Germany, as Expected, Takes Lead at Midpoint in Aachen Nations Cup, Laura Graves Pulls USA Into 2nd

By KENNETH J. BRADDICK

AACHEN, Germany, July 20, 2017–A powerful German team took the lead midway through the CDIO5* Nations Cup Thursday but Laura Graves and Verdades pulled the United States into second place at a competition that has the feel of a world championship.

Isabell Werth on her Olympic team gold medal mount Weihegold OLD and on whch she is ranked No. 1 in the world, scored 83.171 per cent as the top individual in the Grand Prix while Laura and her Verdades ranked No. 4 in the world were awarded 79.514 per cent for second place individually.

(See separate report to come on Team USA and a photo gallery of the Grand Prix)

The standings after the Grand Prix with the Grand Prix Special on Saturday to decide the Nations Cup are: 1. Germany 236.457; 2. United States 222.842; 3. Denmark 218.457; 4. Sweden 216.400; 5. Spain 214.171; 6. Great Britain 209.228; 7. Netherlands 207.914, 8. Belgium 206.072.

Isabell and Weihegold, a 12-year-old Oldenburg mare that won the Omaha World Cup Final as well team gold and individual silver at the Rio Games, received 15 marks of the maximum of 10.

She described Weihegold, which she began competing regularly 18 months ago, as “really fantastic, really focused. She was in the right temperament, happy to present herself.”

Laura and Verdades, the KWPN gelding that she has nurtured from a foal to now at the age of 15, received two marks of 10, including one for the rein back from Great Britain’s Isobel Wessels at C who said it was her first ever for that movement.

However, Laura of Geneva, Florida and “Diddy,” as she calls Verdades, made a mistake in the two-tempi changes that dropped their score that at that point had been above 80 per cent and as high as 82 per cent.

She made it clear, however, she loved competing at Aachen–“it’s the kind of show that you just want to do this one every year.”

Even so, she said, she is “tired of being the bridesmaid” and is determined to fulfill the unparalleled scope that she knows Verdades is capable of.

Sönke Rothenberger, 22 years old, and Cosmo, the 10-year-old KWPN gelding with which he was a gold medal team mate of Isabell’s at Rio, placed third individually on 78.757 per cent. He admitted to three costly mistakes–in the rein back, the zig zag and a piaffe.

Denmark’s Cathrine Dufour on Cassidy, a 14-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding that also has brought the horse from juniors, to young riders, Under-25 and the Olympics for Denmark last year, was fourth on 77.414 per cent.

Adrienne Lyle, drafted at the last minute to ride the the 10-year-old Salvino in only his third international competition and first Nations Cup, turned in a solid performance with a score of 71.814 per cent to be the second ranked American.

Adrienne, who rode Wizard, now retired, for the U.S. at the 2012 Olympics, said she thought about pushing for more but, “I decided to stick with the training and I’m really happy with the way it turned out.”

Results:

Individual CDIO5* Grand Prix

Judges–K: Anne Gribbons E: Susan Hoevenaars H: Hans-Christian Matthiesen C: Isobel Wessels M: Francis Verbeek-van Rooy B: Evi Eisenhardt F: Annette Fransén-Iacobaeus