The German dressage team made up of Nadine Capellmann/Elvis, Hubertus Schmidt/Wansuela Suerte, Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff/Sterntaler-Unicer and Isabell Werth/Warum Nicht lived up to their role as favourites in the Lambertz Prize, Dressage Nations' Cup. With a total score of 223.374 points the German squad finished ahead of the Danish
(209.875) and Swedish (209.542) teams. “Last year's defeat against the Dutch team was particularly painful, because Aachen is of special significance for us”, the German national coach, Holger Schmezer, remarked. Whereby one must state that the Dutch had made it somewhat easier for the German team, since with this year's World Equestrian Games in mind, they didn't send their strongest pairs to Aachen, for instance Olympic gold medallist, Anky van Grunsven, didn't compete at the CHIO and her fellow-countryman, Edward Gal, didn't ride his Championship horse, Lingh, but instead saddled his “number two” horse, Gribaldi. Thus the Dutch team only took fifth place (205.958) behind the Swiss riders (207,417).
In the individual classification, Nadine Capellmann from Aachen, triumphed with the ten-year-old Hanoverian Esprit son, Elvis (75,833). At the subsequent press conference, the local rider admitted afterwards, “I was a little bit nervous, after not having competed in the team for three years, but Elvis was really calm. And everything went very well except for the flying changes á tempo.” The Finnish rider, Kyra Kyrklund came a close second with the Swedish gelding, Max (75.542). The pair, who took only tenth place at the European Championships in 2005, impressed everyone with their considerable improvement in performance.
Isabell Werth, whose 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding, Warum Nicht by Weltmeyer, had made constant progress over the winter, also celebrated her comeback to the German team. Having taken second place in the World Cup Final, behind Anky van Grunsven, the chestnut gelding also came third in the dressage arena in Aachen (74,833).
After the team competition yesterday, the dressage riders now go on to fight for victory in the individual classification, the Grand Prix of Aachen that is endowed with prize-money totalling 100,000 Euros.
Results (20.05.06)
CDIO Aachen – Alemanha
Event 1 – GP – Individual
1º Nadine Capellmann (Ale) / Elvis VA / 75,833%
2º Kyra Kyrklund (Fin) / Max / 75,542
3º Isabell Werth (Ale) / Warum Nicht Frh / 74,833
4º Andreas Helgstrand (Din) / Blue Hors Don Schufro / 73,417
5º Silvia Ikle (Sui) / Salieri CH / 72,083
6º Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff (Ale) / Sterntaler-Unicef / 71,708
7º Jan Brink (Sue) / Björssels Briar / 71,5
8º Hubertus Schmidt (Ale) / Wansuela Suerte / 71,375
9º Edward Gal (Hol) / Ips Gribaldi / 71,25
10º Karen Tebar (Fra) / Falada M / 70,792
37º Miguel Duarte (Por) / Oxális da Meia Lua / 61,042
Event 2 – Nations Cup – Teams
1º Germany / 222,374%
Nadine Capellmann (Ale) / Elvis VA / 75,833
Isabell Werth (Ale) / Warum Nicht Frh / 74,833
Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff (Ale) / Sterntaler-Unicef / 71,708
Hubertus Schmidt (Ale) / Wansuela Suerte / 71,375
2º Denmark / 209,875
Anders Dahl (Din) / Afrikka / 67,5
Joachim Thomson (Din) / Mikado Engvang / 66,5
Fie Skarsö (Din) / Münchhausen TSF / 68,958
Andreas Helgstrand (Din) / Blue Hors Don Schufro / 73,417
3º Sweden / 209.542
Kristian Von Krusenstierna (Sue) / Wilson / 67,875
Per Sandgaard (Sue) / Memphis / 67,583
Louise Nathorst (Sue) / Guinness / 70,167
Jan Brink (Sue) / Björssels Briar 899 / 71,5
4º Switzerland / 207,417
Marie-Line Wettstein (Sui) / Le Primeur / 63,542
Marcela Krinke Susmelj (Sui) / Corinth / 69,79
Christian Pläge (Sui) / Regent / 67,917
Silvia Ikle (Sui) / Salieri CH / 72,083
5º Holland / 205.958
Edward Gal (Hol) / Ips Gribaldi / 71,25
Patricia Callaghan (Hol) / Joy / 65,875
Alex Van Silfhout (Hol) / Luxform's Nimbly / E
Kirsten Beckers (Hol) / Broere Montecristo / 68,833
6º Great Britain / 203,625
Richard Davison (Gbr) / Hiscox Karachi / 63,625
Sandy Phillips (Gbr) / Lara 106 / 67,792
Laura Bechtolsheimer (Gbr) / Douglas Dorsey / 66,5
Emma Hindle (Gbr) / Lancet / 69,333
7º França / 202,584
Constance Menard-Laboute (Fra) / Lianca / 64,792
Hubert Perring (Fra) / Diabolo St Maurice / 64,292
Dominique d'Esme (Fra) / Roi De Coeur Gfd / 67
Karen Tebar (Fra) / Falada M / 70,792
8º Spain / 201,376
José Ignacio López Porras (Esp) / Nevado Santa Clara / 66,417
Enrique Cruces Fernandez (Esp) / Keops / 64,917
Eduardo Mellado Murga (Esp) / Hortelano / 65,917
Ignacio Rambla (Esp) / Distinguido 2 / 69,042