World Riding Championships – Belgium finishes 13th in dressage, Denmark crowned ahead of Great Britain
(Belga) With a total of 209.301, Belgium took 13th place in the dressage country event at the World Riding Championships on Sunday in Herning, Denmark in front of 11,000 spectators.
The title returned to Denmark (235.451), won by Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour (Vamos Amigos) author of the best score (81.864%), who beat Great Britain (224.233). Germany, defending champion of Isabelle Werth (on Quantaz this time), completes the podium (230.791). With four new combinations, the Germans have to settle for the 3rd step on the podium after six consecutive gold medals at major international events. Two Belgian combinations were able to prove themselves on Saturday in the traditional Grand Prix. Domien Michiels, 38, in the saddle on Intermezzo van het Meerdalhof, obtained a score of 69.596% (44th). For his first Worlds, Lore Vandeborne, 26, on Ikke-Pia van de Bergerhoeve, scored 66.910% (71st). On Sunday, Charlotte Defalque, 27, on Botticceli was scored at 68.354% (60th) while Larissa Pauluis, 42, with First-Step Valentin will have achieved the best Belgian score: 71.351% (29th). The three best scores are taken into account to establish the ranking by country. That of Lore Vandeborne therefore does not count. Belgium were aiming for direct qualification for the Paris Olympics in 2024 and had to finish in the top 6, or top 7 if the automatically recognized France is in the top six. The French finishing 12th. Germany were crowned reigning world champions at Tryon in the United States in 2018 where Belgium took 9th place. The individual dressage events start on Monday in Herning. Only the first thirty combinations on Sunday will compete in the Special Grand Prix on Monday, including Larissa Pauluis in the saddle on First-Step Valentin, the only Belgian. (Belgian)