Review of the European Championships in Gothenburg - 125.000 people visited Ullevi Stadium

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Part of FEI press release

Longines FEI European Championships Gothenburg 2017

Great success in Gothenburg as European Championships brought party atmosphere to the city

During seven days in August, the city of Gothenburg was transformed in to an arena full of horses, riders and drivers and the result was a rousing success. Almost 125 000 people visited Ullevi Stadium during the Championships, 30 000 people followed the Driving Marathon in Slottsskogen City Park and Heden Arena became the meeting place and beating heart of the event that the organisers had hoped.

The Longines FEI European Championships fulfilled all the organisers’ hopes and wishes of a great event. All three championship venues attracted huge numbers of visitors and when you add the Swedish team’s excellent performance during the week, the Championships really was a success story.

The Championship week started off spectacularly by an opening ceremony in front of a nearly sold out Ullevi Stadium, where Her Royal Highness Princess Madeleine officially declared the championships open.

At Heden Arena, the venue that was free to enter, Para-Equestrian Dressage started the week. The amazing riders fought hard to earn the medals and many great moments were captured on film where the incredible interplay between rider and horse really showed. Swedish rider Louise Etzner grabbed a bronze and a silver medal. The week continued with Driving, an event that attracted huge crowd who wanted to experience the fast paced driving up close. As the Driving Marathon came around on Saturday, the streets were lined with people as the teams travelled from Heden Arena to Slottsskogen City Park, where they were greeted by 30 000 people who enthusiastically cheered the competitors on. Heden Arena was also home to the event area where shopping, restaurants and activities welcomed a great number of people during the championship week.

Ullevi Stadium hosted the Jumping and Dressage and the iconic venue impressed both riders and visitors. Sweden started strong and grabbed their first medal on Wednesday with a team bronze in Dressage. The gold went to Germany with the experienced Isabell Werth leading the way.

Not to be outshone, the Swedish jumping team responded on Friday by taking the silver in the Team Jumping event, beaten only by Ireland. As the final event of the week, the Individual Jumping, rolled around, the crowds had descended in force on Ullevi Stadium. They were there to cheer on Peder Fredricson and his incredible horse H&M All In, who reciprocated by winning the gold medal to a raucous reception from the home crowd. 

The medals in the Individual Jumping was presented by Her Majesty Queen Silvia.

The best young riders (under 25) competed successfully in the Lövsta Future Challenge International in both Jumping and Dressage at Ullevi Stadium. The competition was very well received and attracted big crowds.

The Championships have received a lot of praise from visitors, the tourism and hotel trade and the sports world. Moving the horses and the events in to the city and making equestrian sport accessible to everyone was a huge success.

Følg med når der rides om medaljer til U25 Europamesterskaberne i Salzburg

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Når EM for U25 for alvor starter i morgen i Østrigske Salzburg, er de 4 danske ekvipager klar med både landstræner Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein og chef d´equipe Kimi Nielsen på sidelinien. 

Et smugkig på morgentræningen via livestreamingen ser ud til at der er super flot vejr.

Som Nathalie fortæller så er det meget hårdt selskab op mod tyskerne og hollænderne, men det er samtidig en fantastisk måde at prøve kræfter og samle erfaring. Et mesterskab i U25, er en rigtig god vej for at samle erfaring frem mod en seniorkarriere.

Alle links til stævnet findes via H2R kalenderen her. 

De danske ekvipager er:

  • Michala Mejlgaard Jensen / Trebiz
  • Marlene Storkborg / Fritz
  • Victoria Vallentin / Fabienne
  • Sille Engermann / Darius
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6 year old preliminary test at Bundeschampionate today

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Huge imprint from Fürstenball offspring at the top of the placements

Flambeau by Fürstenball / Wolkentanz I with Anne-Katrin Pohlmeier became top score with 8.9 for today´s preliminary test at 6 yr old Bundeschampionate. A clear 10 for the walk. 

Fior by Fürstenball / Sandro Hit ridden by Frederic Wandres scored 8,7.

Also both Barccardi and Nymphenburg´s First Ampere were at start and qualified with 8,4 and 8,3.

Silberstern by Silbermond / Raphael with Annabel Frenzen also one to follow for the final. 

See the entire results here

Tomorrow morning with 5 yr old preliminary test. 

The prestigious German Bundeschampionate starts tomorrow

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Tomorrow morning at 11.30 with 6 year old preliminary test with at total of 37 starters, including German participants from World Championship for Young Horses in Ermelo this year. See start list here

Thursday morning at 8.00 with 5 year old preliminary test.

Remember you can follow the entire competitions via live stream at Clipmyhorse.

All available links are online at H2R calendar. 

OPDATERET med kommentarer fra Nathalie og Kimi - "Det perfekte match, og det kunne jeg som rytter naturligvis tydeligt mærke, eftersom vi havde samme mål for øje" udtaler Cathrine Dufour

Kimi Nielsen under det nyligt succesfulde EM i Göteborg med Team sølv og to individuelle bronzemedaljer til Cathrine Dufour. Photo - H2R.

