At the halfway point of the second and final day of the team dressage competition at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG), Germany have what looks like an unassailable lead, while Britain languish in fourth behind the Netherlands and the USA.
Isabell Werth was the morning’s standout performance riding Bella Rose. They lead the competition so far with 81.529%. Apart from two small blips, the test was a masterclass in power and relaxation and the duo topped 81% for the first time in the grand prix test.
British team hopes of silver took a bashing when mistakes crept into Michael Eilberg‘s test on Half Moon Delphi (pictured top) and they scored 71.886%.
“I was disappointed with the test,” admitted the 27-year-old. “It was below par and I was really hoping to pull one out of the bag for the team.
“The one-times had been feeling like clockwork in the warm-up — but maybe she caught sight of the TV camera at the end of them.” Watch H&H’s interview with Michael.
The Dutch team were also dealt a blow when Glock’s Voice — who had been trending on over 79% — lost concentration in the first piaffe and Edward Gal decided to bring him out of it after too few steps, garnering a 4.9 average score from the seven judges. Another mistake in the one-time changes saw their their score finish on 72.414%. Watch H&H’s interview with Edward. Barring disaster with the nation’s final team rider, Adelinde Cornelissen will post the third and final counting score for the Dutch this afternoon.
Britain’s remaining rider Charlotte Dujardin now has the pressure piled on her. If Adelinde equals her grand prix score of 80.98% from last time out in Aachen, then Charlotte will need to score 82.68% to secure team silver. Charlotte rides at 5pm local time (4pm UK time) with the team medals being decided at the end of today’s competition.
Top 10 individual riders
1. Isabell Werth on Bella Rose 2 GER 81.529%
2. Kristina Sprehe on Desperados FRH GER 78.814%
3. Morgan Barbançon on Painted Black ESP 75.143%
4. Laura Graves on Verdades USA 74.871%
5. Hans Peter Minderhoud on Glock’s Johnson TN NED 74.357%
6. Carl Hester on Nip Tuck GBR 74.186%
7. Patrik Kittel on Watermill Scandic SWE 74.086%
8. Fabienne Lütkemeier on D’Agostino FRH GER 73.586%
9. Diederik van Silfhout on Arlando NH NOP NED 73.414%
10. Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein on Digby DEN 72.771%
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14. Michael Eilberg on Half Moon Delphi 71.886%
23. Gareth Hughes on DV Stenkjers Nadonna GBR 69.714%
Team standings (after three riders)
1. Germany
Kristina Sprehe on Desperados FRH 78.814%
Fabienne Lütkemeier on D’Agostino FRH 73.586%
Isabell Werth on Bella Rose 2 GER 81.529%
Average 77.9763%
2. The Netherlands
Diederik van Silfhout on Arlando NH NOP NED 73.414%
Hans Peter Minderhoud on Glock’s Johnson TN 74.357%
Edward Gal on Glock’s Voice 72.414%
Average 73.3950%
3. America
Tina Konyot on Calecto V USA 69.643%
Adrienne Lyle on Wizard 72.0%
Laura Graves on Verdades 74.871%
Average 72.1713%
4. Great Britain
Gareth Hughes on DV Stenkjers Nadonna GBR 69.714%
Carl Hester on Nip Tuck 74.186%
Michael Eilberg on Half Moon Delphi 71.886%
Average 71.9287%
5. Sweden
Jeanna Högberg on Darcia VH SWE 69.657%
Minne Telde and Santana 71.114%
Patrik Kittel on Watermill Scandic 74.086%
Average 71.6190%
6. Denmark
Mikala Münter Gendersen on My Lady 70.271%
Lars Petersen on Mariett 70.8%
Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein on Digby 72.771%
Average 71.2807%
Watch WEG dressage video interviews
WEG dressage grand prix: H&H talks to Michael Eilberg [VIDEO]
H&H's dressage editor caught up with a disappointed Michael Eilberg after his test at WEG earlier today
WEG dressage grand prix: Edward Gal talks to H&H [VIDEO]
H&H's dressage editor gets reaction from Edward Gal after his test at WEG earlier today
WEG dressage grand prix: Carl Hester talks to H&H [VIDEO]
Horse & Hound caught up with Carl Hester after his grand prix test on Nip Tuck and asked for his
WEG dressage grand prix: Gareth Hughes talks to H&H [VIDEO]
H&H dressage editor Alice Collins caught up with Gareth Hughes after his grand prix test with DV Stenkjers Nadonna
