Jessica von Bredow-Werndl has renewed her title of German Grand Prix champion at the 2021 German Dressage Championships in Balve, Germany, on Friday 4 June 2021.
Back to Gold
The competition, which counts as the first of two German Olympic team selection trials, kicked off yesterday with a warm-up Grand Prix class won by Von Bredow-Werndl on Beatrice Burchler-Keller's 14-year old Trakehner mare TSF Dalera BB (by Easy Game x Handryk). Judges traditionally inflate their scores at national championships - whether this is a nationalistic boost or lobbying for future championships is unclear - but this is a remarkable trend all across the world. That being said, Balve did deliver some top class riding from the German A and B-squad riders. In the warm-up Grand Prix, Dalera already scored a whopping 85.040%, a full four percent ahead of Isabell Werth and her number one, Bella Rose (81.320%).
The first set of medals was decided in the Grand Prix Special in which von Bredow-Werndl continued to reign supreme. Despite two small bobbles the 35-year old Aubenhausen based rider scored the highest mark of the day, 84.882%, and got the gold.
"I made it a thriller today, just as planned. Aside of the two hiccups, it felt as good and powerful as yesterday," said the brand new German champion. "Dalera was simply indescribable. I don't think about what this year can still bring. I just want to ride well. Today we see that there still are a few rough patches, which I want to smooth out."
Silver for Werth
"I was focused and thought that it was in the bag, but it wasn't," Werth joked after the prize giving ceremony. "It's like with show jumping. The last jump is also part of the course." Werth was pleased with the progress her horse had made over two days. "It was a big step forwards compared to yesterday," she said. "You could see that the whole horse was more present again. Passage and piaffe were very good, the trot also very good and the connection much more stable than yesterday. Now she still needs a bit of power and then in one or two tests I hope she'll be back to her old form."
Werth also placed third in the Grand Prix Special on her second horse, the stallion Quantaz (by Quaterback x Hohenstein) in which sponsor Madeleine Winter-Schulze bought a share from Victoria Max-Theurer as a successor for Bella Rose and Weihegold. Quantaz was the 2020 Otto Lorke Prize winner (decorated to the best up and coming Grand Prix horse in Germany). In Balve he scored 83.490% for a third place but a rider can win only one medal, so there was no podium place for Quantaz.
"He did a fun test, very confident and made huge progress since Munich in the submission, throughness and his self awareness," Werth commented.
Schneider gets Bronze
"Showtime has the willingness to go. He was all the time with me, except in the changes," Schneider commented. "We still need to optimalise the fine-tuning. Today I rode a little bit undecidedly. Mentally I'm struggling a bit (from the fall), so it is good for me to ride again as quickly as possible. I feel I'm on an upward curve. I feel better and more sure. The healing takes a while, this is normal." Dorothee also brought her second horse, Faustus (by Falsterbo x Forrest xx) and finished seventh with him on 76.922%.
"Best Form"
"All riders are on best form here," said Monica. "It is normal that there are still mistakes here and there. We are only at the start of our selection process, but we're very much on schedule. All horses in the class were super. Jessica strode to a personal best, deservedly. Dalera really recovers well between shows. You can give her a holiday and then easily pick her up again. She wants to perform. Same with Showtime. This is great. Bella Rose is now 17 and her temperament is unchanged. They are exceptional horses."
From a team selection perspective it is interesting to note that Helen Langehanenberg and the Holsteiner mare Annabelle (by Conteur) landed fifth place and now have put themselves into consideration for the Olympic team reserve spot. Theyscored 77.804%
On Saturday a new set of medals is to be won in the Freestyle.
Photos © Barbara Schnell - LL-foto - PHOTO GALLERY BELOW
Related Links
Scores: 2021 German Dressage Championships
2021 German Olympic Dressage Team Selection Via Balve and Kronberg
Sönke Rothenberger's Cosmo Withdrawn from Olympic and European Team Championship Contention
Previous Winners
Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and Isabell Werth are the 2020 German Grand Prix Champions
Isabell Werth and Emilio Take Freestyle Gold at 2019 German Championships
Dorothee Schneider Puts on a Show and Wins Gold at 2019 German Championships
Rothenberger Grabs Kur Gold at 2018 German Dressage Championships
Sönke Rothenberger Wins 2018 German Grand Prix Championship
Isabell Werth Wins 2017 German Dressage Championships, 13th Career Title
Isabell Werth and Weihegold Win 2016 German Dressage Championships
Kristina Sprehe Scores Second, Consecutive Title at 2015 German Dressage Championships
Kristina Sprehe Wins 2014 German Dressage Championships
Helen Langehanenberg is First Violin at 2013 German Dressage Championships
Helen Langehanenberg Crowned Queen of Dressage at 2012 German Championships
Rath Secures National Title with Totilas at 2011 German Championships in Balve
Double Gold for Isabell Werth at the 2010 German Dressage Championships
Photo Report 2009 German Dressage Championships
Photo Report - 2008 German Dressage Championships
Scores: 2007 German Dressage Championships
