Germany won the Lambertz Nations' Cup in dressage today for the 26th time at the World Equestrian Festival, CHIO Aachen 2008 (June 27th – July 6th) with a team score of 220.959 percent. Followed by the Netherlands (207.708 percent) and Denmark (205.833). Sweden finished fourth.
Isabell Werth rode to victory for the second time in the MEGGLE-Prize with her World Championship horse, Satchmo. “I was slightly apprehensive beforehand, because Satchmo had got himself keyed up for the hot weather and doesn't really like the rain. But fortunately it stayed dry and he performed brilliantly,” the rider from Rheinberg said joyfully. She headed the field with a score of 76.917 percent. The 28-year-old Dutch rider Adelinde Cornelissen scored 73.215 percent with her Jazz descendent, Parzival, and surprised everyone by taking second place. Cornelissen was only two years old when she made her first attempts at riding on the Shetland ponies that grazed on the fields at her parent's home. Adelinde also claimed her first title on a pony, namely on the Welsh pony Ayesha. The English teacher worked at a riding establishment in Canada for a year and was subsequently given the chance to ride Parzival. “At the beginning I wasn't always in control, but we have grown together well and have already had some great moments,” the Dutch rider recounted.
Third place went to Heike Kemmer with a score of 72.259. “Bonaparte was perfect, very attentive and completely concentrated. I was more than satisfied and will do my very best to be able to travel to Hong Kong,” explained the Berlin-born rider, who is now resident in Winsen. Thus, Kemmer was the second best placed German ahead of Nadine Capellmann, who came fourth with a score of 71.79 percent. “Unfortunately, we made a few small blunders, for example in the pirouette and in the flying changes á tempi, where Elvis didn't have enough forward motion. Yet, overall I was satisfied with our performance,” the 42-year-old reported. Matthias Alexander Rath, the last rider in the German team, was awarded 66.75 percent and finished 18th with his horse Sterntaler.
ISABELL WERTH CLAIMED THE GRAND PRIX CDI
The spectators didn't have to miss out on the notorious duel between Isabell Werth and Anky van Grunsven, which has been tradition at the World Equestrian Festival, CHIO Aachen for years (June 27th – July 6th), in the CDI competition either. The winning rosette in the HAVENS Pferdefutter Prize, Grand Prix CDI, went to Isabell Werth (Germany). “Hannes, as we call Warum Nicht, was brilliant. We only made a small mistake in the pirouette, but otherwise I was completely satisfied. He wanted to start too soon,” reported the 38-year-old rider, who currently lies third in the FEI world rankings with the Hanoverian Weltmeyer son. The Dutch rider, Anky van Grunsven, who had saddled the 11-year-old black stallion, IPS Painted Black, had to be satisfied with third place (71.042 percent).
18 riders from six nations competed in the light drizzle. Monica Theodorescu was delighted that she came second with the 10-year-old Welt Hit IO son, Whisper. A small mistake in the extended trot cost her valuable points in a performance that was otherwise packed with highlights. The pair even received 9.0 from three of the judges for their extended walk. The final score of the rider from Sassenberg, Westphalia, totalled 71.917 percent.
After leading the field for a long time, the Danish rider Andreas Helgstrand finally finished fourth. “I was very pleased with my horse, but I was rather disappointed with my score. I had expected to get more points, the father of two, who scored 70.833, commented. “I will be taking both Don Schufro and Gredstedgards Casmir with me into the quarantine for the Olympic Games. And then we will decide, who will travel to Hong Kong,” the 30-year-old rider explained. “My personal favourite is Don Schufro, because he has more experience. Casmir is only nine and needs a year or two yet.”
Incidentally, Ingrid Klimke is taking part in two disciplines here in Aachen: As well as competing in the dressage, she is also a member of the German eventing team and will be riding FRH Butts Abraxxas in the Nations' Cup on Friday and Saturday. She is hoping to earn herself a ticket to Hong Kong with this horse.