Junior rider Sille Engermann and Young Rider Henriette Dam Vestergaard became the grand champions at the 2014 Danish Junior and Young Riders Championships held in Ringsted, Denmark, on 22 - 24 August 2014. In a Scandanavian nation famous around the world for its devilous pastry desserts, the Danish Under 21 Championships were met with some nice weather for two out of the three days of competition.
After a stand-out performance in both the team and individual tests, 16-year old Sille Engermann went into the day three final in first spot on Darius (by Donnerloh x Pik Solo) and second spot on Fernet D by (Fürst Heinrich x Fagott), but as the rules would only allow her to compete in the musical section on one mount, she chose to give Darius a chance in the spotlight.
"I chose to ride Darius because he needed the experience and Fernet had just been to the European's in Italy," Engermann told Eurodressage.
Turning 16 on the Saturday of the championships, the birthday girl was delighted with her triumphant celebration and feels she succeeded in her goals for the nationals, even through some rough music weather.
“We brought Darius to the championships for giving him competition experience and I had no idea that he would turn into such a showman," she said. "He just loved showing off and did his very best the whole weekend even though it was pouring rain just in those minutes I was riding in the kür finale. He was a pleasure and loved every minutes of it.”
Purchasing Darius last year, Sille feels he was a risky buy, because his results with the previous rider were quite bad. She was told that he was a horse with his own opinion.
“I fell in love with him immediately. There is a lot of thoroughbred in him but if you keep that in mind he is a wonderful horse," she explained. "We will continue our training with Jon D Pedersen in Odense and our plan is to compete at the international competition in Odense, Denmark in October and later introduce him abroad.”
In a neck and neck race to the finish, Henriette Dam Vestergaard edged out Anna Zibrandtsen for the title of Danish Young Rider Champion. The 20-year old is very proud of her stylish end to her Young Rider epoch.
“The Nationals went really well I would say," Henriette told Eurodressage. “The first day in the Prix St Georges I rode for a 71,5% and I won the class and on the second day I was second with 72,7 % beaten by Anna Zibrandtsen. She was my biggest competition throughout the championships, and in the Kür final it was very close!"
Henriette finished her musical ride on 75,42% with Anna just 0,02 % above her for first place, but overall Henriette’s percentage was the highest and she finished up on top of the podium.
“My horse Leopold was so proud and I felt like we were in the best shape ever," she said. "He really did his best so I was very satisfied with him.” The 12-year old by Loudini is always a happy horse and one you can rely on, and Henriette knows he always does his best. “I have given him one week of after the champs so he can relax because he did such a great job!”
Left out of the Danish team for this year’s European championships, Henriette knows that Denmark has a very large pool of young talent and these things happen.
“I am totally okay about it. We are many very qualified young riders and we have competed a lot. There are only so many spaces in the team. I was very happy about being included in the team for the Nordic championship where I also won gold, both for with the team and individually. It was a really great experience to be a part of."
Trained by Susanne Barnow, Henriette hopes to compete at the CDI-W Odense in October.
“I am trying to get in shape so we can compete in the Under 25’s," she explained. "I have just started my first Intermediare in July and I got 70,9 % for first so that was a really good debut Of course moving up into Under 25’s is not going to be easy because there are so many talented riders in Denmark.”
Photos © Ridehesten
Results - 2014 Danish Junior/Young Riders Championships
Junior Riders
- 1. Sille Engermann - Darius - 73.189 - 74.947 - 76.475 --- 224.611
- 2. Anne Sophie Gerstorf Sørensen- Finale - 69.541 - 70.500 - 69.450 --- 209.491
- 3. Nana Gajhede - Dark Knight - 69.405 - 69.684 - 68.950 --- 208.039
- 4. Maria Fauerholm Christensen - Samarant - 66.973 - 69.289 - 70.375 --- 206.637
- 5. Pernille Koch Rasmussen - Heslegards Robert - 70.216 - 68.263 - 68.125 --- 206.604
- 6. Laura Hviid - Denzel - 69.189 - 68.237 - 69.000 --- 206.426
- 7. Kathrine With Petersen - Moresco Essenbaek - 67.324 - 66.737 - 68.525 --- 202.586
- 8. Emma Nymand- Hojmoses Leopold - 68.541 - 65.105 - 68.650 --- 202.296
- 9. Pernille Pilborg - Holgaards Armani - 67.649 - 67.816 - 66.125 --- 201.59
- 10. Rie Wichmann - Trostruplunds Armani - 65.243 - 68.132 - 67.275 --- 200.65
- 11. Victoria Kuusisto Pedersen - Don Johnson - 67.053 - 65.800 --- 199.502
- 12. Maria Dahl-Bruun - Do It - 66.081 - 67.211 - 65.500 --- 198.792
- 13. Emilie Røy - Ophelia - 66.270 - 66.316 - 64.975 --- 197.561
- 14. Rose Marie Henriksen - Rosentanz - 65.784 - 66.237 - 65.225 --- 197.246
- 15. Signe Bendixen - Heslegards Rudi - 66.946 - 64.842 - 65.225 --- 197.013
Young Riders
- 1. Henriette Dam Vestergaard - Leopold - 71.500 - 72.711 - 75.425 --- 219.636
- 2. Anna Zibrandtsen - Detroit - 70.368 - 73.237 - 75.475 --- 219.08
- 3. Maja Andreasen - Skjoldsgaards Monte Vo - 71.474 - 71.658 - 72.475 --- 215.607
- 4. Kathrine Springborg - May Candeloro - 70.421 - 71.237 - 72.975 --- 214.633
- 5. Isabella Holtze - Hevi's Futuro - 68.395 - 68.974 - 70.775 --- 208.144
- 6. Louise Lunde Pedersen - Royal Flush V - 67.579 - 68.789 - 69.975 --- 206.343
- 7. Emma Holm Westergaard - Pantani - 68.658 - 69.105 - 68.200 --- 205.963
- 8. Michala Mejlgaard Jensen - Uno - 68.789 - 69.684 - 66.575 --- 205.048
- 9. Celine Boddum Clausen - San Rabino - 68.895 - 66.290 - 69.275 --- 204.46
- 10. Malene Kjær Madsen - Sandbaks Wonder Hitt - 67.868 - 67.553 - 68.375 --- 203.796
- 11. Emma-amalie Wraa - Furst Fahrenheit - 67.605 - 67.131 - 68.075 --- 202.811
- 12. Maja Petersen - Hojgards Dexter - 68.474 - 67.158 - 66.500 --- 202.132
- 13. Pernille Teidor Olesen - Don Dino - 65.579 - 67.763 - 68.725 --- 202.067
- 14. Anne Fabricius Tange - Sundorfs Aqino - 67.184 - 65.342 - 67.750 --- 200.276
- 15. Ann Katrine Kejser Rasmussen - Falerno - 64.395 - 66.711 - 65.825 --- 196.931
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