Harlem, Løkken, Johannessen, Klaesson Win 2022 Norwegian Dressage Championships

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2022 Norwegian Dressage Championships

Pony rider Thea Harlem, junior rider Emma Løkken, young rider Carmen Grønvold Johannessen, and senior Grand Prix rider Mathilde Merethe Klaesson became the winners of the 2022 Norwegian Dressage Championships on 24 - 28 August 2022.

The Norwegian Nationals were hosted by the Sorlandsparken riding club at the Epona Riding Centre in Kristiansand, Norway.

Harlem, Løkken, Johennessen Dominate Youth Classes

In the FEI pony division for end-size ponies, the competition was extremely tough and the fight for gold and silver was figuratively on the edge of the knife. After three rounds the point difference was only 0.229 which separated the champion from the runner-up. Thea Victoria Harlem and her 16-year old Dutch Welsh pony Schermeer Hof's Simba (by Bodo x Cupkehof's Winobert) had to play serious catch up with Tuva Eckdahl Book on the 12-year old Danish sport pony Schanti M (by Dressman II x Bolero) as the pair was fourth in the first round, the team test with 68.077%, and second in the individual test with 69.512%. It was her winning freestyle that made the difference (75.115%) and put Harlem in first place with an overall total of 212.704 points. Book and Schanti M were consistent throughout the weekend and their 70.470%, 70.000% and 72.005% gave the the silver with 212.475 points. Mira Antonsen Hjelle and the 13-year old Danish bred Filur af Gronagergard (by Vasehojs Kashi) got the bronze with 210.988 points after improving in each round, scoring 68.248%, 69.085%; and 73.655%.

In the junior age category Emma Løkken cruised to the title aboard her 17-year old Danish bred Mr Gold G (by Milan x Lobster). With a total of 221.928 she collected the title and gold medal unrivalled, having posted 73.486% in the team test, 73.202% in the individual and 75.240% in the Kur. Following in the distance was Anne Mathilde Reimer Haga aboard Treldegårds Sensasion (by Hotline x Midt-West Ibi Light). Hage and the 13-year old Danish gelding posted 68.892%, 67.895%, and 70.060% to total 206.847 points for silver. The bronze went to Sondre Torp Kristiansen aboard the 10-year old Danish bred Thybo's Laban (by L'Espoir x Michellino) on 203.802 points.

The podium was very clear in the young riders division as well, where each medallist stood apart from the other with a significant point difference. The gold went to Carmen Grønvold Johannessen aboard the 10-year old Danish gelding Højgaardens Santos (by San Amour x Friendship). She upped her scores each round, starting with a winning 69.166% in the team test, followed by 72.342% in the individual and 76.220% in the kur to finish first on 217.728 points.

Kristiane Askim Hillern and the 13-year old Hanoverian gelding Schnell's Happy Birthday (by Hotline x Weltjunge) was a clear silver place-getter with 68.290%, 70.868% and 74.000% (213.158 points), while Nora Windgätter and the 11-year old Noesmindes Miami (by Rockefeller x Michellino) landed bronze with 205.026 points.

Klaesson Finishes Stellar Year with Senior Title

In the senior division, nine pairs lined up to compete for the title but it was the youngest in the bunch, 22-year old Mathilde Merethe Klaesson, who took highest honours and captured her first senior title in her career.

For Klaesson the 2022 show year was a stellar one, first representing Norway at the 2022 World Championships Dressage in Herning as the youngest rider in the field, followed by gold and the title at the end of the same month.

Aboard her long-time partner, 12-year old Danish gelding Sandbaeks Rio-El (by Skovens Rafael x De Noir) she began the Nationals by winning the Grand Prix with 69.684%, but placing second in the Special with 68.900%. The pair made the difference in the freestyle with a top score of 73.940%. She finished on a golden total of 212.524 points. After spending time abroad in the U.K. training with Kyra Kyrklund and Richard White, Mathilde returned home to Norway six weeks ago to build her business at her parents' yard Bråthen Gård.

The silver went to follow Herning country mate Trude Hestengen aboard the 9-year old Danish bred Christianslund Furstino (by Furstenball x Cape Town) with 206.818 points. The Danish based Hestengen came to Kristiansand to post 68.553% in the Grand Prix, 69.120% in the Special and 69.145% in the Kur to finish as runner-up with 206.818 points.

Former Norwegian team rider Cathrine Rasmussen is slowly making her come back to international Grand Prix, returning to the CDI ring after a four-year break with Zoulmate, an 11-year old Westfalian stallion by Blue Hors Zack x Donnerhall. The pair posted 68.368% in the Grand Prix, dropped to 66.980% in the Special but climbed back up to 68.990% in the Kur. They finished with bronze on 204.338 points.

