Charlotte Cundall (GBR) driving FJ Veyron within the workforce take a look at Grade V © FEI/Leanjo de Koster
Sweden Qualifies for Paris
The thrill for the workforce rankings has been excessive on the FEI Para Dressage European Championships in Riesenbeck. Not solely have been the evident glory of workforce medals at stake, however for one workforce, a superb end result meant a nation spot for the Paralympic Video games in Paris subsequent 12 months.
As the highest positioned workforce not already certified for the Video games would earn that spot, the stakes have been excessive for nations corresponding to Eire, Austria, and Sweden. The final Austrian rider Bernd Brugger was additionally the final rider of the day, so rigidity was drawn out to the very finish. It was subsequently a cheerful and relieved Swedish workforce that discovered themselves in possession of a nation’s qualification for Paris 2024.
Mette Ubbesen, Swedish workforce coach, says: “I’m so excited! I feel the riders have been doing a terrific job. For the final 10 months I’ve labored with them, they’ve simply been getting higher and higher they usually have labored so exhausting. Our plan for these championships was to qualify the workforce for Paris, however we didn’t fairly consider in it. However we truly succeeded!”
The Netherlands takes Staff Gold as soon as once more
The defending European Championship workforce from 2019 in Rotterdam has simply reclaimed their title right here on the FEI Para Dressage European Championships in Riesenbeck. For a very long time, it appeared prefer it might be German gold, however then the European championship debutant Demi Haerkens (Grade IV) and her tremendous mare EHL Daula entered the world. The pair completely smashed it within the Grand Prix B and have been rewarded with excellent 79.730%.
Not solely did they’ve the best rating of the day, however extra importantly, they put the Netherlands in gold place. Earlier than her, Frank Hosmar (Grade V) driving Alphaville N.O.P. and Lotte Krijnsen (Grade III) on Rosenstolz N.O.P. had laid a powerful fundament for the gold. Lastly, Sanne Voets (Grade IV) and Demantur RS2 N.O.P. sealed the deal and introduced the workforce rating as much as a powerful 232.637%.
In the long run, the German workforce consisting of Heidemarie Dresing (Grade II) on Horse24 Dooloop, Melanie Wienand (III) on Lemony’s Loverboy, Martina Benzinger (Grade I) on Nautika, and Regine Mispelkamp (Grade V) on Highlander Delight’s took the silver medal with a complete rating of 226.979%.
On bronze, we’ve the tremendous girls from Nice Britain, Georgia Wilson (Grade II) driving Sakura, Gabby Blake (Grade I) on Sturdy Beau, Charlotte Cundall (Grade V) on FJ Veyron, and Sophie Wells (Grade V) on LJT Egebjerggards Samoa ending with a complete rating of 222.663%.
Nationwide coach for the Netherlands, Joyce Heuitink, talking after the ultimate end result: “I’m extremely comfortable, and I’m greater than proud. I feel from most of them, it was a pure masterclass! It gave me goosebumps and tears throughout the take a look at already, as a result of it was so good and easy and delightful and mistake-free. I’ve riders that carry out beneath stress they usually have to point out it each present, which isn’t a assure, however as soon as once more they’ve confirmed that they will carry out beneath stress, which additionally makes me extraordinarily proud that you could depend on such good driving.”
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by Stinne Tange