Kimi Nielsen under det nyligt succesfulde EM i Göteborg med Team sølv og to individuelle bronzemedaljer til Cathrine Dufour. Photo - H2R.

30. August 2017

Kimi´s farvel til jobbet som holdleder og elitechef for senior dressuren

H2R har i dag fanget både Nathalie og Kimi for et par kommentarer.

Jobbet som landstræner og holdleder levner ikke meget tid til at hvile på medaljehøsten efter sidste uges EM for seniorer. Både Nathalie og Kimi er nemlig lige nu på vej til Østrig, for at være en del af U25 teamet som er klar til EM i Salzburg. 

Om Kimi´s farvel til de to vigtige poster fortæller Nathalie: "Det er bare super ærgerligt. Siden nytår med vores tætte samarbejde omkring landsholdet, som jo har været intenst og særdeles succesfuldt, men bestemt også fra min tid som rytter på landsholdet, hvor Kimi altid var klar til både at informere, lytte og svare."

"Ingen er uerstattelige, og jeg vælger at se vinklen i den retning, at en ny person på chef d´equipe pladsen helt sikkert også vil kunne bidrage med nye ideer og input. Jeg er super glad og stolt over at vi er kommet så flot fra start sammen, og den nye person til pladsen kommer ihvertfald til et topmotiveret team, både dem som lige har været i ilden, men også de ryttere som ligger lige udenfor. Kvaliteten sammenholdt med det store antal af internationale ekvipager, har aldrig været højere i dansk dressur. Vores fokus omkring seniorer har naturligt været skarp på EM, og i september bliver der lidt ro." 

"For mig har de første 8 måneder i år jo været starten på mit job som landstræner, og bestemt super spændende 8 måneder. Masser af nye udfordringer som er blevet krydret med et rigtig godt samarbejde med de enkelte teams omkring landsholdet. Jeg glæder mig meget til de næste godt 3 år på posten. I oktober går mine/vores forberedelser i gang i forhold til næste års store mesterskab, nemlig VM i Tryon i USA (11. - 16. september 2018), og sideløbende håber jeg selvfølgelig at en super afløser for Kimi kan støde til," slutter Nathalie.  

10 års udvikling i dansk dressur

"Det har været 10 spændende år, med masser forskellige oplevelser, som jo med sidste uges medajlehøst var en af de særlige. De sidste 8 måneder har været utrolig spændende i mit job, og der er ingen tvivl om at det arbejde Nathalie har lagt for dagen siden dag ét også har være medvirkende til EM successen. Det ses med al tydelighed på resultaterne, at DRF med Nathalie som landstræner har fået hele "landstrænerpakken".

"For 10 år siden da jeg startede på jobbet var der vel omkring fem danske internationale Grand Prix ekvipager. De seneste to år har Danmark været repræsenteret til ca. 500 CDI-starter rundt omkring i hele Europa, og flere nations cup - ret imponerende for vores lille land, og vel og mærke med gode placeringer i de forskellige felter."

"Fremtiden ligger åben for mig, og jeg har ikke lagt mig fast på hvad der skal ske, men efter 31. oktober er jeg klar til nye spændende udfordringer," slutter Kimi.


29. august

Nyhed på Rideforbund.dk i dag

Kimi stopper som elitechef og holdleder i dressur.

Efter 10 succesfulde år som holdleder for dressurlandsholdet og elite- og talentchef i dressur har Kimi Nielsen valgt at stoppe for at kaste sig over nye projekter.

Startede og slutter på toppen
Kimis første mesterskab som holdleder var OL i 2008, hvor Danmark som bekendt fik en historisk bronzemedalje for hold. Her 10 år og 10 mesterskaber senere var Kimi så igen støtten bag holdet ved EM i Göteborg i sidste uge, hvor landsholdet sikrede sig en historisk sølvmedalje, og Cathrine Dufour fik to individuelle bronzemedaljer. At talentarbejdet også har båret frugt under Kimis arbejde vidner utallige mesterskabsmedaljer i ungdomsrækkerne også om.

”Det har været en fantastisk rejse, som jeg er glad for at have været med på. Dansk dressur er stærkere end nogensinde, og vi har fået opbygget et stærkt og godt samarbejde mellem vores nye landstræner Nathalie og rytterne, hvilket præstationerne i Göteborg er et levende bevis på. Derfor føler jeg også, at det er det rigtige tidspunkt at kaste mig over nye projekter og give tøjlerne videre til nye kræfter,” siger Kimi.

Kimi fortsætter frem til 31. oktober, så hun kan følge rytterne på banen ved World Cup Herning i uge 42.


H2R har fanget Danmarks pt. bedste landsholdsrytter Cathrine Dufour, den nye EM team sølv- og dobbelte individuelle bronzevinder, for en kommentar til den overraskende nyhed fra DRF i dag.

"Jeg blev rigtig ked af det, da jeg hørte at Kimi ikke skal fortsætte som vores klippe på landsholdet. Vi skylder hende en kæmpe tak for hendes store arbejde - gennem de to sidste år (hvor jeg har været en del af landsholdet) har Kimi virkelig gjort en forskel. 

