Fry and Glamourdale Double Champions Again

Danish athlete Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour claimed the silver medal aboard Mount St John Freestyle with a score of 91.236 percent. It was the second silver this week for the world No.1, who took second place in the Special following a Team bronze on Wednesday.

Isabell Werth of Germany rounded out the podium to take the bronze medal on home soil, where she won Individual gold 20 years ago. Her programme with Wendy de Fontaine put 88.650 percent on the board and gave the pair another award to add to their Team gold.

Dressage treats

The crowd of 35,000 packed into Allianz Park were treated to a veritable chocolate box of Dressage treats on Saturday night.

Poland’s Sandra Sysiojeva was the first to break the 80 percent barrier. She posted 80.175 percent with the lovely Maxima Bella, only to see Raphael Netz of Germany — a gold medalist in the Team category — overtake her soon after on 80.946 percent aboard Great Escape Camelot.

The bar went way up, however, with Becky Moody’s turn around the ring with her homebred Jagerbomb. The reigning FEI Dressage World Cup™ champion, who struggled a bit in the Grand Prix but earned a Team silver, was back in great form for a high degree of difficulty Freestyle to music by the Beatles.

Her programme, which included a near-impossible element of two-tempi directly into one-tempi on a curved line, garnered 87.479 percent from the seven judges and had the audience on its feet for minutes afterward.

Electrifying tone

As the sun set and the lights came on in the stadium, a new electrifying tone was set for the final rotation of rides. Would the buzzy atmosphere be overwhelming for some of the horses or athletes making their World Championship debut?

It didn’t seem to bother 10-year-old Zonik Plus, ridden by Justin Verboomen, the current European champion. The two earned 10s for their musical interpretation and silky smooth transitions to temporarily move into the top spot on 88.439 percent.

Standing ovation

But their lead didn’t last long with defending champion Charlotte Fry and 15-year-old “Glammie” in the ring. Groomed by Richard Hauwaerts, Glamourdale gave fans his usual magnificent extended canter work and massive two-tempi in a flying-themed programme that resulted in another standing ovation.

With artistic marks of 99 percent, the two took over the lead on 91.907 percent overall and simply couldn’t be beaten.

“It’s unbelievable. This was the test of a lifetime. This is so cool! He gave me so much confidence,” Fry said after winning her gold medal.

Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour was certainly keen to overtake her. Her brand new programme for 17-year-old Mount St John Freestyle showcased the mare’s amazing piaffe. But at 91.236 percent, it wasn’t quite enough to top Fry.

Hushed arena

Following Carl Hester’s 82.304 percent Freestyle with Fame — appropriately enough to music by David Bowie — it all came down to Isabell Werth to see how the podium would shake out.

Known as a fighter, Werth entered on Wendy to a hushed arena. A bobble in the two-tempi was made up for with her textbook one-handed final line, grinning all the way. As the 10s poured in for their piaffe work and transitions, the home audience held its collective breath while awaiting the final score.

Slowly, the numbers were announced to a roar from the crowd: 88.650 percent for the bronze medal, a fitting end to Dressage at Aachen and for the world’s most decorated equestrian.