Dressage

The British World Champions Charlotte Fry and Glamourdale were the first to enter the dressage arena in the Deutsche Bank Stadium for the Grand Prix in the HAVENS Horsefeed-Prize. She put in a performance that none of the following riders were able to top.

With a precise and harmonious ride, the British World Champions, Charlotte Fry and Glamourdale danced their way to a score of 80.978 percent and thus the victory in the HAVENS Horsefeed-Prize, the Grand Prix of the CDI4* Tour. All of the judges placed the 13-year-old Lord Leatherdale son first, indeed four out of five awarded the pair a 9.0 for the overall impression of the performance. Fry, who lives in the Netherlands, was also satisfied, although she added: “We wanted to see where we stand. There is still room for improvement, but we are on the right track with regards to Paris and now we know where we can fine tune a few aspects.” So, a clear signal for the Olympic Games. The pair have namely already been nominated. Incidentally, this was the first Grand Prix that Fry has won to-date at the CHIO Aachen. “Winning here in Aachen is very specially – particularly with Glamourdale and just before Paris. It really is fantastic!” The Deutsche Bank Stadium helped her too. “The crowd here is super. He loves that and I am very much looking forward to the Spéciale on Friday!”

Second place went to Isabell Werth on Wednesday. The most successful rider of all time, who officially opened the CHIO Aachen 2024 the day before, swapped horses just before the show – opting for her trusted Quantaz for the CDI4* Tour, and for her newcomer Wendy de Fontaine for the Lambertz Nations’ Cup. If it had been down to Quantaz, he would have been ready for the Nations’ Cup, as he demonstrated today with his 75.543 percent performance.

Third place went to Frederic Wandres with Duke of Britain, who unfortunately made some expensive mistakes in the flying changes. His final score was 73.913 percent, which meant they narrowly beat Sönke Rothenberger and Fendi, who finished on a score of 73.891 percent.

One can definitely describe Frederic Wandres‘ Quizmaster as being a specialist in the Prix St. Georges, the Prize of VUV – Vereinigte Unternehmerverbände Aachen. In 2021, he came second in this class of the Small Tour in the Deutsche Bank Stadium at the CHIO Aachen, he won in 2022, in 2023 he finished second again and today he danced to victory.

On a score of 73.970 percent and awarded first place by all five judges, Frederic Wandres and his twelve-year-old Quasar de Charry son, Quizmaster, opened up the action on the dressage arena in the Deutsche Bank Stadium in 2024. As such, after 2022 he secured himself the title in the Prize of VUV – Vereinigte Unternehmerverbände Aachen for the second time in their joint Aachen career.

Behind the winning pair the competition was very close. Two riders, both of whom represented Germany, shared second place: Charlott-Maria Schürmann with her stunning Dante Weltino daughter, Dante’s Pearl, and Juliane Brunkhorst with the DeLorean son, Diamante Negro. Both aspiring young talents – Dante’s Pearl is nine, Diamante Negro just eight years old – were awarded a score of 72.088 percent.

But in the end, experience triumphed. “I am super happy,” exclaimed Frederic Wandres and praised his “Professor” Quizmaster: “He put in a super, solid round again and impressed with his strengths, namely his gaits. Let’s hope that’s how it continues!”