Det team vi havde i år ved EM, var for mit vedkommende et team man kun turde drømme om. Kombinationen af Nathalie og Kimi virkede som det perfekte match, og det kunne jeg som rytter naturligvis tydeligt mærke, eftersom vi havde samme mål for øje, og samme tilgang til tingene. 

Jeg er rigtig ked af, at Kimi ikke længere skal være en del af holdet, og vil gerne takke hende mange mange gange for hendes enorme indsats, støtte og passion for vores sport," siger Cathrine Dufour.

Thursday 31 August with Borculo Elite Foal auction

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55 dressage foals will be at the auction Thursday in Borculo.

Schedule for the auction:

  • 1 pm arrival of foals
  • 3 pm presentation of foals 4.30 pm break
  • 5.30 pm start auction

The auction is at the program at Clipmyhorse, but unfortunately without any information if it is with streaming from both presentation and auction. 

The most attractive foal from H2R point of view are:

You can find the entire collection here

Danish Warmblood Mares of the Year

Part of Danish Warmblood press release

At the Danish Warmblood Equsana Elite Show the best young mares from all over the country gather to compete for the champion titles of the year. Four 3-year-old saddle-graded mares were awarded a gold medal

The best of Danish sport horse breeding is represented at the Danish Warmblood Equsana Elite Show which takes place every year at this time at the Danish Warmblood head quaters. Top quality foals, 2-year-old fillies and young saddle-graded mares have been selected at regional foal shows and mare gradings all over the country during summer to meet in the finals at Vilhelmsborg.

Three outstanding dressage mares

Nothing less than three 3-year-old dressage mares were awarded a breeder medal in gold, eight in silver and nineteen in bronze. Among the three gold medal mares the judges selected the champion mare to be decorated with the title Danish Warmblood Dressage Mare of the Year – and she is Skovens Tzarina (bred by Kirsten Bjerregaard Hansen and Jens Lund Pedersen) out of the very successfull combination Blue Hors Zack and Blue Hors Don Schufro. Skovens Tzarina shares her dam with older brother Skovens Rafael (by Blue Hors Romanov) who is Nordic dressage champion 2017. Skovens Tzarina who was awarded 10 for her fantastic canter is owned by Andreas Helgstrand who purchased her at the Danish Warmblood Elite Foal Auction in 2014.

The very feminine and sporty Straight Horse De Milla (bred by Straight Horse ApS) by De Niro x Blue Hors Zack excelled with a very powerful trot which earned her a 10. Her dam is a full sister of international Grand Prix stallion Zonik. Gold medal mare Straight Horse De Milla is still owned by her breeders. Third gold medal dressage mare is the tall and elegant Queensparks Wendy (bred by Kurt Gosmer and owned by Helgstrand Dressage) who earned a 10 for her very uphill and ground-covering canter.

 

 

 

 

Helgstrand acquires top filly at Danish Warmblood Elite auction

Fürstenball / Blue Hors Romanov filly sold for 57.000 euros.

Fürstenball / Blue Hors Romanov filly sold for 57.000 euros.

 

Danish Warmblood press release

50 out of 65 foals changed ownership at the Danish Warmblood Elite Foal Auction on Saturday night at Vilhelmsborg where Helgstrand Dressage acquired the top priced foal

In a packed show hall with 950 dining guests, the Danish Warmblood Elite Foal Auction proved to be a festive event Saturday night at Vilhelmsborg. The auction of this very attractive collection of foals was live streamed on Clipmyhorse and followed by sport horse enthusiasts in many parts of the world.

Auctioneer Casper Cassøe succeeded in selling 50 out of 65 foals (76.9%) to buyers from Austria, Denmark, Dubai and Luxemburg for a total turnover of 665,000 euro. The price highlight of the auction was the fabulous filly by Fürstenball x Blue Hors Romanov, named Vianna. She is out of the same dam line as the international dressage star Mistral Højris, and she is a regional foal show winner having scored 10 for trot.

Thomas Sigtenbjerggaard from Helgstrand Dressage was present at the auction and had his boss, Andreas Helgstrand on the telephone from the European Championships in Gothenborg. They had no doubt that Vianna was more than suitable for Helgstrand Dressage and they were very content to get the last bid on this outstanding filly at the knock-down price of 57,000 euro.

The Danish breeders are mostly known for producing dressage horses of very high international quality but there are also very successful breeders of show jumping horses and strong dam lines of international jumping blood in Denmark. An excellent representative of Danish breeding of show jumpers is the colt foal Cordento II by Cornet Obolensky x Cardento. Sold for 40,000 euro this outstanding colt foal remained on Danish hands.

Head of auction, Louise Ringsbo, has expressed her excitement about the exceptionally high quality of the foals in this collection. 

 –  We are very pleased with the execution of the auction which has provided us with new clients and a massive interest from abroad. The foals have obtained a good price level, and we were very happy to be able to sell the foals in front of a large and supportive crowd.

