USA’s Anna Buffini Kicks Off World Cup Final, Olympic Gold Medalist Jessica von Bredow-Werndl Wraps Up Grand Prix in First Annual Championship in 3 Years
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By KENNETH J. BRADDICK
LEIPZIG, Germany, April 6, 2022–Anna Buffini of the United States and Davinia la Douce kick off the first World Cup Final in three years while Olympic gold medalist Jessica von Bredow -Werndl wraps up the short Grand Prix Thursday.
Anna, 27, of San Diego, California and the 15-year-old Hanoverian mare are competing in their first senior championship. Ashley Holzer of Wellington, Florida will ride Havanna, also a 15-year-old Hanoverian mare, will also be in her first championship wearing the Stars & Stripes though she rode for Canada at four Olympics and the 2009 Final centered on the Grand Prix Freestyle.
Isabell Werth who won three straight titles on Weihegold OLD beginning in Omaha, Nebraska 2017 is back with the 17-year-old Oldenburg mare hoping to make it a record four straight. Covid-19 forced cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 Finals.
Among those in her way is Olympic team mate Jessica von Bredow-Werndl on TSF Dalera BB, a 15-year-old Trakehner mare, looking to complete a golden cycle of championships–World Equestrian Games in 2018, European Championships in both 2019 and 2021 and the Tokyo Olympics. She’s pregnant with her second child and won’t be at the world championships in August.
Helen Langehanenberg, also of Germany with Annabelle, makes up the maximum of three rider and horse combinations allowed from one country. Helen won the title on Damon Hill NRW in 2013. She also developed to Grand Prix Suppenkasper that American Steffen Peters rode on the silver medal teams at the 2018 World Equestrian Games and the Tokyo Olympics.
Denmark also qualified three combinations, none of whom have competed at a previous World Cup Final.
World No. 2 rider Cathrine Dufour brought Vamos Amigos to these championships and not Bohemian, her top mount. The Westfalen gelding is just 10 years old and in its first championship under the two-time Olympic rider.
Nanna Skodborg Merrald of Blue Hors has been successful with Atterupgaards Orthilia since beginning international competition with the horse 15 months ago. Orthilia, now 17 years old, was ridden for Great Britain by Fiona Bigwood at the 2016 Olympics and the 2015 European Championships.
Patrik Kittel of Sweden is among the most experienced World Cup riders in his eighth final with five different horses. This year he is on Blue Hors Zepter, that he rode in one qualifier. The 14-year-old Oldenburg stallion was ridden by Daniel Bachmann Andersen for almost five years when he was with the Danish stud.
Great Britain’s Charlotte Fry, the second youngest rider at the age of 26 in the Final. She will be on Dark Legend that she partnered in both European Young Rider and Under-25 Championships and the 2019 senior Europeans. Charlotte also comoetes Everdale, Glamourdale and Chippendale at Big Tour.
Juan Matute Guimon, the youngest rider in the Final at 24, will ride Quantico that he competed for Spain at the 2018 World Equestrian Games and the 2017 European Championships. Juan was raised in Wellington, Florida and has American citizenship, but lives in Madrid and rides for Spain as did his father on three Olympic teams before moving to the U.S.
Yvonne Losos de Muñiz of the Dominican Republic is competing Aquamrijn in their second World Cup Final. She also competed Foco Loco in the Final in 2018. She rode Foco Loco at the 2016 Olympics and Aquamarijn in Tokyo.
The lineup for the short Grand Prix Thursday, all times are local, six hours ahead of U.S. Eastern time.
https://results.hippodata.de/2022/2083/docs/startlist_-_dre_leipzig_wcf_gp.pdf