By KENNETH J. BRADDICK
HAGEN, Germany, July 2, 2026–Katherina Hemmer on the American-owned Denoix PCH returned from a three-month break to win the CDI4* Grand Prix with a score matching the pair’s top performances.
The score of 77.022% came despite a downpour of the type that Katharina said the 14-year-old Oldenburg doesn’t like to dispel questions about the fitness of the horse stemming from a bump in the stall that led to skipping the German championships.
Isabell Werth on the 10-year-old stallion Viva Gold OLD was runner-up on 76.239%. Isabell is riding her Olympic gold medal mount Wendy de Fontaine on Germany’s team in the Nations Cup Friday.
Isabel Freese of Norway on Total Hope OLD placed third on 74.783%.
The USA’s Kasey Perry-Glass of Wellington, Florida and Heartbeat W.P. was awarded 69.848% to finish 11th in the starting lineup of 21 combinations.
The ride by Kasey on the 14-year-old KWPN gelding was the first by a big contingent of Americans at this event which is significant in the selection of a team for the World Championships in nearby Aachen in mid-August.
The spotlight was on Katharina and Denoix.
“I’m really happy with how well he performed today,” Katharina said.
“His last competition was here in Hagen back in April, so after that break it was great to see him come back and deliver such a strong test. He obviously feels very comfortable here.”
One of the biggest highlights for the rider was her horse’s composure despite the difficult conditions:
“For me, the biggest highlight was how relaxed he stayed when the rain became really heavy. I know those conditions aren’t really his favorite, but he stayed completely with me and remained focused throughout the test. That meant a lot to me.”
Despite Denoix PCH’s recent competition break, Katharina said she “never really had any doubts” about the long term for Denoix.
“By now I know that if he’s physically able to do it, he’ll give everything for me. I trust him completely.”
Results:
| Rank | Competitor | Score | E | H | C | M | B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Katharina Hemmer (GER) Denoix PCH | 77.022% | 77.283 | 76.630 | 75.652 | 77.717 | 77.826 |
| 2. | Isabell Werth (GER) Viva Gold OLD | 76.239% | 76.522 | 76.739 | 77.283 | 74.674 | 75.978 |
| 3. | Isabel Freese (NOR) Total Hope OLD | 74.783% | 73.043 | 75.435 | 74.457 | 75.652 | 75.326 |
| 4. | Raphael Netz (GER) DSP Dieudonné | 72.283% | 73.152 | 72.174 | 72.174 | 70.978 | 72.935 |
| 5. | Lisa Müller (GER) Gut Wettlkam’s D’Avie FRH | 71.261% | 72.826 | 69.457 | 71.413 | 71.413 | 71.196 |
| 6. | Dr. Svenja Kämper-Meyer (GER) Amanyara M FRH | 70.782% | 71.304 | 69.891 | 68.804 | 71.413 | 72.500 |
| 7. | Tobias Nabben (GER) Forster 16 | 70.500% | 70.978 | 69.891 | 67.826 | 72.065 | 71.739 |
| 8. | Benjamin Werndl (GER) Quick Decision FRH | 70.304% | 72.717 | 70.000 | 68.152 | 71.522 | 69.130 |
| 9. | Susan Pape (GBR) Harmony’s Giulilanta | 70.174% | 69.565 | 70.543 | 69.565 | 69.565 | 71.630 |
| 10. | Henri Ruoste (FIN) Delaurentis FRH | 70.000% | 71.196 | 67.609 | 71.522 | 68.587 | 71.087 |
| 11. | Kasey Perry-Glass (USA) Heartbeat W.P. | 69.848% | 69.783 | 70.761 | 69.130 | 68.696 | 70.870 |
| 12. | Carina Harnisch (GER) DSP Sheldon Cooper | 69.565% | 68.913 | 69.348 | 69.239 | 70.870 | 69.457 |
| 13. | Ulrike Prunthaller (AUT) Fleur TSF | 69.326% | 70.000 | 69.022 | 69.022 | 67.065 | 71.522 |
| 14. | Stefan Lehfellner (AUT) L’Espoir | 68.804% | 67.500 | 67.717 | 67.391 | 70.109 | 71.304 |
| 15. | Fabienne Müller-Lütkemeier (GER) Valencia AS | 68.304% | 68.913 | 68.478 | 66.848 | 69.022 | 68.261 |
| 16. | Moritz Treffinger (GER) Cadeau Noir | 68.283% | 68.043 | 67.500 | 69.783 | 68.370 | 67.717 |
| 17. | Fransisco Benitez Sanchez (ESP) Lord Platinum | 67.022% | 67.717 | 65.543 | 66.087 | 66.739 | 69.022 |
| 18. | Nuno Palma Santos (POR) Fortunity S FRH | 65.696% | 64.674 | 65.217 | 65.435 | 67.717 | 65.435 |
| 19. | Lisa Wernitznig (AUT) SuperB 2 | 64.869% | 65.217 | 64.022 | 64.891 | 65.000 | 65.217 |
| 20. | Katharina Haas (AUT) Let It Be NRW | 64.761% | 65.761 | 64.457 | 64.348 | 64.783 | 64.457 |
| 21. | Florian Bacher (AUT) Da Vinci | 64.065% | 63.370 | 63.587 | 65.761 | 64.022 | 63.587 |
 Find details on Equestrian Hub |
