Isabell Werth restored German pride by taking the grand prix special individual gold medal at the European dressage championships in Turin (1 September).
Despite a mistake in the two-time changes, for which she scored fours, Isabell completed on 78.36% riding her 2006 world medallist, Satchmo. The pair scored a 10 from judge Leif Toernblad (DEN) for the left trot half-pass that had caused them grief in yesterday’s team competition.
Isabell said: “I was really happy with Satchmo, particularly in the early trot work and passage tour — he showed a lot of energy and elegance today.”
Anky van Grunsven (NED) was second on Keltec Salinero scoring 77.48% with no big mistakes.
Anky said: “My trainer Sjef [Janssen] said that I had Salinero’s passage too short today, so tomorrow I will try to make the passage bigger and hopefully beat Isabell.”
Anky’s Dutch team-mate and pupil Imke Schellekens-Bartels took bronze with the 13-year-old mare, Hunter Douglas Sunrise.
“Sunrise was in great shape today, even better than in yesterday’s grand prix,” said Imke. “To me the whole test felt fluent and easy.”
First time championship contender Anna Ross-Davies was best of the British today. She scored 68.04% riding Donald McTaggart’s Liebling, which was good enough for 16th and a place in tomorrow’s kür.
Fiona Bigwood improved on her team test performance with 67.36% on Mr G de Lully, just missing out on tomorrow’s finally in 18th.
Laura Bechtolsheimer had mistakes in the changes on Mistral Hojris, which put them in 20th position, just ahead of Emma Hindle on Lancet, who also had problems with the changes.
Don’t miss next week’s Horse & Hound for a full report and pictures from the European dressage championships (6 September)
