German team supreme in Herning

After the first day of the team competition in Blue Hors FEI European Championship two German riders reign the ranks; Isabell Werth 1st and Fabienne Lütkemeier 2nd.

The Blue Hors FEI European Championship started out today with the team competition in Grand Prix. 32 riders representing 14 teams made their appearance, and the remaining half of the riders will ride tomorrow Thursday to determine the team competition.

The favourites for the team medals at the Blue Hors FEI European Championships are considered to be Germany, the Netherlands and Great Britain, but everything is open, and the hosting country Denmark also has a fair chance to be in the medals tomorrow.

Today the Germans proved to be very strong. Their two riders today, Fabienne Lütkemeier and Isabell Werth, have not only secured a temporarily first place for the German team but also individually took first and second place. Aboard D’Agostino Lütkemeier scored 73.237% and only beaten by fellow team rider Werth topping the ranks with 75.213% on Don Johnson.

– I am super pleased. We had a bumpy start, but “Johnny” fought with me. It went really well, said Isabell Werth.

Neither the Danish nor the Dutch riders were able to produce fault-free tests today, and at the end of the day the Danish team had put themselves in second position, only marginally ahead of the Dutch team. Danish Andreas Helgstrand and Akeem Foldager earned 72.720% whilst his team mate Lone Bang Larsen scored 68,875%.

– I am a bit disappointed because my training up to the Europeans has been going so well, and then today we make so many mistakes, but horses are living animals, so you never know. My warm-up today did not really go according to plan, and Akeem was just more tense today than I had expected, Helgstrand concluded after his ride.

Dutch Hans Peter Minderhoud scored 71.353% aboard Glock’s Romanov whilst Danielle Heijkoop and Kingsley Siro earned a score of 70.228% securing a third place for the Netherlands.

– I am satisfied although my ride was not flawless. Romanov is totally cool with the atmosphere here, and he knows Herning. He has competed here all his life, Minderhoud joked after his test.

The best 30 riders from the Grand Prix will go through to the battle for the individual medals which is executed in the Grand Prix Special on Friday. Saturday is rest-day for the dressage riders and horses, and Sunday is the grand finale where the best 15 riders (maximum 3 per country) from the Grand Prix Special will compete for the individual medals in Grand Prix Freestyle.

Second half of the Grand Prix team test begins tomorrow Thursday at 8.00 am.

See all results HERE

www.european-herning.dk