 

 

 

 

Goosebumps for both rider and spectators (video of Cosmo freestyle)

Proud sister Semmieke Rothenberger together with silver brother Sönke Rothenberger

Proud sister Semmieke Rothenberger together with silver brother Sönke Rothenberger

Quotes from Sönke Rothenberger from FEI press release:

Holding his silver medal this evening he said with a smile, 

"If you look closely, it’s silver with a golden edge!"

Talking about his attitude to competition and his horse, Cosmo:

"I don’t go into a test thinking of what others can do and then try to be better. I go into the test trying to show in the ring everything we practice outside and today was really a day where we made a plan and we trained outside in the warm-up, and today was a day when he gave me back exactly what I was asking for and that’s just what I do it for. He is a character of a horse and I just love him the way he is, he has this shiny edge and with his ears to the front he does the most difficult movement and I get goosebumps every time!” 

Replying to a question about the Dutch connection in his family:

“Maybe there’s a slight touch of orange to this medal!”

Werth wins ferocious battle for Dressage Freestyle gold

On the podium for individual Dressage Freestyle at the Longines FEI European Championships 2017 in Gothenburg, Sweden today: L to R: Sonke Rothenberger GER (silver), Isabell Werth GER (gold), Cathrine Dufour DEN (bronze). (FEI/Richard Juillart)

On the podium for individual Dressage Freestyle at the Longines FEI European Championships 2017 in Gothenburg, Sweden today: L to R: Sonke Rothenberger GER (silver), Isabell Werth GER (gold), Cathrine Dufour DEN (bronze). (FEI/Richard Juillart)

FEI press release

Compatriot Rothenberger pushes the legend to the limit; Denmark’s Dufour boldly takes bronze

Isabell Werth (45) secured her third Dressage gold medal of the week when topping today’s individual Freestyle at the Longines FEI European Championships 2017 in Gothenburg, Sweden. But she had to pull out all the stops to pin German team-mate Sonke Rothenberger (22) into silver medal position while, mirroring the result of yesterday’s Grand Prix Special, Denmark’s Cathrine Dufour (25) took bronze.

Multi-medalled Werth was under no illusions about the quality of the performance she needed to produce. 

"We all pushed each other today. When I went in, both Weihe and me knew there was no little mini-mistake allowed, and that made it very exciting!"

Isabell Werth GER 

That’s because Rothenberger is on the rise, producing stunning rides from his 10-year-old gelding Cosmo all week, joining Werth to take team gold on Wednesday, and then chasing her home in yesterday’s Grand Prix Special to finish just over a mark behind. Sweden’s Therese Nilshagen, fourth yesterday, produced the first over-80% score of today’s competition with the stunning stallion Dante Weltino before Britain’s Carl Hester and Nip Tuck fractionally improved on that to change the lead. But when Dufour, third-last to go, posted 84.560 with Atterupgaards Cassidy the real battle commenced.

Rothenberger is a young man on a mission, oozing confidence and pzazz. Mastering the most difficult movements with the greatest of ease, he marched down the final centreline to throw down a massive score of 90.614 which really put it up to his compatriot. 

But Werth thrives under pressure, and she had her game face on as her Freestyle music began. Weihegold listened to her all the way, producing a flawless performance that the crowd really enjoyed. But the tension on the German rider’s face as she waited for her mark to light up the scoreboard said it all. She knew it was going to be dangerously close. 

“I was really hoping it would be good enough because Weihe was a good as she could be, it was her best test so I was happy and hoping it would be enough - and it was!” she said, having edged ahead by just 0.368 marks. In fact all three medallists produced personal-best Freestyle scores today. 

Werth, who also steered Weihegold to victory at the FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final in Omaha (USA) in April, couldn’t hold back the tears on the medal podium. “I was full of adrenaline when I went in to ride, so it’s a mixture of all the emotions you have during the week - I’m really grateful and thankful for what this week has brought me” said the lady who has experienced more golden moments in her extraordinary career than any other athlete in the history of equestrian sport. 

Rothenberger looks like a real threat to her supremacy however. Holding his silver medal this evening he said with a smile, 

"If you look closely, it’s silver with a golden edge!"

Sonke Rothenberger GER

Tonight however Werth remains the queen of all she surveys, her latest golden haul still just another good week at the office. It’s exactly 10 years since she first took European Freestyle gold at La Mandria (ITA). That was with another of her super-star rides and, looking at her final medal of the week tonight, she said, “Satchmo would be proud!”

Freestyle Individual result:

1. Weihegold OLD (Isabell Werth) GER               -    90.982 

2. Cosmo (Sonke Rothenberger) GER                 -    90.614

3. Atterupsgaard Cassidy (Cathrine Dufour) DEN  -  84.560

FULL RESULTS

Sonke Rothenberger GER (silver)

Talking about his attitude to competition and his horse, Cosmo:

"I don’t go into a test thinking of what others can do and then try to be better. I go into the test trying to show in the ring everything we practice outside and today was really a day where we made a plan and we trained outside in the warm-up, and today was a day when he gave me back exactly what I was asking for and that’s just what I do it for. He is a character of a horse and I just love him the way he is, he has this shiny edge and with his ears to the front he does the most difficult movement and I get goosebumps every time!” 

