GERMANY claimed the gold medal in the team competition of the FEI Dressage World Championships in Aachen, which concluded on Thursday. Just as they did in 2006 when the championships were last held on their home soil, the hosts finished at the top of the leaderboard on a total score of 235.063, despite none of their riders finishing in the top three individually.

The 2022 world champion Lottie Fry spearheaded the British charge with a polished performance on Glamourdale, and Britain claimed the silver medal on a team total of 231.445. Defending team champions Denmark took bronze on 229.426, while their final combination of Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour and Mount St John Freestyle headed the individual standings by a considerable margin on a massive 82.376%.

The Irish quartet finished 18th of the 19 teams and Horse Sport Ireland’s dressage high performance manager Anne Marie Dunphy was proud of her riders’ performances. “They all presented themselves and their horses well on the world stage,” she said, “and left no-one in any doubt about their talent and promise for the future. The team spirit and atmosphere in our camp were incredible, and the riders’ support for each other is a testament to their character and commitment to team Ireland.”

Riding as team anchorman, James Connor led the Irish challenge when he scored 68.276% to place 50th after his ride with Vanotti. A veteran of several championships, Connor showed all his experience as he put in an excellent performance with his 13-year-old gelding. His score trended around the 70% mark for much of his test, until a small mistake in the two-time changes lowered it slightly.

“I’m ecstatic,” said Connor after his ride. “He was super, he did his very best. He’s getting better by the day and he’s by far the best horse I’ve ever had. He’s tries his hardest, he’s got so much quality and so much to offer. I think he’s going to be a wonderful horse for the future.”

Kevin Acres undertook the role of pathfinder on his championship debut with Michelle Begley’s Ganesh, and the reigning national champions scored 66.289% to finish 66th in the Grand Prix. “I’m over the moon,” he said after test. “It’s so amazing to be able to ride in that arena, and with the support of everyone around me and the team, it’s been such an enjoyable experience.”

Also contributing to Ireland’s team score of 199.161 was Alex Baker with Elite Stallions’ Top Gear, whose Grand Prix was rewarded with a mark of 64.596%. This score was a little lower than the personal best score they earned on their final international run at Hartpury CDI3* in the run-up to Aachen, but the 14-year-old stallion is relatively new to the level and has only been in training with Baker since November of last year. Team debutante Jess Dunn scored 63.401% for her ride with Jennifer Whittaker’s Dan Its Carsten, after their test got off to a difficult to start with some errors that kept the mark lower than expected.

The first set of individual medals were awarded yesterday (Friday) evening at the conclusion of the Grand Prix Special, while the Freestyle Final takes place tonight (Saturday) from 6pm.

Eventing

At the conclusion of the first phase of the FEI Eventing World Championships in Aachen, Ireland lie seventh of the 16 teams vying for both medals and Olympic qualification. Pre-event favourites Britain head the team standings on 72.8, a hair’s breadth ahead of hosts Germany on 73.6, while only 0.3 penalties separate France and New Zealand, further back in third and fourth respectively.

Julia Krajewski lies at the top of the leaderboard individually after a flawless performance with Uelzener’s Nickel for 22, with her compatriot Michael Jung in bronze a mark adrift with FischerChipmunk FRH. Britain’s Laura Collett and London 52, the reigning European champions, are sandwiched in silver on 22.8, while Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo scored 23.4 to sit fourth.

The highlight of team Ireland’s competition so far was Austin O’Connor’s confident performance with Colorado Blue on Friday morning. The judges rewarded their test with a score of 29.0 for 14th place, a personal best for O’Connor at a global championship. Pathfinders Ian Cassells and Millridge Atlantis scored 33.5.

Aoife Clark was delighted with her ride on Full Monty De Lacense, and they earned 31.5 to lie in 32nd place individually. Padraig McCarthy was the Irish anchorman, and with the 10-year-old MGH Zabaione he scored 32.8. Individual rider Georgie Goss and Kojak scored 31.0 for 26th ahead of today’s (Saturday) cross-country phase.