The regional park of La Mandria, covering some 3,000 hectares and located some 20 kilometres from the historical centre of Turin, provides the spectacular backdrop of the 2007 FEI European Dressage Championship. Action began today with the first 28 out of a total of 55 riders performing their Grand Prix test.
At the end of the first day, Ellen Schulten-Baumer (GER) on the 13-year old Donata S, whose beautiful extension earned her 71.667%, takes the lead. She is followed by Hans Peter Minderhoud of The Netherlands riding Exquis Nadine (70.458%). Another German, Monica Theodorescu on Whisper 128 is third (69.708%).
Where the teams are concerned, after two riders, Germany, who have won the team gold at every single European Dressage championship since 1965, are unsurprisingly in the lead (141.375). The Netherlands, who so far have won five European silver medals, are second (139) and Sweden are third (134.333). Twelve teams – Austria, Belgium, France, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, The Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland – are taking part in this year’s edition.
A European championship is under no circumstances a done deal and is never taken for granted by anyone but, admittedly, there are those with a vast international experience and those for whom La Mandria is a remarkable first. It is the first time that Anna Ross-Davis on Liebling II has made the British team. A reserve rider, she was taken on after the withdrawal of Carl Hester. Anna is a pupil of the great German champion Ulla Salzgeber, who has travelled to the championship especially for her. Switzerland’s Veronika Marthaler is also making her debut on the big stage. She is working with Silvia Iklé and riding a horse schooled by Silvia. She performed her first Grand Prix in April this year at CDI 3* Hagen; the following month she placed third in the Grand Prix at CDI 3* here at La Mandria. She has not been under pressure for her instructor to make the European team, “but I listened to all the advice Silvia gave me and all of it worked,” Veronika explains.
It is also a special first for Denmark’s Per Sandgaard. A former Danish rider, he has followed his partner and trainer Peter Markne and is now competing for Sweden. The number of his supporters has now doubled since his performance was greeted with both Danish and Swedish flags.
Just as last week at Mannheim, there is much to hope for at this Championship. European gold is, of course, a shining price but Olympic qualification is not be neglected either. Three team slots are still available for European teams and the three best placed teams at this championship, excluding Germany and The Netherlands who qualified at the FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen, will qualify for Hong Kong.
Actions resumes tomorrow with the second part of the Grand Prix at the end of which will be decided the team medals.
Standings after 2 competitors of each team
Pl. Team
1. GERMANY
Whisper 128 Theodorescu,Monica 69.708%
Donatha S Schulten-Baumer,Ellen 71.667%
Elvis VA Capellmann,Nadine
Satchmo 78 Werth,Isabell
Total 141.375
2. NETHERLANDS
Exquis Nadine Minderhoud,Hans Peter 70.458%
Hexagon´s Ollright Van Lieren,Laurens 68.542%
Keltec Salinero Van Grunsven,Anky
Hunter Douglas Sunrise Schellekens-Bartels,Imke
Total 139.000
3. SWEDEN
Orient Sandgaard,Per 66.583%
Isidor Nathhorst,Louise 67.750%
Solos Carex Wilhelmsson-Silfven,Tinne
Bjorsells Briar 899 Brink,Jan
Total 134.333
4. GREAT BRITAIN
Liebling II Ross-Davis,Anna 67.417%
Mr G de Lully Bigwood,Fiona 65.167%
Mistral Hojris Bechtolsheimer,Laura
Lancet 2 Hindle,Emma
Total 132.584
5. SWITZERLAND
Regent Pläge,Christian 64.208%
Romario Marthaler,Veronika 66.542%
Le Primeur 2 Wettstein,Marie-Line
Salieri CH Iklé,Silvia
Total 130.750
6. DENMARK
Mikado Engvang Thomson,Joachim 63.958%
Clearwater Henningsen,Sanne 66.125%
Rigoletto zu Sayn-Wittgenstein,Nathalie
Gredstedgaards Casmir Helgstrand,Andreas
Total 130.083
7. SPAIN
Wie-Atlantico Matute-Azpitarte,Juan 64.500%
Fuego XII Munoz Diaz,Juan Manuel 64.500%
@uxtro vd Vlasbloemhoeve Aguilo,Miquel Lauro
Prestige Domingo Coll,Jordi
Total 129.000
8. AUSTRIA
Ellis Mayr,Hannes 65.833%
Palazzo 19 Bachinger,Eva-Maria 63.125%
Egalité Stadlinger,Nina
Falcao OLD Max-Theurer,Victoria
Total 128.958
9. BELGIUM
Maxwil V Verwimp,Wim 63.083%
Artic´s Rosantica Engelen,David 62.417%
Born Hologne-Joux,Francoise
Paganini Devroe,Jeroen
Total 125.500
10. FRANCE
Parodie vd Wateringhoeve Van Doorn,Odile 63.000%
Calimucho Chevanne,Julia 62.167%
Diabolo St.Maurice Perring,Hubert
Lianca Menard,Constance
Total 125.167
11. RUSSIA
Lady Lux Morozkina,Ksenia 60.042%
Artax Condor RBB Sidneva,Elena 64.583%
Wat a Feeling Miloserdova,Tatiana
Balagur Korelova,Alexandra
Total 124.625
12. PORTUGAL
Riopele Valente Torres,Pedro 62.667%
Novatel JCL Puy Du Fou Pinto,Carlos 61.917%
Oxalis Da Meia Lua Duarte,Miguel Ralao
Galopin de la Font Pinto,Daniel
Total 124.584
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