Individual Female Compulsory Test
Thursday morning was still cool as the female competitors entered with determination etched across their faces.
Australian competitor Bronagh Miskelly and nine-year-old Hanoverian gelding Dinoso P (Danone 4 x Benvenuto) received a score of 6.750 for 34th place, while Ginger Kennett scored 6.573 with 17-year-old German-bred gelding Corazon Gran (Corlensky G x Akteur) to sit just behind Bronagh in 37th place.
The two Australians will now look ahead to the Technical Test on Friday, 14 August:
- Ginger Kennett and Corazon Gran (lunged by Benita Julia Golze, Germany): 5.15pm AEST (9.15am local time)
- Bronagh Miskelly and Dinoso P (lunged by Anke Granow, Germany): 5.30pm AEST (9.30am local time)
The USA’s Kimberly Palmer was the first to hold a firm lead scoring 7.839. However, after an eager wait, Kathrin Meyer took the lead for Germany and was the first to score over 8 points, with 8.549.
Kathrin’s position was strong until compatriot Alice Layher began. She was simply outstanding. Near-faultless in her execution of the compulsory elements, she soared aboard FBW Candy, lunged by Daniel Zembrot, and was rewarded with 8.788 and the overnight lead.
Canada’s Averill Saunders put herself firmly in contention for a medal by confidently laying down a score of 8.291, with Annemie Szemes of Germany and Leonie Koller of Austria right behind (8.198 and 8.164).
Squad Compulsory Test
In a record-breaking Squad competition, 16 teams performed their Compulsory Tests.
The Australian squad included Eliza Wark-Chapman, Ivy Sykes, Nicki Coleman, Erin Ryan, Bronagh Miskelly and Tegan Davis with 17-year-old Hanoverian gelding Fuerstenstaedter (Fuerst Nymphenburg x Weltmeyer), who was lunged by owner Susanne Kayser. With a score of 5.751, they placed 15th.
The Australian squad will next contest the Free Test on Saturday, 15 August:
- Australia (Eliza Wark-Chapman, Ivy Sykes, Nicki Coleman, Erin Ryan, Bronagh Miskelly and Tegan Davis with Fuerstenstaedter and lunged by Susanne Kayser): 11.53pm AEST (3.53pm local time)
The strength of the French squad initially gave them the lead on a score of 7.688, despite a considerable number of errors.
However, they could not hold off the strength of the German squad. The home nation made quite the first impression and propelled themselves to the top of the standings with superbly executed elements and few deductions for a score of 8.075. Ecuador NRW and Alexandra Knauf also earned top scores.
The Austrians, too, showed smooth, tight exercises which put them second, ahead of the French after round one. With 60% of the final score coming from round two’s Free Test, there is also potential for the USA or Switzerland to find their way to the podium.
After a day of top-level sport in Aachen, Germany not only lead the Female and Squad competitions with France’s Quentin Jabet topping the Male division.
With the Compulsory Tests completed, attention now turns to the next phase. Saturday’s Technical Tests could shake up the individual rankings, while the first round of the Pas-de-Deux will give a strong hint as to who will take home the gold medal on Sunday morning.
Source: FEI press release by Joanne Littlejohn, edited by Equestrian Life
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