Para Dressage: Gold for Belgium – and more gold for Denmark

Under blue skies and sunshine, the para-riders from grade V and grade III fought for individual medals at ECCO FEI World Championships.

World number one Michèle George took gold

Para-riders in Grade V tried their very best at the BB Horse Arena judged by a panel of five judges. The breeze made conditions hot but bearable still challenging both athletes and horses.

First to go was Keving van Ham (BEL) with Eros van Ons Heem and they kicked off the competition with a really good score for 71.977 percent, pleased with their result. The good results kept coming and when world number one Michèle George (BEL) rode her elegant mare, the spectators looked on in awe. They made good scores and landed a 76.419 percent keeping them in the lead throughout the class ending up on the podium with a gold medal.

However, Michèle George was equally challenged by Sophie Wells (GBR) on Don Cara M and Frank Hosmar on Alphaville N.O.P who both scored over 75 percent producing good tests. The silver and bronze medalists were very pleased with their horses despite not beating George, at least not in today’s team program. Frank Hosmar stated in his interview after the ride that he was just happy to compete his horse yet again at a championship as Alphaville’s health issues nearly broke their 13-year-long partnership. “Competing with him here is worth everything.

Grade V

Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Individual Championship presented by Elsass Fonden

Prize podium with medals

Gold         Michèle George (BEL)with Best of 8 12-year-.old mare by Bonifatius , 76.419%

Silver        Sophie Wells (GBR) with Don Cara M 13-year-old gelding by Don Jovi, 75.279 %

Bronze     Frank Hosmar (NED) with Alphaville N.O.P. 17-year-old gelding by Sandreo, 75.256 %

Judges presiding in Individual program for Grade V
E - Suzanne Cunningham (AUS)

H - Kristi Wysocki (USA)

C  - Kjell Myhre (NOR)

M  - John Robinson (GBR)

B - Jeannette Wolfs (NED)

Link to result Grade V -Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Individual Championship presented by Elsass Fonden

Danish Tobias Thorning Jørgensen Grade III winner with margins on his side

Grade III took off with a kick-start as several combinations rode very well scoring 70 percent and above. Early in the class Rebecca Hart showed her skill with El Corona Texel and scored well with 73.147 percent, in the lead until home rider Tobias Thorning Jørgensen entered with lovely grey mare Jolene Hill. The combination gave their all and a little more in the warm and sunny afternoon. The test was fluent, and the scores went up and up all through his test to land on 78.676 percent closing in on his personal best score.

British rider Natasha Baker and Keystone Dawn Chorus were showing well but perhaps not up to their usual level due to a short time for preparation after health issues for Natasha in the previous months. The combination has so much quality that even after short preparation they performed very well and scored 73.9740 percent landing a bronze medal for Great Britain. Medals were distributed to Denmark, Great Britain and USA.

Grade III

Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Individual Championship presented by Elsass Fonden

Prize podium with medals

Gold         Tobias Thorning Jørgensen (DEN) with Jolene Hill 14-year-mare by Blue Hors Schufro Hit, 78.676 %

Silver        Natasha Baker(GBR) with Keystone Dawn Chorus 11-year-old mare by Dimaggio, 73.970 %

Bronze     Rebecca Hart(USA) with El Corona Texel 13-year-old gelding by Wynton, 73.147 %

Judges presiding in Individual program for Grade II
E - Marco Orsini (GER)

H - John Robinson (GBR)

C - Jeannette Wolfs (NED)

M - Suzanne Cunningham (AUS)

B - Katherine Lucheschi (ITA)

Link to result Grade III -Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Individual Championship presented by Elsass Fonden

Get Flash Quotes and lots of info on disciplines, the venue etc.in the ECCO FEI World Championships’ Media Guide.

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