Results - 2022 Norwegian Dressage Championships

Pony Riders (Top 12 only)

1. Thea Victoria Harlem - Schermeer's Hof Simba - 68.077 69.512 75.115 --- 212.704
2 Tuva Eckdahl Book - Schanti M - 70.470 70.000 72.005 --- 212.475
3 Mira Antonsen Hjelle - Filur af Grønagergård - 68.248 69.085 73.655 --- 210.988
4 Celine Granli - Davidoff - 69.188 66.951 70.960 --- 207.099
5 Troy Grønvold Belgen - Strandgaards Dance Forever - 65.043 69.122 70.800 --- 204.965
6 Maria Kvande-Rydland - Ekras Vettuva - 67.308 65.927 68.135 --- 201.370
7 Thea-Sophie Nitter - JDJ's Flash - 65.555 66.390 69.155 --- 201.100
8 Karen Marthine Tandberg - Gold Queen - 66.850 65.000 67.740 --- 199.590
9 Hennie Moen Haugen- Rythm Forest - 65.342 66.427 66.610 --- 198.379
10 Maren Bjorøy Strømsnes - Coelenhage's April - 65.257 63.951 68.145 --- 197.353
11 Benedikte Isolde Lindquist - Molinas Alpacino - 64.273 64.780 67.710 --- 196.763
12 Paulina de Brito Grøstad-Shaw - Valerio - 64.744 64.817 66.925 --- 196.486

Junior Riders (top 12 only)

1. 1 Emma Løkken - Mr. Gold G - 73.486 73.202 75.240 --- 221.928
2 Anne Mathilde Reimer Haga - Treldegårds Sensasion- 68.892 67.895 70.060 --- 206.847
3 Sondre Torp Kristiansen - Thybo’s Laban - 68.676 65.746 69.380 --- 203.802
4 Mali Vigre Vølstad - Helgenæs Victoria - 67.838 67.675 64.840 --- 200.353
5 Live-Helena Sunde-Kvålsgard- SJ Royal Hit - 67.595 64.254 68.245 --- 200.094
6 Sanna Kristofferstuen - Stall-K's Bon Jovi - 65.595 66.579 67.915 --- 200.089
7 Ylva Kristine Iversen- Dice - 67.081 66.009 66.985 --- 200.075
8 Vilde Brekke - Syringa Lerup - 63.973 65.702 68.655 --- 198.330
9 Lotte Lise Fjeldstad Aune - Fürst Bellino - 64.405 65.351 67.635 --- 197.391
10 Madelen Jordal Moe - Jude Law - 64.379 64.781 68.025 --- 197.185
11 Marthe Sylte Oppdal - Stall-K's Rofino - 65.433 63.684 67.815 --- 196.932
12 Ingeborg Håland Årdal - Carlight - 64.487 64.473 66.025 --- 194.985

Young Riders (top 10 only)

1. Carmen Grønvold Johannessen - Højgaardens Santos - 69.166 72.342 76.220 --- 217.728
2 Kristiane Askim Hillern - Schnell's Happy Birthday - 68.290 70.868 74.000 --- 213.158
3 Nora Windgätter - Noesmindes Miami - 67.676 69.395 67.955 --- 205.026
4 Kristina Vigre - Orighana - 64.517 67.158 70.960 --- 202.635
5 Tuva Hansen - Stall-K's Sunny Girl W - 65.395 63.105 68.375 --- 196.875
6 Thea Beitnes Kreken - Ravell's Herkules - 64.868 64.316 67.515 --- 196.699
7 Benedicte Eggers Staalesen - Danisco for U - 64.123 64.079 66.430 --- 194.632
8 Juni Helene Bødtker-Næss - Don Don - 62.719 63.395 66.030 --- 192.144
9 Nora Saxebøl Eek - Dark Design - 65.833 62.842 63.170 --- 191.845
10 Josefine Amanda Hilling - Black Diamond - 62.675 64.921 64.065 --- 191.661

Senior Grand Prix

1. Mathilde Merethe Klaesson - Sandbæks Rio-El - 69.684 68.900 73.940 --- 212.524
2 Trude Hestengen - Christianslund Fürstino - 68.553 69.120 69.145 --- 206.818
3 Cathrine Rasmussen - Zoulmate - 68.368 66.980 68.990 --- 204.338
4 Grete Catherina Bergstrøm - Felicia - 65.684 65.100 67.585 --- 198.369
5 Cathrine Oppegaard - Diaster - 65.579 63.600 68.760 --- 197.939
6 Catharina Lorentzen Lund - Thiara de Lorentzia - 64.289 65.100 66.125 --- 195.514
7 Therese Bragstad - Double Donnerhall - 62.895 61.960 67.660 --- 192.515
8 Mona Mangseth - Quater Figlio - 64.579 62.700 64.365 --- 191.644
9 Anniken Eide - Twilight - 61.421 61.920 66.855 --- 190.196