Dinja van Liere Rides Hermès to Victory on Personal Best Score in Rotterdam CDIO5* Grand Prix Freestyle

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Dinja van Liere reacting to overwhelming crowd support of her Grand Prix Freestyle on Hermès at Rotterdam CDIO5*. © 2024 Ken Braddick/DRESSAGE-NEWS.com

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands, June 22, 2024–Dinja van Liere rode Hermès to victory on a personal best score in the CDIO5* Grand Prix Freestyle Saturday night to a medley of girl power songs that brought many in the packed stadium to join in singing as the Dutch duo rode down the final centerline.

Dinja and the 12-year-old KWPN stallion were awarded 87.830% for the win before the enthusiastic Dutch fans. The musical performance capped a week in which Holland’s top rider also led her team to capture the Nations Cup Thursday.

Dinja’s success came before the announcement next Tuesday of the Dutch team for the Paris Olympics. She underwent a shocking turn of events before the Tokyo Olympics three years ago when she was named to her first Olympic team then lost the opportunity because of a bureaucratic screw-up that incorrectly listed ownership of her horse for Germany instead of the Netherlands.

“I almost had to cry,” she said of the performance. “I was just so happy. And the people are just so enthusiastic and they’re screaming and clapping. It just feels overwhelming and very nice.”

Dinja van Liere and Hermès in the Rotterdam CDIO5* Grand Prix Freestyle. © 2024 Ken Braddick/DRESSAGE-NEWS.com

Isabell Werth of Germany returned Wendy de Fontaine, a 10-year-old Danish Warmblood mare, to competition after an injury that kept the duo out of the German championships, for runner-up in the duo’s first Freestyle on a score of 82.850%.

Dutch team compatriot Emmelie Scholtens on the 11-year-old stallion Indian Rock placed third on 81.430%.

Isabell who took over the ride from Andreas Helgstrand at the end of last year after he was suspended said, “it was really, really great today to feel that she’s so great in her mind, she doesn’t want to make something wrong. If there is something wrong, it’s my mistake and it’s a bit of a fine-tuning piece, I have to find out still. But I think today she was really jumping like a machine.”

Isabell Werth in her first Freestyle on Wendy de Fontaine, at Rotterdam CDIO5*. © 2024 Ken Braddick/DRESSAGE-NEWS.com

Results:

Grand Prix Freestyle – Nations Cup
Rank Competitor Score E H C M B
1.
Dinja Van Liere (NED)
Hermès N.O.P.
87.830% 86.175 89.325 87.300 89.275 87.075
2.
Isabell Werth (GER)
Wendy de Fontaine
82.850% 83.375 82.500 82.075 85.175 81.125
3.
Emmelie Scholtens (NED)
Indian Rock
81.340% 81.075 81.350 83.250 80.850 80.175
4.
Daniel Bachmann Andersen (DEN)
Vayron
81.120% 83.275 80.400 81.575 81.125 79.225
5.
Carina Cassøe Krüth (DEN)
Heiline’s Danciera
79.815% 79.200 78.850 81.350 80.625 79.050
6.
Corentin Pottier (FRA)
Gotilas du Feuillard
79.250% 80.725 80.075 78.000 77.900 79.550
7.
Therese Nilshagen (SWE)
Dante Weltino OLD
78.515% 78.825 80.200 77.125 78.800 77.625
8.
Pauline Basquin (FRA)
Sertorius de Rima Z IFCE
78.005% 79.325 76.700 78.300 75.775 79.925
9.
Kevin Kohmann (USA)
Dünensee
73.425% 72.800 74.725 74.250 73.950 71.400
10.
Richard White (GBR)
Heroi Do Seixo
70.420% 69.775 72.200 67.800 72.500 69.825
11.
Lewis Carrier (GBR)
Diego V
70.135% 72.125 72.250 69.950 69.925 66.425
12.
Carina Scholz (GER)
Tarantino 5
66.430% 68.150 64.425 67.250 64.325 68.000
Find details on Equestrian Hub