Replying to a question about the Dutch connection in his family:

“Maybe there’s a slight touch of orange to this medal!”

Cathrine Dufour DEN (bronze)

"Cassidy was more calm today he really did everything he could, and I knew I had to be no 1 when I left the arena because I knew these two were coming. So I was really happy when I saw my score at the bit-check, and I knew these two would really ride for their lives and I’m very very happy!" 

Facts and figures/event or series information

  1. 15 horse-and-rider combinations from 7 nations competed in today’s finale to Dressage at the Longines FEI European Championships 2017 in Gothenburg, the individual Freestyle.
  2. Winning rider Isabell Werth’s score of 90.982 was just short of the record European Dressage Freestyle score of 91.250 set by Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro at the 2013 edition in Herning, Denmark.
  3. Isabell Werth and Sonke Rothenberger were both on the the gold medal winning German team at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
  4. Werth and Weihegold took individual Olympic silver in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Flashquotes from Saturday´s Grand Prix Freestyle

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Patrik Kittel SWE

I love riding here, this is a once in lifetime thing to be riding in here with this audience. I am super pleased with him, he was a bit tired today, but it is the third day. It is crazy how good this competion has been for us Swedes. First of all a medal but then also that we all had such high positions going in to the freestyle today.

Dorothee Schneider GER 

- I am very proud of him. He is a young grand prix baby, and its the third day here. He was a bit tired but I am so happy he did a good job and we had no big mistakes. He has only been doing international shows for five months. He has a lot of potential for the future. Everyday he wants to dance, he wants to even when he is a bit tired.

Anna Zibrandtsen DEN 

Unbelieveble! I never done the freestyle before, I never heard the music, I have not been riding the lines. I learned last night. I did not think I was going to make the freestyle. It was so much fun, it was like a big dream for me to go in there and ride the freestyle.

Severo Jesus Jurado Lopez ESP 

- I am happy with my ride, the feeling was good and all in all I am happy, the scores are ok.

Belinda Weinbauer AUT 

I must cry, it was so fantastic. You know to come in the special was huge for me, to ride the Freestyle today is even bigger. He is such a fantastic horse, he is my big star. It s the third day and I was worried he would be tired but he was so fresh and motivated.

Therese Nilshagen SWE

- I had hoped it would be a good result, but I didn´t think it would go this well. 

He was so good and my horse is in very good shape. Unfortfuntantley we had a mistake in one of the tempichanges. The crowd is amazing and they give us such good energy.

Tinne Vilhelmsson SWE 

Just a great feeling to ride in this arena, amazing! I wanted to try to give it all, I tried a bit to hard so he got a bit insecure with me. But overall I am so pleased with him, he has been so good this whole week.

Carl Hester GBR 

I am happy, It is not my highest score in the freestyle, he was a bit spooky in the corner today. But still he is so consistent and keeps getting better. And he finsihes of so fresh after three tests this week, I am really happy with him.

Spencer Wilton GBR

- It was exciting, excilerating and nervwrecking. No I was actually very pleased with him. It is his second ever freestyle and it was lots of big asks for him today. It was a good experience for him and I am deffinately pleased with him.

Anna Kasprzak DEN

- I had many many highlights, I think my passage and piaff was good and I think he was really fresh. I had mistakes in the two tempi, that was expencive, I lost him a bit in the corner before. But I am really happy both with the feeling and with my score.

Madeleine Witte Vrees NED

- I am quite happy, I know we can be even better, I was riding bit to fast to the piruottes, that was my mistake and I can only blame myself for that. The hole picture can be a little bit expressive, but for now I am really happy with him.

Målet var EM (video)

En top stolt Anna Zibrandtsen som slutter som nr. 6 i küren

En top stolt Anna Zibrandtsen som slutter som nr. 6 i küren

For 4 måneder siden købte Anna Zibrandtsen hingsten Arlando. Et af målene var at kunne kvalificere sig til EM og få en plads på det danske landshold. Den del blev fakta efter et par flotte ture i Aachen, hvor ekvipagen beviste overfor både sig selv og landstræner Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein at de var et nyt kort til det danske hold. 

I dag kunne Anna så ride ad midten for første gang nogensinde i kür, og ydermere bliver placeret som nr. 6 - en enestående præstation, som giver genlyd overalt. 

Det danske landshold brillierede også med at faktisk alle 4 ekvipager var kvalificeret til küren, hvilket aldrig før er sket, og så slutter de 3 ekvipager som fik adgang til küren som nr. 3, 6 og 7 - dressurhistorie når det er bedst. 

Med sådan en afslutning, kan landstræneren nu "læne sig tilbage", og holde en velfortjent ferie, for Danmark har nu opfyldt kravet fra Team Danmark om fortsat støtte, som betyder at der kan lægges seriøse planer for fremtiden. Kravet fra Team Danmark hed medalje til EM.

