Wednesday will see the start of the FEI Para Dressage European Championships in Ermelo, The Netherlands with the Para Grand Prix Test A acting as the decider for first three sets of individual medals. First to compete will be Grade II at 10:00 (18:00 AEST) followed by the hotly contest Grade I competition at 12:00 (20:00 AEST) and finishing off the medals for the day will be Grade III at 14:30 (22:30 AEST).
Earlier yesterday the equine athletes were presented at the vet inspection and all passed, with the exception of Alejandro Nande Iglesias’ Brujo Car for Spain, who has been asked to represent at the reinspection today. Shortly after the completion of the vet inspection, the draw for the starting order took place for each Grade, determining which order athletes will compete in their respective Grade for the individual title.
Exciting starting line up opens Championships
Starting off proceedings at the Dutch National Equestrian Centre will be Felix Gomez González of Spain riding his previous World and European Championships partner, the 18-year-old chestnut stallion, Merlin.
Other notable combinations to watch are Germany’s Heidemarie Dresing with her Championship first-timer, Poesie 143 starting at 10:45 (18:45 AEST), and the Danish Paralympic individual silver medallist duo of Katrine Kristensen and Goerklintgaards Quater entering the white boards at 10:09 (18:09 AEST).
First down the centre line in Grade I at midday is Czechia’s Kristyna Rudlfova, riding the 12-year-old Czech warmblood, Belfast. Shortly afterwards at 12:18 (20:18 AEST), spectators will see Italian Para Dressage stalwart and world number one, Sara Morganti riding her multi-Paralympic medal winning mount, 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood, Mariebelle.
Team GB field two strong medal contenders here in Ermelo with European bronze medallist at the FEI Para Dressage European Championship 2023 in Riesenbeck, Germany, Gabriella Blake on Strong Beau, gunning to make it her first gold of her career when she enters the arena at 12:27 (20:27 AEST), and Mari Durward-Akhurst on the evergreen 18-year-old Athene Lindebjerg, last to go at 13:30 (21:30 AEST). No Grade I competition is complete, however, without the World, European and Paralympic gold medallist combination of Latvia’s Rihards Snikus and King of the Dance, a duo that will be hard to beat as the penultimate entry of the class at 13:21 (21:21 AEST).
Wrapping up the first day of competition will be the Grade III competition, with the host nation’s poster girl and world number one, Rixt van der Horst entering the arena at 14:30 (22:30 AEST) riding the stunning chestnut stallion, 10-year-old Eisma’s Royal Fonq N.O.P. This combination wowed spectators at the Paralympic Games in Paris last year, taking the silver medal in the process, and are the ones to watch this week. Others in this class also include current World champion and Paralympic gold medallist from the Paralympic Games in Tokyo 2020, Denmark’s Tobias Thorning Jorgensen with Jolene Hill starting at 15:52 (23:52 AEST), and Italy’s Francesca Salvade’ competing with Escari at 15:06 (23:06 AEST).
Medal ceremonies for all three Grades will be held at the end of the day, starting at 16:45 (24:45 AEST) in reverse order with Grade III first, followed by Grade I and finishing the day with Grade II.
World class competition continues on day two
Thursday will start with the Grade IV individual class kicking off at 10:00 (18:00 AEST), with first to go being Denmark’s Pia Wulff Jelstrup and the 11-year-old Danish Warmblood mare, Zafia. France is strongly represented in this Grade with two Paralympians in Alexia Pittier riding Sultan 768 competing at 10:18 (18:18 AEST) and Vladimir Vinchon last to go at 11:49 (19:49 AEST) on Pegase Mayenne. Great Britain’s Nicola Naylor is also one to watch, this being her first Championships with Humberto L, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood who has been posting some brilliant results in the leadup to Ermelo.
The Grade V athletes will then have their chance to battle it out for their individual medals, with their competition starting at 13:30 (21:30 AEST), which will see Hungary’s Ildikó Fonyódi enter the arena first on Bojengel. Next up will be Isabell Nowak representing Germany with her Championship partner, the 14-year-old Siracusa OLD. This is the pair’s first senior European Championships, but they are no stranger to international competitions, having performed in front of the crowds at the Paralympic Games just 12 months ago and other Young Rider and Junior competitions in the past.
Isabell’s compatriot Regine Mispelkamp will be keen to secure another medal to add to her collection, this time with the 10-year-old Oldenburg Pramwaldhof’s Bayala at the mare’s first ever Championships.
Competing on home soil and debuting at her first Senior Championships will be the Netherlands’ Britney de Jong with her long-term partner Caramba N.O.P., competing at 14:43 (22:43 AEST).
Ermelo ready to shine!
Internationally renowned for its impeccable equestrian facilities, the Dutch National Equestrian Centre is set to present the FEI Para Dressage European Championships with an immaculately dressed main arena, as well as indoor and outdoor warm up areas, top class stabling and grazing spaces. The five days of sport will see 13 sets of medals decided with spectators in for a treat with world class athletes competing every day of the competition.
Whilst late nights may be in store for Australians wanting to watch, one thing is for sure the competition is going to be fierce!
Tune in to the action through ClipMyHorse.TV
Source: FEI press release by Amy Powell (edited by EQ Life)
