After two days with Horse Inspections and familiarisation, today it was finally time for the first Para Dressage competitions and medals at the ECCO FEI World Championships.
Grade I – the DJ took a historic gold medal for Latvia
Rihards Snikus rode a flawless test in front of enthusiastic fans cheering on after his test. He is a DJ in his civilian life and rode his King of Dance to an amazing score of 78.535 percent in a really tight battle, only separated by few points, with Italy’s star rider Sara Morganti on Royal Delight. The bronze was a dream come true for Irish rider Michael Murphy, coming out of the arena very pleased with his Cleverboy, doing good on his name.
The competition had ten riders over 70 percent, so it was a really competitive grade and class under blazing sun at the beautiful BB Arena where spectators were flowing in and out of the stands during the day.
Grade I
Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Individual Championship presented by Elsass Fonden
Prize podium with medals
Gold Rihards Snikus (LAT) with King of the Dance 14-year-old gelding by Kadius LS, 78.535 %
Silver Sara Morganti (ITA) with Royal Delight 17-year-old gelding by Royaldik, 78.393 %
Bronze Michael Murphy (IRL) with Cleverboy 15-year-old gelding by Vivaldi, 74.143 %
Judges presiding in Individual program for Grade I
E – Katherine Lucheschi (ITA)
H – Jeannette Wolfs (NED)
C – Suzanne Cunningham (AUS)
M – Kjell Myhre (NOR)
B – Marco Orsini (GER)
Grade II – Danish victory in tight battle
Several really experienced combinations entered in Grade II, and it was an extremely narrow battle for the top placings as less than one percent separated a bronze from a gold. Danish hope Katrine Kristiansen made all the wishes for a medal to the hosting nation come true.
Highly experienced and skilled multi medalist Pepo Puch from Austria took the lead with a good performance scoring over 75 percent. He was followed by fellow fierce competitor since many years Lee Pearson who really tried his heart out and nearly succeeded, just fractions behind in the scores.
The two seniors had to stand aside as Katrine Kristiansen put in a superb ride and overtook the lead. Pepo Puch said it all; “We need this fierce competition, it is sport”.
Grade II
Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Individual Championship presented by Elsass Fonden
Prize podium with medals
Gold Katrine Kristensen (DEN) with Goerklintgaards Quater 14-year-old gelding by Quaterback, 75.788 %
Silver Pepo Puch (AUT) with Sailor’s Blue 14-year-old gelding by Swarovski, 75.333 %
Bronze Lee Pearson (GBR) with Breezer 11-year-old gelding by Bacardi, 75.091 %
Judges presiding in Individual program for Grade II
E: John Robinson (GBR)
H: Suzanne Cunningham (AUS)
C: Katherine Lucheschi (ITA)
M: Jeannette Wolfs (NED)
B: Kristi Wysocki (USA)
Grade IV – Dutch ladies thrive under pressure
Gold and silver went then Netherlands with multi-champion Sanne Voets on top position and championship debutante Demi Haerkens as runner-up. Rodolpho Riskalla from Brazil was really eager to bring a medal home for his championship hero of a horse Don Henrico as this will be a very emotional last championship for the dynamic duo.
The medalists performed fluent flawless tests with really good scores from the five judges, showing high-lever performances. In the grade some exciting new horses were presented by skilled riders and the coming days will be exciting for the team and individual competition.
Grade IV
Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Individual Championship presented by Elsass Fonden
Prize podium with medals
Gold Sanne Voets (NED) with Demantur RS2 N.O.P. 14-year-old gelding by Vivaldi, 76.750 %
Silver Demi Haerkens (NED) with EHL Daula 14-year-old mare by Gribaldi, 76.000 %
Bronze Don Henrico (BRA) with 19-year-old stallion by Don Frederico, 74.925 %
Judges presiding in Individual program for Grade IV
E – Kjell Myhre (NOR)
H – Katherine Lucheschi (ITA)
C – Marco Orsini (GER)
M – Kristi Wysocki (USA)
B – John Robinson (GBR)
/Herning2022