 

Margins at today´s freestyle scoreboard in favor of Werth (video part of press conference)

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Just 0,368% difference between Gold and Silver today with 7 judges

Another great day with great sport, even though H2R favorite Sönke Rothenberger did not win the well deserved gold medal, he told at the press conference that it was actually a silvermedal with a golden edge. 

Looking into the details of the scoring Sönke manage to get 7 x 10 for music and interpretation of the music. Looks like a clear we sign from the judges - this was outstanding, unfortunately still not enough to bring Sönke in from of Werth. 

Sönke had just a small blip at the end of the one times when finishing a bit to close to C, but he manage to do them ones more without any issues. From there it was pure pleasure to watch, eventhough H2R is not the biggest fan of the style of music. The qualities of the exercises and the suppleness of Cosmo are just at higher level than Weihegold - and that makes the difference today seem from H2R point of view. 

Atterupgaards Cassidy and Cathrine Dufour, just shows so much strength going in there knowing what to beat to be the new leader and keep herself a bronze spot. Just two smaller issues when the 2nd double pirouette becomes a bit big and the 2nd piaffe lack a bit of impulsion, but from there it was pure lightness with high quality. 

So as predicted the gold battle was between Werth and Rothenberger and the bronze battle was between Dufour and Hester. 

Hester is a true master, but the qualities from the horses and the quality of the exercises makes the clear difference between a medal or just outside the medals. 

It’s double-gold for Werth and Weihegold as they win the Dressage Grand Prix Special

FEI press release

Germany's Sonke Rothenberger (silver) and Isabell Werth (gold), along with Denmark's Cathrine Dufour (bronze) on the podium for today's Dressage Grand Prix Special at the FEI European Championships 2017 in Gothenburg, Sweden.  (FEI/Richard Juil…

Germany's Sonke Rothenberger (silver) and Isabell Werth (gold), along with Denmark's Cathrine Dufour (bronze) on the podium for today's Dressage Grand Prix Special at the FEI European Championships 2017 in Gothenburg, Sweden.  (FEI/Richard Juillart)

German legend sees off serious challenge from team-mate Rothenberger; young horses and riders sparkle under the spotlight

Germany’s Isabell Werth (45) and her lovely mare Weihegold waltzed their way to gold in the Grand Prix Special at the Longines FEI European Championships 2017 in Gothenburg, Sweden today. But the doyenne of world Dressage was chased to the line by compatriot, Sonke Rothenberger (22), who joined her on the top step of the team podium on Wednesday, while Denmark’s Cathrine Dufour (25) produced a brilliant performance to claim bronze. 

This was Werth’s third FEI European Championships Grand Prix Special title, her first claimed with Gigolo when the Special was introduced at Donaueschingen (GER) in 1991 and the next three years later in Lipica (SLO). Team-mate Rothenberger joked afterwards that his age combined with Dufour’s matched Werth’s, but youth had to wait for its day once again today as the most medalled athlete in the history of international equestrian sport reigned supreme once more.

"Weihe is in the best form ever! It was a clear test without mistakes and with a lot of precision, so I’m completely happy! For me the challenge was to take enough risk but not too much because I knew the rest behind me want to make me angry!!"

Isabell Werth GER

Weihe translates from German as “ordains”, and so far this week that is exactly what the super mare and her extraordinary rider have done, dictating the destination of team gold with the only over-80% score two days ago and putting the biggest mark of 82.613 on the board this evening. But Rothenberger took silver with 82.479 and looks a serious future threat. “I watch the best riders and I steal with my eyes!” he said earlier in the week. It looks like it won’t be long before he’ll be stealing their limelight too. He’s confident and ambitious, and rightly so.

"I know my horse (Cosmo) can do it, and I never doubted from the first day I sat on him that he could beat anybody if things work out the way I would want, but it’s always a different story to bring it on the day, which is what Isabell is so good at….doing it on the day, on the spot when you need it and that’s what we try to work on, and that’s what we train for every day. We are getting closer and closer, but we are not quite there yet!” 

Sonke Rothenberger GER

Dufour meanwhile is also in sparkling form with the 14-year-old Atterupgaards Cassidy who has been with her through “a journey from Juniors seven years ago”. Posting 79.762 she pinned Sweden’s Therese Nilshagen (34) into fourth with the stallion Dante Weltino, who like Rothenberger’s Cosmo is an exceptional talent at just 10 years old, and who earned a mark of 78.585 for an exquisitely elegant test.

The big question now is whether the Werth and Weihegold, team gold and individual silver medallists at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, can make it a hat-trick of 2017 European titles by topping tomorrow’s Freestyle in which today’s top-15 have earned a place.

 

Dressage Result: Grand Prix Special

1. Weihegold OLD (Isabell Werth) GER               -     83.613

2. Cosmo (Sonke Rothenberger) GER                 -     82.479

3. atterupgaards Cassidy (Cathrine Dufour) DEN -   79.762

FULL RESULTS

Sonke Rothenberger GER (silver)

Talking about talking about his family and his relationship with his horse:

“We can’t think of a life without horses! I always thought when you have a jumping horse and you jump a 1.60m obstacle you get goosebumps and the feeling of being on a roller-coaster that you can’t have that on a dressage horse - until I sat on Cosmo, and then I realised he gives me that feeling as well!” 

