News
CHIO Aachen: Podium finish for Nations Cup quartet
- Written By: British Dressage
- Published: Tue, 11 Jul 2023 11:00
The 2023 CHIO Aachen was widely heralded as a preview to the much-anticipated FEI European Championships, and with a stellar line up of Europe’s top riders, the contest for the Nations Cup competition in the crucible of dressage lived up to expectations (23 June – 02 July 2023).
Nations cup success
Led by the reigning individual Olympic and FEI Dressage World Cup Champions Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera BB, home favourites Germany took the win in the Nations Cup contest in front of an enthusiastic local crowd. Joined by Isabell Werth (DSP Quantaz), Frederic Wandres (Bluetooth OLD), and Sönke Rothenberger (Fendi). Germany's winning total was 468.285 points, comprised of the top three scores from the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special. The battle for second went down to the wire as reigning Team World Champions Denmark dualed with the British quartet of Charlotte Fry, Charlotte Dujardin, Laura Tomlinson and Annabella Pidgley. Separated by the narrowest of margins at the close, Denmark finished second with 460.097 points followed by Great Britain (459.756 points).
The individual performances by each of the team players throughout the week were a source of great inspiration and enjoyment for those following the competition from home. Charlotte Dujardin continued her stratospheric return to competition with Carl Hester and Coral Ingham’s Imhotep a shining light at the top of the leaderboard, hot on the heels of von Bredow-Werndl and Dalera BB each day. The pair produced a duo of second placings in the Grand Prix (79.782%) and Grand Prix Special (80.787%), before performing to Charlotte’s iconic How to Train Your Dragon freestyle for third on the final day of competition, completing the week with an impressive 88.415%.
Reigning World Champion Lottie Fry brought her hot-to-trot Everdale to CHIO Aachen, with the Van Olst owned stallion by Lord Leatherdale showing some of his best form to date across the three CDIO5* tests. Completing a mighty effort for the Brits in the Grand Prix, Lottie and Everdale joined Charlotte on the individual podium scoring a new personal best of 78.913% for third; more records would follow as the combination notched up 79.584% in the Grand Prix Special and 87.515% in the Grand Prix Freestyle.
Laura Tomlinson and DSP Rose of Bavaria contributed valuable scores to the team podium with the talented Bordeaux-sired mare gaining superb experience in the Aachen stadium. Whilst rising star Annabella Pidgley also showed much promise on her Senior Nations Cup debut, at the age of just 18 years old; on board her mother Sarah Pidgley’s Vamos Amigo (Vitalis x Hotline), Annabella rode two secure performance under the watchful eye of her mentor, coach and team-mate Charlotte Dujardin.
Leading ladies light up competition
In the CDI4* competition, the Belgian Warmblood Lars van de Hoenderheide (Negro x Layout) continued to gain momentum under the gifted guidance of Lottie Fry. The 12 year old gelding was a close runner up in the Grand Prix competition, scoring 75.196% to place just a percent behind Germany’s Frederic Wandres with his experienced partner Duke of Britain FRH. The placing order would stay the same for both the Grand Prix Special ‘Lars’ adding 75.128% to his ever-improving record.
Charlotte Dujardin also added a clean sweep of Small Tour victories to the Brits CHIO Aachen podium count, as Peter Belshaw’s Times Kismet made an overseas debut to remember. The eight year old mare by Ampere x Lord Leatherdale scored 77.588% (Prix St Georges), and 78.294% (Intermediate I) to prove a cut above the rest in a talented field of next generation superstars. The Small Tour competition at Aachen is something of a milestone on the trajectory to stardom, as Glamourdale showed repeating the same duo of wins on his route to fame in 2019.
Annabella Pidgley also showed her Young Rider partner Espe in Aachen, alongside her Big Tour appearance. The combination were recently selected to represent Great Britain at the 2023 FEI Young Rider European Championships, and made this event the perfect final stop on the campaign tour to Hungary. In the Individual test, Annabella rode the nine year old mare superbly for 74.441%, leading the field by three percent; the same form was repeated in the Freestyle competition where the Wellington College student delivered an A-star performance with her Taylor Swift themed routine earning 78.620%.
