Dressage-News

By KENNETH J. BRADDICK

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands, Aug. 17–Charlotte Dujardin made her championship debut riding the stunning nine-year-old Valegro to a personal best score to give Great Britain a “dream start” big lead over Germany on the first of two days of Nations Cup competition at the European Championships.

The 26-year-old rider who has competed the KWPN gelding by Negro in only five international competitions since the pair started Grand Prix in March scored 78.830 per cent to vault the British team to the top of the leader board with a total of 149.256, a margin of 8.733 over second placed Germany.

The margin fueled Britain’s hopes of winning their first ever gold medal at a dressage championship, though the top two riders from the leading countries will ride Thursday. And it buoyed dreams of a first ever Olympic dressage medal when the Olympics are held on their home turf in London next year.

Among Thursday’s combinations are: Britain’s Laura Bechtolsheimer and Mistral Hojris, triple silver medalist at the 2010 World Equestrian Games and No. 2 in the world, and Carl Hester and Uthopia; Germany’s Matthias Alexander Rath and Totilas and Isabell Werth and El Santo NRW, as well as Holland’s Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival, the world’s top ranked combination, and Edward Gal and Sisther de Jeu.

The first two German riders, Christoph Koschel on Donnpergnon and Helen Langehanenberg on Damon Hill NRW, scored 71.444 per cent and 71.079 per cent, respectively for their first day total of 142.523. Both combinations had mistakes that they said cost them substantial points. Christoph said, though, he was not surprised at the strong showing of Great Britain as riders have watched them compete successfully throughout the year.

The Netherlands, defending champions from 2009, were in third place after Hans Peter Minderhoud on Exquis Nadine scored 70.912 per cent and Sander Marijnissen on Moedwil 70.578 per cent. The two Dutch riders came into these championships with widely varying experience. For Sander it was his first championship team appearance while Hans Peter is a veteran, with Nadine, including team silver medal from the 2008 Olympics and team gold from last year’s World Equestrian Games .

Standings after the first day were: 1. Great Britain, 149.256; 2. Germany, 142.523; 3. Netherlands, 141.490; 4. Denmark, 136.025; 5. Sweden, 134.787; 6. Switzerland, 130.866; 7. France, 128.526; 8. Finland, 127.812;  9. Belgium; 127.402, and 10. Norway, 124.149. (Complete individual results are below).

“It was absolutely the best feeling,” a jubilant Charlotte said after her first ever championship appearance in a half-empty stadium.

“I went in a little bit anxious. I wanted to ride a clear round, that was my top priority for the team.

“What he did was fantastic even with a little problem here and there, like in the second piaffe when he reacted to me overusing my leg.

“Valegro has got a heart of gold. He just wants to keep getting better and he learns so fast. The reason he is so brilliant is his mind.”

Carl Hester, who found the horse when he was four years old, said that he burst into tears when they announced Valegro was entering the arena and said he was emotionally exhausted from riding every step of the test with his student, Charlotte.

“This is like having a child,” he said.

“Charlotte has been riding Valegro since he was five years old, right after she came out of Young Riders.

“What could give you more pleasure than to see this, and what a time for it to happen, at the European Championships. This has been a dream start.”

As a championship, seven judges and not the usual five make up the ground jury–positioned at K, E, H, C, M, B and F. All seven placed Charlotte first with two scores above 80 per cent and the lowest 76.702 per cent.

Britain’s first rider, Emile Faurie on Elmegardens Marquis, scored 70.426 per cent.

For teams with four riders, the lowest result is discarded.

The leafy venue which hosts an annual CHIO including super league jumping won high marks for a new grand stand that added a feeling of intimacy to the event.

However, fewer than half the spectator seats were occupied during the morning competition which produced the best rides of the day.

One grumble from spectators was over the electronic scoreboards that displayed only a running average for individual movements and not individual judge’s scores. Organizers said the problem was that the scoreboards were too small to display all seven scores. However, the same scoreboards displayed all seven final scores and the total.

FEI European Dressage Championships – Team Competition
Presented by Hunter Douglas
GRAND PRIX (2009)

Judge K : Evi Eisenhardt (GER)
Judge E : Maribel Alonso (MEX)
Judge H : Stephen Clarke (GBR)
Judge C : Wojtek Markowski (POL)
Judge M : Jean-Michel Roudier (FRA)
Judge B : Mary Seefried (AUS)
Judge F : Ghislain Fouarge (NED)

