Netherlands and Germany in the lead
After day one of the FEI European Dressage Championships for Young Riders and U25 riders at the Schafhof in Kronberg, the U21-Oranje and U25-Germany teams are in the lead - but: It's close, nothing has been decided yet.
Team U25 - and a declaration of love
With 142.205 percentage points, the German U25 dressage team has taken the lead at the halfway point, but the competition is hot on their heels. Team Netherlands follows with 140.441 ahead of the Danes with 140.206 points.
Elisabeth von Wulffen was the first to enter the arena in the German U25 riders' competition and produced a personal best of 70.735 per cent on Triple A. "Triple was still a bit nervous at the start, but focussed more and more on me as the test progressed. I was incredibly happy," she beamed, "I wanted to bring home a clean round for the team, I didn't take any risks, but I think we managed to get the best out of it." She was particularly pleased with the feedback from her team-mates. "They were so sweet!" For the first time at an U25 Euro in the team and then having to present as a pathfinder - was that a nervous challenge? "My trainer Bianca (Nowag-Aulenbrock) was actually very relaxed, I was relaxed too and Triple was so relaxed in training that I rode in with such calmness." She also used trick 17. "I had one of my best tests here at the Schafhof with my mare Bonnie in 2022, when we scored 75 per cent. I drew energy from the memory and said to myself. I'm just enjoying this!"
Felicitas Hendricks and Drombusch were number two in the U25 team and achieved the best score of the day in the team classification with 71.470 per cent. "I'm not only very happy, I'm also very relieved," explained the 2023 U25 European Champion. "Things don't always go to plan when riding, so it's all the nicer when it goes like this!" (laughs) "I had a great riding feeling. Drombusch had a short hitch in the two-up changes and caught himself so well again. I knew then that he didn't want to make a mistake today." Team-mate Elisabeth adds cheerfully: "He did it for the team!"
Felictas felt similar to Elisabeth. "I've already had a very nice Grand Prix test here with Drombusch at the Schafhof, and I thought about that a few times today." With positive memories of top performances and top support. Both riders are just as grateful to their coaches, Christoph Koschel for Felicitas, who is also her uncle, and Bianca Nowag-Aulenbrock for Elisabeth, who have been training together for many years, as they are to the new U25 national coach Hans-Heinrich Meyer zu Strohen. "He supports us totally and is so positive - it's just great."
In fact, the first tears are already shimmering as Felicitas emphasises: "It's something very special to be able to compete here with such great team riders," and with a glance at her colleague Elisabeth, she adds: "I love it with you!" Both are certain: "The good atmosphere also spreads to the horses!"
Tomorrow, Thursday, the second part of the U25 riders will start at 2.00 pm and the European U25 Dressage Team Champions 2025 will be determined at around 5.40 pm.
Team U21 - “Everything that was possible”
With 142.471 percentage points, the U21 team from the Netherlands has narrowly taken the lead in the Young Riders team classification at the halfway stage, followed by Team Germany with 141.147 points.
Dutch head coach Monique Peutz-Vegter enthused: "I am super proud of both girls who rode today. They got out what was possible." These two girls were Anniek van Dulst and Micky Schelstraete. Anniek delivered the best score of the day of 71.853 percentage points with My First Choice-Dutopia, while Micky, also 20 years old, achieved 70.618 percentage points with Venicia OLD. “Anniek already has experience, she has already ridden in the Children's and Junior European Championships,” said the trainer. “But she has a very young horse with her.” Dutopia is an eight-year-old mare who is still a little environment-oriented. “But Anniek is doing a great job.”
Micky has even competed at five European Championships for young riders, and her Vivaldi daughter Venicia is also still young at nine years old. "Micky did a great job too. I'm really happy: all four of our team riders already have European Championship experience and are very strong nerves!" And what Monique Peutz-Vegter particularly emphasizes: "Three of the four have trained their horses themselves. I think that's really great."
Celestine Kindler on Quotenkönig and Rose Oatley on Don Domingo collected points for the German team on day one. Celestine set a new personal best with 70.765 percentage points, while Rose scored 70.382 percent.
As the Danes only form a team with three U21 riders, only one young lady has competed so far. That was Michella Skovsager with Blue Hors Elliott, who was awarded 69.853 percentage points. Teghan Cantrell-Bennet on Woodlander Donna Summer produced the best team result for Great Britain with 69.529 percentage points.
One thing is certain after the first day: no team has yet been able to clearly pull ahead, the outcome of this European Championship is still completely open.
The second part of the U21 riders will start at 8.00 am on Thursday, and the European U21 Dressage Team Champions 2025 will be determined at around 12.30 pm.