transition to passage, series becomes a bit tense also and the balance and straightness is lost for the change between the pirouettes at the centerline.
See the entire results here.