Olympic champion Jessica von Bredow-Werndl successfully defended her first of two individual titles at the European Dressage Championships in Riesenbeck.
The top favorite from Gut Aubenhausen in Bavaria won the gold medal with Dalera in the Grand Prix Special ahead of the surprise runner-up Nanna Skodborg Merrald (Denmark) with Scepter and the three-time Olympic champion Charlotte Dujardin with Imhotep. Double world champion Lottie Fry (both Great Britain) with Glamourdale came home empty-handed in fourth place.
“I wanted it from the first second, and so did she. I say: She is my mirror. When I’m on fire, she is too,” said the new and old European champion after winning the title, in which she scored 85.593 percent set a personal record again. On Sunday (from 1:30 p.m.) she will defend the title in the free skate; after her two dances so far this week, the 37-year-old is the clear favorite there too.
Werth and Quantaz in sixth place
Bredow-Werndl rides her horse TSF Dalera BB
Von Bredow-Werndl missed out on the title with the team on Thursday, but Great Britain was crowned the new European champions in the Grand Prix. The favorite had already topped the ranking there with a personal best and once again underlined her status as the most successful rider in the world.
The second best German couple was record European champion Isabell Werth (Rheinberg) and Quantaz in sixth place ahead of Frederic Wandres (Hagen aTW) with Bluetooth. The first three German couples are therefore qualified for the free skate on Sunday.
Matthias Alexander Rath (Kronberg) and Totilas’ son Thiago only finished 19th after a serious mistake on the final line, meaning Rath missed the freestyle. The best 15 couples will compete there, but a maximum of three per nation.
