Isabell Werth & Bella Rose Do It Again With Victory in Mannheim CDI4* Grand Prix Special

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Isabell Werth on Bella Rose at Mannheim CDI4*. © 2021 Michael Ruffler/PIX-Sportfotos

MANNHEIM, Germany, April 29, 2021–Isabell Werth rode Bella Rose to victory in the Maimarkt Turnier CDI4* Grand Prix Special Thursday to complete a successful return to competition of the world’s No. 1 combination after a coronavirus-imposed break of 19 months.

The result of 80.277% for Isabell and the 17-year-old Westfalen mare reflected the brilliance with seven marks of 10 and some rusty mistakes receiving awards of four points from all five judges for collected canter and three marks of four and two of five for one-tempi changes.

However, the final result coming after a win in Wednesday’s Grand Prix extended the partnership’s string of Big Tour victories to 22 stretching back to 2014, and includes team and individual gold at the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon and a sweep of the 2019 European Championships. The Europeans were the pair’s last competition before this event.

Fellow German team rider Jessica von Bredow-Werndl on the 17-year-old Zaire-E scored 78.724% for second, the same place as in the Grand Prix. The result was only 0.188% off their best of 78.912% set in September last year.

A highlight of the competition was the Big Tour debut of German Olympic team gold medal rider Hubertus Schmidt on Denoix PCH for third place on 74.362%.

Hubertus and the nine-year-old Oldenburg stallion (Destano x Pik Noir), owned by American Nancy Gooding of Plum Creek Hollow Farm in Larkspur, Colorado, were reserve champion in the 2020 Louisdor Prize, the prestigious German developing Grand Prix series.

Results:

CDI4* Grand Prix Special

Judges: Thomas Kessler Dr. Evi Eisenhardt Hans-Christian Matthiesen Alice Schwab Adriaan F. Hamoen
Place Score Nation Athlete Horse E H C M B
1. 80.277 GER Isabell Werth Bella Rose 2 77.234 82.234 80.532 79.894 81.489
2. 78.724 GER Jessica Von Bredow-Werndl Zaire-E 78.085 76.277 79.362 78.298 81.596
3. 74.362 GER Hubertus Schmidt Denoix PCH 75.638 74.043 74.149 73.404 74.574
4. 72.957 GER Lena Waldmann Fiderdance 72.872 71.596 74.255 74.043 72.021
5. 72.787 GER Matthias Alexander Rath Foundation 2 71.596 72.447 72.979 73.191 73.723
6. 72.723 DEN Charlotte Heering Bufranco 71.064 71.277 72.766 73.936 74.574
7. 71.596 NED Madeleine Witte-Vrees Finnländerin 73.085 72.766 70.957 71.277 69.894
8. 71.085 GBR Susan Pape Harmony’s Eclectisch 69.574 70.745 71.809 71.17 72.128
9. 70.575 AUT Renate Voglsang Fürst Ferdinand zur Fasanenhöhe 71.596 70.213 68.83 70.957 71.277
10. 70.532 GER Frederic Wandres Bluetooth OLD 69.468 68.617 72.447 70.851 71.277