– This was really a super day, says a happy Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour.
The crowd in the WC arena in Herning has been enthusiastic. A little too much sometimes. At the end of the program, they have started clapping their hands, and several horses have reacted to it.
Before Sunday’s decision in the team dressage, Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour had appealed on Instagram to the audience to be quiet during her and Vamos Amigo’s ride.
And it was quiet when the team entered the track on Sunday evening. Everyone knew what was at stake. If Denmark were to take their first ever WC gold in team dressage, the Danish dressage queen Laudrup-Dufour had to perform at the highest level.
– Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour and Vamos Amigas were the best of all.
Photo: Pi Frisk
When one few of them could not quite contain themselves at the end of Laudrup-Dufour’s ride – but started clapping – they were quickly and effectively silenced by the rest of the crowd.
– Many thanks to the audience, they really kept track and made it clear when everyone should be quiet and when it was okay to clap. It was cool to experience, says Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour with a smile.
– Vamos Amigos is still very young. One day, of course, he will learn to handle even a loud crowd, but I felt that it didn’t have to be today, she continues.
When the ride was over, however, the cheers rose, and it impossibly got even louder when the judges read out the percentages.
Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour and Vamos Amigos scored 81.864 percent. The team thus secured the Danish WC gold as a team. They were also the crew that got the highest percentage of all.
The team also included Carina Cassö Krüth/ Heiline’s Danciera, Nanna Merrald Rasmussen/ Blue Hors Zack and Daniel Bachmann Andersen/ Marshall-Bell.
– It means an incredible amount to be able to do this together with these three fantastic riders. I feel proud to ride in the same team as them, says Laudrup-Dufour.
When Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour and Vamos Amigos came off the court, they were greeted by cheering teammates and laughter mixed with happy tears.
Denmark was the best in the world in dressage for the first time.
– Last in the Swedish team, seasoned Patrik Kittel rode Touchdown, making his championship debut.
Photo: Pi Frisk
After Saturday – where the team’s first two riders had ridden – Sweden was in fourth place before Sunday’s decision.
Thus, the dream of the first Swedish dressage medal in 24 years was very much alive.
But Sweden’s third team rider – and the first to ride on Sunday – Therese Nilshagen didn’t quite get it.
She and the horse Dante did get off to a good start in their program, but then they ran into some costly problems.
The team scored 74.456 percent and the Swedish medal chances had thus decreased considerably.
– Patrik Kittel was satisfied with today’s ride.
Photo: Pi Frisk
Last in the Swedish team, seasoned Patrik Kittel rode Touchdown, making his championship debut. The team scored 76.522 percent.
– Touchdown was very good. I couldn’t have asked for anything more from him today, says Patrik Kittel.
But it was not enough for Sweden to win a medal. For the second World Championship in a row, Sweden finished fourth. The silver medal went to Great Britain, and the bronze went to Germany.
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