Results – top five and British placings
CDIO5* Grand Prix
1. Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera BB, 82.304% (GER)
2. Charlotte Dujardin and Imhotep, 79.782% (GBR)
3. Charlotte Fry and Everdale, 78.913% (GBR)
4. Nanna Skodborg Merrald and Blue Hors Zepter, 77.478% (DEN)
5. Frederic Wandres and Bluetooth OLD, 77.087% (GER)
27. Annabella Pidgley and Vamos Amigos, 69.870% (GBR)
32. Laura Tomlinson and DSP Rose of Bavaria, 69.543% (GBR)
CDIO5* Grand Prix Special
1. Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera BB, 81.021% (GER)
2. Charlotte Dujardin and Imhotep, 80.787% (GBR)
3. Nanna Skodborg Merrald and Blue Hors Zepter, 80.340% (DEN)
4. Charlotte Fry and Everdale, 79.574% (GBR)
5. Therese Nilshagen and Dante Weltino OLD, 76.234% (SWE)
24. Laura Tomlinson and DSP Rose of Bavaria, 70.830% (GBR)
32. Annabella Pidgley and Vamos Amigos, 68.915% (GBR)
CDIO5* Nations Cup Team results
1. Germany - 468.285%
2. Denmark - 460.097%
3. Great Britain - 459.756%
4. Netherlands - 440.624%
5. Sweden - 439.843%
CDIO5* Grand Prix Freestyle
1. Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and Dalera BB, 90.820% (GER)
2. Nanna Skodborg Merrald and Blue Hors Zepter, 88.730% (DEN)
3. Charlotte Dujardin and Imhotep, 88.415% (GBR)
4. Charlotte Fry and Everdale, 87.515% (GBR)
5. Isabell Werth and Quantaz, 84.840% (GER)
CDI4* Grand Prix
1. Frederic Wandres and Duke of Britain FRH, 76.935% (GER)
2. Charlotte Fry and Lars van de Hoenderheide, 75.196% (GBR)
3. Daniel Bachmann Andersen and Vayron, 75.131% (DEN)
4. Matthias Alexander Rath and Thiago GS, 74.870% (GER)
5. Isabell Werth and Emilio, 74.283% (GER)
13. Laura Tomlinson and Fallatijn, 71.587% (GBR)
CDI4* Grand Prix Special
1. Frederic Wandres and Duke of Britain FRH, 75.894% (GER)
2. Charlotte Fry and Lars van de Hoenderheide - 75.128% (GBR)
3. Katharina Hemmer and Denoix PCH - 73.957% (GER)
4. Daniel Bachmann Andersen and Vayron - 73.851% (DEN)
5. Matthias Alexander Rath and Thiago GS - 73.660% (GER)
10. Laura Tomlinson and Fallatijn, 65.340% (GBR)
CDI1* Prix St Georges
1. Charlotte Dujardin and Kismet, 77.588% (GBR)
2. Frederic Wandres and Quizmaster FRH, 73.883%(GER)
3. Andrina Suter and Briatore, 72.794% (CHE)
4. Therese Nilshagen and La Vie, 71.912% (SWE)
5. Dinja van Liere and Vita di Lusso, 71.794%(NED)
9. Charlotte Fry and Kashmir, 69.970% (GBR)
CDI1* Intermediate I
1. Charlotte Dujardin and Kismet, 78.294% (GBR)
2. Frederic Wandres - Quizmaster FRH - 75.441% (GER)
3. Therese Nilshagen - La Vie - 73.441% (SWE)
4. Marlies van Baalen - Jacky Kennedy DVB - 72.971% (NED)
5. Dinja van Liere - Vita di Lusso - 72.471% (NED)
CDIY Young Rider Individual Test
1. Annabella Pidgley and Espe, 74.441% (GBR)
2. Hedda Thunberg and Diva, 71.059% (SWE)
3. Erin Nichols and Elian Royale, 71.029% (USA)
4. Anna Derlien and Holly Golightly 20, 70.882%(GER)
5. Mado Pinto and Hot Bit de la Gesse, 70.853% (FRA)
CDIY Young Rider Freestyle Test
1. Annabella Pidgley and Espe, 78.620% (GBR)
2. Alexander Yde Helgstrand and Belantis, 77.735% (DEN)
3. Christian Simonson and Son of a Lady, 75.660% (USA)
4. Mado Pinto and Hot Bit de la Gesse, 74.610% (FRA)
5. Moritz Treffinger and Treffinger's Francis Royal, 74.285% (GER)
