Dressage Gold for Team Germany at Aachen
Team Germany, under the direction of Chef d’Equipe Klaus Roeser, captured the gold medal at the FEI Dressage World Championship at Aachen on Wednesday.
Isabell Werth, with six Team World Championship golds under her belt, clinched the win for the Germans on home soil, scoring 79.879 percent with Wendy de Fontaine in the Grand Prix test.
Great Britain, led by Darrell Scaife, won the silver medal, thanks to defending Individual World champion Charlotte Fry, who put 80.311 percent on the board with Glamourdale.
Denmark, the 2022 Herning title holders coached by Susie Dannemand, claimed the bronze, with Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour earning 82.376 percent aboard Mount St John Freestyle — the highest score across two days of riding, which put her in first place individually.
Team Belgium finished in fourth place, followed by the Netherlands and Sweden. Those nations, as well as the medal winners, have now qualified for a berth at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
The fans at Allianz Park were once again treated to a day chock full of Dressage talent, as the second half of the roster completed their Grand Prix tests to determine the medal winners.
Following Day 1, Germany held the lead, with Denmark and Great Britain on their heels. Raphael Netz with Great Escape Camelot and Frederic Wandres with Bluetooth OLD had put the home team ahead of the field, with two high-performing athletes yet to come.
Wednesday’s marks of 79.224 percent for Katharina Hemmer and Denoix PCH gave them more of an edge. But in the end, it came down to a battle between Werth and Fry to see where the Germans would land alongside the Brits and the Danes.
Denmark were the first to complete their scores. Laudrup-Dufour was the first athlete of the competition to break the 80 percent barrier with her score of 82.376 percent aboard Mount St John Freestyle. Together with Nadja Aaboe Sloth (Favour Gersdorf), Carina Cassøe Krüth (Heiline’s Danciera), and Daniel Bachmann Andersen (Flash Gordon 37), the team had 229.426 points.
Near the end of the programme, Charlotte Fry and Glamourdale turned in a gorgeous test, but it wasn’t free of errors. Fortunately, the pair’s huge two-tempi and extended canter overcame a bobble with an early transition, and the judges awarded them 80.311 percent.
Fry’s performance gave the British team 231.445 points, alongside Fiona Bigwood (Donna Bella), Becky Moody (Jagerbomb), and Carl Hester (Fame). It was all up to Werth to grab gold for Germany.
No stranger to huge pressure in the ring, the Germany Dressage powerhouse showcased Wendy’s ultra smooth transitions and giant overtrack in the extended walk — similar to Mount St John Freestyle. As always, the duo finished with strong piaffe passage work down the final centre line to pick up 79.876 percent and secure the gold for Germany on 235.063 total points.
That left Werth in fourth place individually. Reigning European champion Justin Verboomen of Belgium, who helped his team guarantee an Olympic placement, is currently in second place with Zonik Plus.
Verboomen’s test was a lesson in light contact and sensitive partnership. They won 80.885 percent from the seven judges and will advance with the top 30 finishers to the Grand Prix Special competition on Friday.
Following the Belgian’s ride, Fry was bumped to third. Hemmer sits in fifth behind Werth, followed by Marieke van der Putten of the Netherlands (Zantana RS2 OLD N.O.P.), Hester, Isabel Freese of Norway (Total Hope OLD), Wandres, and Bachmann Andersen in the top 10.
Portugal, the USA, Canada, Spain, Austria, Poland, Australia, Finland, Switzerland, France, Brazil, Ireland, and Thailand (making their first Team appearance at a World Championship) rounded out the Team rankings behind Sweden in that order.
The Grand Prix Special on Friday, August 14 will be an opportunity for three determined individuals to bring home medals, with the top 18 duos continuing on to the Grand Prix Freestyle on Saturday night.
Will Charlotte Fry hang onto her crown, or will another contender take the gold? The action begins at 10:50 local time.
Click here for the team results.
Click here for the individual results