Francis Verbeek van Rooy (NED) Judge at C

“It’s very exciting, the other two (Rothenberger and Dufour) are so young and they are the future of our sport - there are now so many young people on top level world-wide.”

Atterupgaards Cassidy and Cathrine Dufour DEN - Photo FEI/Claes Jakobsson

Atterupgaards Cassidy and Cathrine Dufour DEN - Photo FEI/Claes Jakobsson

Flashquotes from Friday´s Grand Prix Special

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Jordi Domingo Coll ESP 

”I was pleased with many things but I did a big mistake, the horse lost concentration for a few moments and he was not with me. I think this mistake will put us very low on the results and it is a pity this happened. But on the other hand, my horse is only 10 years old and we are not so experienced, so this is something we can improve for the future. I am happy with the rest of the performance and just not happy with the mistake. The show here is amazing, with great venue and amazing athmosphere – it is a pleasure for us riders to compete here.”

Anna-Mengia Aerne SUI

”I was a little bit over motivated today, and that is why the mistake happened – I think without that my program would have been amazing. I am very happy with the points today. I was very careful with my riding yesterday, so today I decided to risk a bit more and just go for it - and there was more flow in my riding and I am pleased with that. Today’s program is funnier to ride, because you can ride a bit more forward and I enjoy that.”

Arnaud Serre FRA 

”I am very satisfied with my horse, because he is very young and not experienced on this level. We did some small mistakes but it is only the third time we do this kind of program, so I am very happy today. We made a small mistake on piaffe, but all in all I am very happy with my horse! I was not expecting to qualify for the freestyle and we are just gaining experience here. It is a really nice event we have here in Gothenburg.”

Marcela Krinke Susmeij SUI 

”It was absolutely my mistake today, the horse was going good and I cannot blame anyone else for what happened. After the second passage I lost consentration for a second – there are no excuses for that. With the horse I am very happy. I changed the bit for today, because yesterday he was a little unconsistent with the mouth, so we wanted to try something else for today. I am not really the strongest woman, so I have to try an optimize the control by having the correct bit. These kind of mistakes happen when you want to be especially good and try and change things at the last moment. But these mistakes teach you also, so it is only to go forward and try to learn from this experience.” 

Rose Mathisen SWE

”It is my birthday today, but I am not thinking about that when I am riding. It felt really nice going into the ring after getting the medal with the team yesterday - you feel more secure, when there has been some success already. My horse was really good today and I am happy with my result. Having these championships at home is very nice when you succeed, but for sure we are all more nervous than normal, because we are all trying extra hard not to let all the Swedish people down.”

Agnete Kirk Thinggaard DEN 

”I think my program today was really good. My horse lacked the last spark he had on the first day, so I had to work a little bit harder. I almost had a mistake in the first piruette, but got it right just at the last moment. After getting the team medal here, actually today I felt a lot more pressure, because I was less confident. I really wanted to show everyone and got myself maybe too worked up about it – but in the end I was able to control my nerves.”

Maria Caetano POR 

”I am happy with my horse, he is very young and it is only his second season on this level, so I am very proud of him. The mistake at the end was a pity: he lost one change behind. Passage, piaffe and all the trot work went really well and I am happy about that. The results here have been like my average procent thorughout the season – of course it would be nice to do a bit better at a championship. I think the atmosphere here is very nice and we have good conditions for both horses and riders.”

Tatyana Kosterina RUS 

”It is only my third time riding a Grand Prix Special with my horse, and I am simply very happy. He behaved really cool and did not look at anything, even thou the arena is massive and there is a lot to spook about. I can absolutely not complain about the organisation here, we are very well taken care of. It is a bit of a shame with the weather, but they are doing all they can to keep us and the horses comfortable.”

Laurence Roos BEL 

”I am not happy with my ride today, I made too many mistakes. Maybe my horse was a bit too tired, or maybe I was not concentrated enough. It is all well organised here, there were some small issues in the beginning of the week but it has all been taken care of. We had a last moment change with the team, because the third horse got injured, so we are only two riders here from Belgium. I think it less pressure being here as an individual than being here with a team.”

Belinda Weinbauer AUT

”I was very nervous today, because in the warm-up my horse was really tense, so I was very worried going into the ring. I think our piruettes were better today than yesterday. My horse was fantastic today and I am so happy with him!”

Emile Faurie GBR 

I’m thrilled with the horse, he is inexpierienced but he was a little more alert day. He only have done one Special before. He was a little bit ahead of me. He’s quiet a character and will be an exellent championship horse. I love riding him, he is really fun to ride.

Patrick van der Meer NED

I’ happy whit my ride. He was ait tensed and we had some small mistakes but nothing big. Some mistake in the flying changes and a little tensed in the piaffe but this was one of his best Specials.

