The USA’s Kevin Kohmann swept the CDI-W classes at Kingsview Partners Dressage at Devon winning both Friday night’s CDI-W Grand Prix and Saturday night’s CDI-W Grand Prix Kur to Music.
At the start of the 2024-2025 North American League World Cup season, Kohmann has bagged important first points to be one of three riders from the league to qualify for the 2025 World Cup Finals in Basel (SUI) on 2 - 6 April 2025.
Dünensee Dances Under the Lights
The performance division at Dressage at Devon kicked off on Thursday while Grand Prix riders first came into action on Friday. Hard work delivered by a recharged organising committee in the past few years have paid off with a stacked entry field in the big. Twenty-nine Grand Prix pairs were entered for the big tour, of which 21 opted for the CDI-W tour.
Unfortunately Olympic pair Marcus Orlob and Jane did not pass the trot-up, nor re-inspection, which left the field wide open for the 2024 World Cup Finals' pair Kevin Kohmann and Terry Kane's 15-year old Hanoverian Dünensee (by Dancier x Davignon) to scoop up a double victory.
"I am overwhelmed. Dressage at Devon is an incredible show. The last time I was here was 12 years ago, and I had almost forgotten how magical it is," said Kohmann, who trains with Christoph Koschel. "Dünensee, or Denzel/Düni, depending on which language I’m speaking to him in, never lets me down! Winning the Grand Prix under the lights at almost 11 p.m. was surreal, and then to win the Freestyle with almost 78% in that electric atmosphere was just unbelievable."
Radene Gordon-Beck presented the awards for the World Cup qualifier freestyle, presented by Kingsview Partners, including the Jeanne Pake Memorial Trophy. They were awarded to the groom of the winner, which was Kevin Kohmann's wife, and fellow kur competitor, Devon Kane.
"I have to thank my friends and family who have supported me every step of the way," Kevin added. "And, of course, a huge thank you to my amazing team at home—especially Katie Riley . I don’t know what we would do without you! At Diamante Farms in Wellington, the team keeps everything running smoothly, allowing Devon and me to fully focus on the show here at Dressage at Devon."
Konyot and Potasky Take Turns
In a Grand Prix class of seven riders, former U.S team rider Tina Konyot topped the board with her 10-year old KWPN gelding Grover (by Everdale x United) on a score of 70.087% (USA). For Stevens, the win was extra emotional after having suffered a set back in the late spring, falling off a horse and injuring her pelvis. Her biggest rival, Ali Potasky and the 11-year old KWPN gelding INXS (by Everdale x Rousseau) scored a fraction less for second place, 70.000%.
In the Grand Prix Special they swapped placed with Potasky moving into the winner's circle with a personal best of 69.638%, while Konyot was second with 68.851%.
Shannon Stevens Finds Harmony in the PSG
Also the small tour was action packed with 21 combinations competing.
Shannon Stevens took home the trophy in the Prix St Georges. Aboard Kathryn Williams' 10-year old Oldenburg gelding All of Harmony (by Antango x De Niro) Stevens turned out the only rider scoring over the seventy marker in the class. She posted a personal best of 71.912%. Kevin Kohmann and Terry Kane's 9-year old Hanoverian mare Scala (by St. Schufro x Belissimo M) were the runners-up with 69.265%.
"I am just getting back in the saddle after suffering from a broken hip and sacrum, which kept me out of the saddle for about 3 months," Stevens told Eurodressage. "I started actively riding again about 3 weeks ago. Sitting on All Of Harmony was like “coming back home”. I always felt like we had a very special partnership and we were able to pick right back up where we left off from. I still have to be cautious physically, so it’s a true testament to this horse's character to ride him in an environment like that of Devon."
Stevens, who is married to U.S. Olympian Marcus Orlob, had a challenging year with the accident while her husband was away in Europe for the summer and thirty horses in full training at their yard in Annandale, NJ.
"It’s been a challenging year with many setbacks," she said. "To be reunited with my old dancing partner in the International ring with success was a sincere highlight and very emotional. To have won the class was just amazing."
Shannon scratched the ride the following day in the Intermediate 1 because the owner and she both felt that All of Harmony had given it his all, especially given the short time back in Shannon's program.
Kohmann and Lagoy-Weltz Lead at Inter I Level
In the Intermediaire I, Kohmann and Scala aced the class of 16 pairs on a score of 71.618%, while Canadian Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu and Johanne Dubé's 12-year old Dutch warmblood Harmonium (by Jazz x Flemmingh) were second with 70.196%
-- text by Eurodressage - Photos © Olivia Airhart/Phelps Media Group
Related Links
Scores: 2024 CDI-W Devon
Brett Parbery Masterclass at Devon 2024: On Mental Relaxation and the Modern Dressage Frame
Dressage at Devon Experiences Revival with Stacked Entries Featuring Olympians