A new generation of stars emerges at Herning2022, and they have young talented horses to develop even further. The Blue Hors FEI World Dressage Grand Prix Special Championship
showed 29 combinations giving their best to reach the freestyle and final medal possibilities on Wednesday evening under floodlight.
Best of the best in a tight competition filled with suspense and drama was Charlotte “Lottie” Fry on the black stallion Glamourdale. She beat silver winning Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour in a tight battle where perhaps a tiny misstep in canter cost the Danish home-rider the top podium position. Dutch rider Dinja van Liere kept control of the reins of her elegant stallion Hermés, whom she claims is a bit of a clown from time to time.
As the competition of the Grand Prix Special unfolded, many combinations came through producing even better rides than in the team competition. A bit of the tension from the pressure of representing a team had gone away and the combinations could really show off their qualities in the more demanding program that is the Grand Prix Special.
The claim on the top positions started out with German team debutante Benjamin Werndl that did a fabulous ride with his Famoso OLD scoring 78.237 percent. Charlotte Dujardin followed up with a very excited and eager Imhotep but could not quite get ahead of Benjamin Werndl. The stadium got really heated when a lovely lady in orange tails entered on a beautiful stallion. Dinja van Liere and Hermes held it together and scored 79.407 percent, a personal best. Still, the amazon used powerful language in a bit of annoyance, she has dreamt of 80 percent for a long time and will surely achieve it given time. Straight after her entered the rider with the highest score in the team competition, Danish rider Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour on her energetic Vamos Amigos. They really showed off a fluent, harmonious, and elegant test, but a tiny tempi fault cost a little, giving them a score of 81.322 percent. Would it be sufficient to win?
Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour and Vamos Amigos. Photo: Herning2022/ www.sportfotos-lafrentz.de/Stefan Lafrentz
Young Charlotte Fry on approved breeding stallion Glamourdale came in meeting the cheer for Cathrine from the crowd in Stutteri Ask Stadium in stride. They produced a flawless test, improving on their weak points with so much promise for the future. The crowd followed her every canter step in awe sending her off to powerful cheering in the last halt. When she left the stadium meeting Die Queen Isabell Werth in the ring the queen shared a high-five with young “Lottie” on her way out, true sportsmanship in full view. Charlotte Fry and Glamourdale scored 82.508 percent and took over the lead securing a top podium place. Isabell Werth and DSP Quantaz delivered their best ride to date, but the percentage did not suffice for a podium place. British gold, Danish silver, and a Dutch bronze medal in the Blue Hors FEI World Dressage Grand Prix Special Championship.
Dinja van Liere and Hermés. Photo: Herning2022/Hippofoto.be Dirk Caremans
/Herning2022