RK		HORSE – BREEDING SEX\COL\YR\SIRE X SIREDAM\			K	E	H	C	M	B	F	%
		RIDER OWNER
1		Valegro – KWPN G \ Bay \ 2002 \ Negro x			77.021	79.681	80.106	82.021	77.660	76.702	78.617	78.830
		Charlotte  Dujardin (GBR) Rowena Lard			( 1 )	( 1 )	( 1 )	( 1 )	( 1 )	( 1 )	( 1 )
2		Donnperignon – FWB G \ DarkChestnut \ 1999 \ Donnerhall x Mozart II 79			71.277	72.021	73.404	70.745	70.426	71.809	70.426	71.444
		Christoph  Koschel (GER) Hof Beckerode GmbH, Jürgen Koschel			( 2 )	( 2 )	( 2 )	( 3 )	( 6 )	( 5 )	( 4 )
3		Damon Hill NRW – WESTF S \ DarkChestnut \ 2000 \ Donnerhall x Rubinstein I			70.213	70.638	71.596	70.213	71.170	72.340	71.383	71.079
		Helen  Langehanenberg(GER) Christian Becks			( 4 )	( 3 )	( 5 )	( 4 )	( 3 )	( 3 )	( 2 )
4		Exquis Nadine – KWPN M \ Chestnut \ 1995 \ TCN Partout x Roemer			70.532	69.362	72.766	71.170	70.532	70.957	71.064	70.912
		Hans Peter  Minderhoud(NED) Team Exquis			( 3 )	( 6 )	( 3 )	( 2 )	( 5 )	( 6 )	( 3 )
5		Moedwill – KWPN G \ Chestnut \ 1994 \ Goodwill x Beaujolais			70.106	69.681	71.383	69.468	73.404	69.574	70.426	70.578
		Sander  Marijnissen(NED) W.A. Marijnissen			( 5 )	( 5 )	( 6 )	( 7 )	( 2 )	( 8 )	( 4 )
6		Elmegardens Marquis – DWB G \ Bay \ 1999 \ Michellino x Lucky Light			69.681	69.043	72.340	69.681	69.043	73.298	69.894	70.426
		Emile  Faurie (GBR) Emile Faurie			( 7 )	( 7 )	( 4 )	( 6 )	( 9 )	( 2 )	( 7 )
7		Jonstrupgaardens Raneur – DWB G \ Bay \ 1999 \ Ragazzo x Schwadroneur			70.000	70.213	69.681	70.106	68.936	72.234	68.617	69.970
		Lisbeth  Seierskilde(DEN) Gert Seierskilde			( 6 )	( 4 )	( 8 )	( 5 )	( 10 )	( 4 )	( 9 )
8		Martini – PHBA G \ Bay \ 2001 \ Deryl SP x Madryt			69.468	67.766	69.574	69.362	70.319	70.957	70.106	69.650
		Beata  Stremler (POL) Inter-Api Sp. z o.o.			( 8 )	( 14 )	( 10 )	( 8 )	( 7 )	( 6 )	( 6 )
9		Exquis Clearwater – DWB G \ Bay \ 1998 \ Carpaccio x Limebrand			68.511	68.617	69.362	67.872	71.064	68.191	66.809	68.632
		Anne  van Olst (DEN) Team Exquis, Anne van Olst			( 9 )	( 11 )	( 12 )	( 10 )	( 4 )	( 11 )	( 14 )
10		Axis TSF – TRAK S \ Black \ 1999 \ Sixtus x Angard			66.064	68.511	69.681	66.596	69.787	68.298	67.979	68.131
		Terhi  Stegars (FIN) Sian Reade Bluw.Trak.Low.Lidham Hill Gue			( 15 )	( 12 )	( 8 )	( 12 )	( 8 )	( 10 )	( 11 )
11		Bocelli 1044 – SWB S \ Bay \ 1999 \ Don Schufro x Bernstein			67.979	69.043	70.851	69.255	63.404	67.021	68.617	68.024
		Rose  Mathisen (SWE) Gransbo Stuteri			( 10 )	( 7 )	( 7 )	( 9 )	( 23 )	( 17 )	( 9 )
12		Faberge – HANN G \ Black \ 1996 \ Falkland x Akzent I			65.957	68.723	68.085	67.340	68.191	68.936	67.660	67.842
		Beatriz  Ferrer-Salat(ESP) Deliber S.L.			( 16 )	( 10 )	( 13 )	( 11 )	( 11 )	( 9 )	( 12 )
13		Xiripiti – LUS S \ Grey \ 2003 \ Qualficado x Moscatel			67.766	66.383	69.468	62.553	67.447	67.660	68.936	67.173
		Maria  Caetano (POR) PCI Paulo Caetano Internacional			( 11 )	( 15 )	( 11 )	( 22 )	( 12 )	( 14 )	( 8 )
14		Jade de MV – LUS S \ Grey \ 1999 \ Musico x Neptuno			66.702	69.043	65.638	65.638	67.234	66.915	67.128	66.900
		Claudio  Castilla Ruiz(ESP) Manuel Vidrie			( 13 )	( 7 )	( 17 )	( 15 )	( 13 )	( 18 )	( 13 )
15		Lennox – WESTF G \ DarkBay \ 1999 \ Laurentianer x Florestan I			66.489	66.383	66.489	66.596	67.234	67.340	66.809	66.763
		Cecilia  Dorselius (SWE) Svedala Ridcenter HB			( 14 )	( 15 )	( 15 )	( 12 )	( 13 )	( 15 )	( 14 )