Spencer Wilton GBR 

He was a very good boy! Exept for the mistake in temps on the centerline he felt much more confident today. I’m pleased with the score and hopefully we make it to Sunday, even though he hasn’t done so many music.

Madeleine Witte-Vrees NED 

”It was our first Special today, so I can’t be anything but happy. My horse was magnificient today. The little misses that happened were totally my fault – I am very proud of my horse.” 

Jorinde Verwimp BEL 

”I tried to ride more expressive today than yesterday. We had two big mistakes in the canter, so our score dropped. I took a risk today with my riding and this time it did not pay off, but that is how it is sometimes – but at least I can say I tried. I think the show here in Gothenburg is nice and the arena is great to ride on. It is different being here only as an individual and not with the team, now I can only focus on myself. It was very unfortunate that our third rider had to stay home after their horse got injured at the last moment.” 

Edward Gal NED 

”I don’t know what happened, really. My horse felt good in the warm-up, but as soon as I rode in to the arena, I felt a change in him and I knew it was all over there. But what can you do, I still had to finish… For the rest my week here has been good and we have been lucky with the weather, even if it has looked cloudy it has not rained too much. I think my chances to go further for the final are gone now.” 

Daniel Pinto POR 

”The most important thing for me now is that my horse felt great and he is young – we have future championships to take on. What I am really sad about, is that I disappointed my team; when I do a mistake like this, I let them all down. I feel really bad for all of them; my wife, my trainer, my groom, everyone - they follow me and work very hard and it is hard for me to let them down.”

Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven SWE 

”We want to have more, so even after the team medal I still feel hungry for success. My horse has never done a championship like this before, so I am extremely proud of him. We have had him since he is three, and I have ridden him for the last year. He has really done great the whole week and I feel fortunate to have the option to come here with him.”

Diederik Van Silfhout NED

”Actually I was really happy with my test even if I had two little mistakes and those were very expensive. It was the second special for my horse so I am very pleased with him. My horse has super mentality and that is why we are here now!”

Severo Jesus Jurado Lopez ESP 

”I am happy, I think I got out what I could, I am happy with the job. My horse was a little bit tense so that cost some points. It is my second time here.

Dorothee Schneider GER

Very happy this was our third international start, he is very young and very talented in piaffe and passage. We had two expensive mistakes but he has gone from his first international start to the team in a very short time.

Anna Zibrandtsen DEN 

Super feeling when we entered the arena and started off very well. He could be more collected in the passage and the piaffe could be better. We are quite unexperienced and this is only our fifth competition. We had an unexpected big mistake in the canter but I managed to come back and do the the tempest whitout mistakes, Our pirouettes was quite good. Not my best test but good enough.

Therese Nilshagen SWE 

Fantastic feeling, he was with me all the way. I heard the audience and I just enjoy it. I wasn’t that nervous today, the bronze medal made me feel that whatever happens we’ve got that.

Fantastisk känsla, han var helt med mig och gjorde precis det jag ville. Jag hörde publiken som applåderade och det känns bara roligt, det är ingenting som stör. Jag var inte lika nervös idag. Bronsmedaljen gav ett visst lugn, vad om än händer sedan så har vi den.

Patrik Kittel SWE

Personal best for Delaunay and I’m so happy. He felt relaxed and in very good shape. He really showed his best. Let the audience give hands the horses have to learn and get used to it.

Cathrine Dufour DEN

I’m so pleased with the test today. He felt real calm today and it was so fun to ride here. I love when the audience give applause on the centerline.

Helen Langenhanenberg GER 

This was not our best performance, he did not doing the piaffe for instance. I have a good feeling but then I lost him. He got hot on tjhe prizegiving in Wednesday. Dont really now why but I couldn’t really get him back from there.

Anna Kasprzak DEN 

Really happy whit my ride today, the piaffes was good and the canterwork was really good I think. My horse felt fine and is really fun to work with. I have a mistake in the halfpass to the right that was quit expensive, everything comes quickly in the Special The arena amazing and there was more spectators today.

No need for big analyzes from today´s Grand Prix Special

Top mood at the press conference after the Grand Prix Special today

Top mood at the press conference after the Grand Prix Special today

Sönke and Cosmo also winners at H2R today

At the press conference after the Grand Prix Special the two young medalists Sönke Rothenberger with Silver and Cathrine Dufour with Bronze told that non of them were interested in making Mrs. Werth angry, but for sure they were both eager to beat her. 

At the scoreboard this did not happen today, but seen from the spectators seat the winner was 22 year old Sönke Rothenberger with his just 10 year old Cosmo. And only the president of the groundjury today at C, Dutch Francis Verbeek van Rooy saw Sönke and Cosmo as the winners too.

The 22-year old Sönke and 25-year old Cathrine are definately the news generation for the top sport, but Werth will for sure never surrender. This fact just makes the sport even more interesting to follow in the future. 

You can find all detailed scores via link here.

And detailed comments about every single combination is available via the NEWS menu here at H2R