Vallentin and Dufour Win 2021 Danish Dressage Championships

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2021 Danish Dressage Championships

Under 25 rider Victoria Vallentin and Grand Prix rider Cathrine Dufour claimed the titles at the 2021 Danish national Grand Prix level championship held at Equitour Aalborg in Uggerhalne, Denmark, on 21 - 23 May 2021.

Since 2019 the Danish Championships have been taking place at Andreas Helgstrand's riding club in Uggerhalne instead of the traditional venue at Broholm castle.

Vallentin Back on Top

After winning the Under 25 Nationals in 2019, Vallentin was relagated to a silver medal position in 2020. Aboard Russian Alexander Lebedev's 13-year old Westfalian gelding Brooklyn (by Hogwart (by Holland x Pit I) x Baldini II ) she reigned supreme again in 2021, claiming the title and the gold medal.

A professional dressage rider, Vallentin has been campaigning the talented but hot Brooklyn since 2019. The bright bay gelding has an outstanding passage, but is very fidgety in the mouth and connection, often showing his tongue on the right side through fluffed up foam. At the 2021 Nationals, Vallentin rode the gelding to a second place in the Short Grand Prix (71.140%) but aced the freestyle with 76.425% and built up a significant lead in the overall ranking to be allowed on the highest step of the podium.

The silver medal went to professional rider Josefine Hoffmann, who works for her horse's owner Anna Kasprzak. After silver in 2019 and bronze in 2020, Hoffmann and the 17-year old Danish bred Honnerups Driver (by Romanov x Don Schufro) were back on silver this year. The pair won the Short Grand Prix with 71.907%, but were beaten in the freestyle and landed second place with 74.625%

The bronze medal went to U25 newcomer Sandra Aagaard Hyrm on her schoolmaster, the 16-year old Danish bred Heslegards Rismon (by Rubin x Louis). They were third twice with 70.721% and 72.550%.

This year's Under 25 division featured 8 combinations, one more than last year.

Dufour Grabs Fifth Title

Cathrine Dufour travelled to the 2021 Danish Nationals as hot favourite for the title. With some of Denmark's strongest Olympic team contenders absent from the event (Heiline's Danciera, Blue Hors Zack, Fiontini), Dufour had all the space to steer her loyal partner, 18-year old Atterupgaards Cassidy (by Caprimond x Donnerhall), with whom she rode her 9th nationals across the levels, to the senior title; her fifth at Grand prix level.

Merrald, Dufour and Bachmann in the lap of honour

Dufour was in charge of the Grand Prix, setting her wide apart from the rest of the pack with a winning 77.920%. On Sunday the freestyle class rained out, but that did not dampen the spirits. Dufour won the Kur to Music with 80.900% and freewheeled to another title.

Nanna Skodborg Merrald and Agnete Kirk Thinggaard's 16-year old Oldenburg mare Atterupgaards Orthilia (by Gribaldi x Donnerschlag) earned silver after placing second in the Grand Prix (73.860%) and third in the freestyle (76.275%). For breeder Kristine Munch Sinding, this was a great accomplishment as two of her Atterupgaard horses won gold and silver.

Daniel Bachmann Andersen, who was the National Champion in 2019, returned to the podium with a bronze medal aboard his 2020 Louisdor Cup finalist, the 9-year old Marshall Bell (by Don Romantic x Michellino) which he co-owns with Christian Vang Lauridsen. The pair scored 72.400% in the Grand Prix (3rd) and moved into second place in the Kur with 76.400%. They finished third overall.

"Cassidy is completely his own master," said a thrilled Dufour. "I took the time to really enjoy the ride in the arena, because I know that there probably are no 10 freestyle left in him." The silver medal winner Nanna Skodborg Merrald was very pleased with Orthilia. "That felt really good," she said after the Kur. "She was really with me and I think we really were riding with the music."