16		Fabriano 58 – WESTF S \ Bay \ 1999 \ Florestan I x Angelo XX			65.638	68.298	65.213	66.489	65.000	67.872	66.809	66.474
		Renate  Voglsang (AUT) Renate Voglsang			( 17 )	( 13 )	( 18 )	( 14 )	( 20 )	( 12 )	( 14 )
17		Rokoko N – BRAND S \ DarkBay \ 2000 \ Rubinstern Noir x Montano			67.234	64.894	67.766	64.362	66.489	65.851	66.489	66.155
		Elisabeth  Eversfield-Koch (SUI) Elizabeth Eversfield			( 12 )	( 18 )	( 14 )	( 16 )	( 15 )	( 21 )	( 18 )
18		Le Guerrier – OLDBG G \ Chestnut \ 2000 \ De Niro x Rubina			64.787	66.277	65.213	64.043	65.957	65.638	64.149	65.152
		Anne-Sophie  Serre (FRA) Marie-Laure Roure			( 19 )	( 17 )	( 18 )	( 17 )	( 16 )	( 22 )	( 20 )
19		Donnerfee – OLDBG M \ Bay \ 2000 \ De Niro x Rosenkavalier			64.362	64.468	62.234	63.404	65.532	67.872	65.851	64.818
		Claudia  Fassaert (BEL) Dirk Hooghe – Verhoeven			( 21 )	( 19 )	( 26 )	( 21 )	( 18 )	( 12 )	( 19 )
20		Ronaldo II – KWPN G \ Grey \ 1998 \ Gribaldi x Pion			65.319	63.723	64.787	63.936	65.213	66.702	63.191	64.696
		Markus  Graf (SUI) Gaby Koller			( 18 )	( 21 )	( 20 )	( 19 )	( 19 )	( 19 )	( 22 )
21		Kompliment – TRAK G \ Bay \ 1996 \ Werstowoj x Topkij			64.574	63.617	62.766	64.043	63.936	66.383	66.809	64.590
		Sergey  Puzko (UKR) Oleg Efremov, Inessa Poturaeva			( 20 )	( 22 )	( 24 )	( 17 )	( 21 )	( 20 )	( 14 )
22		Orlando III – SWB G \ Bay \ 1998 \ Master x Martini			62.234	64.362	65.745	60.638	63.298	67.340	63.723	63.906
		Cathrine  Rasmussen(NOR) Cathrine Rasmussen			( 24 )	( 20 )	( 16 )	( 25 )	( 24 )	( 15 )	( 21 )
23		Passe Partout – KWPN G \ Grey \ 1997 \ Gribaldi x Pion			63.617	63.404	62.128	63.830	65.851	61.915	62.872	63.374
		Sébastien  Duperdu (FRA) Sébastien Duperdu			( 23 )	( 23 )	( 27 )	( 20 )	( 17 )	( 26 )	( 23 )
24		Question de Liberte – DWB G \ Bay \ 1999 \ Quidam de Revel x Lagano			63.936	61.489	63.191	62.234	63.298	63.404	60.532	62.584
		Johan  Zagers (BEL) Tategoi Horses BVBA			( 22 )	( 25 )	( 22 )	( 23 )	( 24 )	( 23 )	( 25 )
25		Harmonia – PHBA M \ Bay \ 1999 \ Lord Alexander x Hars			60.638	60.213	60.532	61.489	61.596	62.234	62.340	61.292
		Ester  Soldi (ITA) Ester Soldi			( 25 )	( 26 )	( 28 )	( 24 )	( 26 )	( 25 )	( 24 )
26		Flamenco R – WESTF G \ Chestnut \ 1997 \ Florestan I x Romanow			59.149	62.128	64.468	59.149	60.957	62.553	60.426	61.261
		Gaston  Chelius (LUX) Claude Niedner			( 28 )	( 24 )	( 21 )	( 27 )	( 28 )	( 24 )	( 27 )
27		O.Hot Chocolate – KWPN G \ Chestnut \ 1996 \ Mendo x Indiaan			59.681	59.043	62.660	58.511	63.830	59.255	59.681	60.380
		Grete  Barake (EST) Karim Barake, Maire Püvi			( 27 )	( 29 )	( 25 )	( 29 )	( 22 )	( 29 )	( 29 )
28		Carte d´Or – DWB G \ Bay \ 1999 \ Solos Carex x Cannon Row			60.106	59.255	59.787	59.043	61.170	61.809	60.532	60.243
		Camilla  Kalseth (NOR) Kalseth Family			( 26 )	( 28 )	( 29 )	( 28 )	( 27 )	( 27 )	( 25 )
29		MD Waterford – HANN G \ Chestnut \ 1999 \ Wolkenstein II x Matcho AA			58.191	59.468	62.979	59.362	58.085	59.362	60.319	59.681
		Alexandra  Malmström(FIN) Heidi Malmström, Mikaela Damsten			( 29 )	( 27 )	( 23 )	( 26 )	( 29 )	( 28 )	( 28 )
30		Vodevil – HANN S \ Chestnut \ 1998 \ Vertoprakh x			54.681	57.872	54.043	55.638	57.553	53.830	56.277	55.699
		Yulia  Vinnitskaja (RUS) Mrs. Yulia Vinnitskaya			( 30 )	( 30 )	( 30 )	( 30 )	( 30 )	( 30 )	( 30 )