Isabell Werth Dominates in Final Dutch Olympic Team Selection Trial at 2021 CDIO Rotterdam

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2021 CDIO Rotterdam

Reigning European Champion Isabell Werth (GER) and her mare Weihegold won the international CDIO Grand Prix at the 2021 CDIO Rotterdam on Thursday morning 1 July 2021.

Werth took the victory with a convincing score of 80,717%. The Dutch team - with other riders Dinja van Liere with Hermes and Marlies van Baalen with Go Legend are in the lead following this test in the in the FEI Dressage Nations Cup.

The class was judged by Magnus Ringmark (SWE), Hans-Christian Matthiesen (DEN), Katrina Wüst (GER), Francis Verbeek-van Rooij (NED), and Eddy de Wolff van Westerrode. The first four judges will also officiate at the Tokyo Olympics.

Werth Beats the Dutch Olympic Team Candidates

Isabell Werth and her experienced 16-year old Oldenburg mare Weihegold (by Don Schufro x Sandro Hit) rode a solid test with only a small hiccup at the start of the one tempi changes. The judges rewarded some of their passage and piaffe movements with marks of 9. Her individual scores ranged between 78.804% (Verbeek) and 82.391% (De Wolff) but all judges put her first unanimously.

"Because of COVID, we were only able to compete in five shows instead of thirty. It is so nice to able to ride once more," Werth commented.

Team Germany is currently in second place in the Nations Cup, assisted by Dorothee Schneider on Sammy Davis Jr (4th with 75.413%) and Matthias Bouten on Meggle's Boston (7th with 71.326%)

Roles Reversed

Hans Peter Minderhoud moved into second place. Their score of 77.174% is a personal best for the KWPN licensed stallion Dream Boy (by Vivaldi x Ferro) despite a mistake in the two tempi changes. His marks went from 75.435 (Matthiesen) to 78.805 (de Wolff).

"I was very happy about my test. Dream Boy felt fresh and happy and was well focused. I was able to ride him the way I wanted," said Minderhoud. "And of course I am also very happy with the result. It is nice that the judges who are in Tokyo judge your last test well."

For once the roles were reversed and Minderhoud beat his life-partner Edward Gal, who landed third place aboard the young 9-year old Oldenburg bred Total U.S. (by Totilas x Sir Donnerhall). A mistake in the zig zag brought the score down to 76.717%. The judges differed quite in scores with 74.457% as low score and 79.239 (De Wolff) as high score.

Dinja van Liere Secures Olympic Team Spot

The CDIO Rotterdam served as second and final Dutch Olympic team selection trial and it was a head-to-head competition between Dinja van Liere (Hermes) and Marlies van Baalen (Go Legend).

Van Liere reconfirmed that she's the one for the third Dutch team spot. After winning bronze at the 2021 Dutch Championships, the first team selection trial, she was now again the third best scoring rider at the second and last trial.

Dinja van Liere and the Trakehner cross bred stallion Hermes (by Easy Game x Flemmingh) rode a personal best in Rotterdam of 74.696%. The judges were all over the place with their marks, the low score being 72.391 (Ringmark) and De Wolff again being the high scoring judge with 78.370%

Dinja van Liere gasps in relief over her Tokyo
ticket score

Marlies van Baalen placed sixth on the home bred Go Legend (by Totilas x Ferro), posting 73.957% on the board. Judge Matthiesen had them at 70.217% and judge Verbeek was all the way up at 76.957%.

"Go Legend is still very young and he still improves in training and at competitions. I really dream of Tokyo now," Van Baalen commented. For Marlies the show in Rotterdam was a very emotional one with the pressure of an Olympic team spot at stake just two weeks after her father passing away.

A Clear Dutch Team for Tokyo

Dutch team captain Alex van Silfhout will announce his team for the Tokio Olympics this weekend, but there seems to be little surprise in store.

"This has given me a lot of new information. And that's necessary. The combinations have competed far less in the previous months than they would usually," Van Silfhout stated. "On top of this, these horses are very young. The trip to Tokyo will be long and the circumstances there will be different. This is important to take into consideration. Competing in a large arena like this has given me additional information. In the upcoming days, I will confer with our national equestrian association about the decision."

At the press conference Van Silfhout also added, "it's going in the right direction. This competition shows that we are dealing with young hoses and we'll need a little of luck of the moment in Tokyo. I can now clearly see where we stand. It is taking shape. I believe that the announcement of the team will be one that everyone can live with."

The only question remains to be which horse Edward Gal will be taking - the younger and less confirmed Total U.S., who seems to be the flavour of the judges, or the more confirmed Toto Jr, who scores a fraction lower than his stable mate.

Nations Cup

The FEI Nations will continue with the final on Saturday, starting with the Grand Prix Special at 16.00 CEST in which Hans Peter Minderhoud and Dinja van Liere will compete on behalf of the Dutch team.

Team captain Alex van Silfhout has assigned Edward Gal and Marlies van Baalen to compete in the Grand Prix Freestyle, starting at 19.00 CEST.