Germany claimed the Dressage team title in convincing style at the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Normandy, France today. Already out in front after their first two riders completed their tests yesterday, they nailed it with two more superb performances to finish well clear of Great Britain in silver medal spot, while the defending champions from The Netherlands took bronze.
The morning began with a superb performance from the third to go for Germany, Isabell Werth and Bella Rose whose score of 81.529 signalled the definitive return of Team Germany to the top of the pecking order in this sport in which they have always played such a dominant role. They never looked in any danger after that, and Helen Langehanenberg’s 81.357 with Damon Hill NRW was just the icing on the cake because, even without her brilliant effort, her country would be victorious.
This was the 11th German Dressage gold medal success since the team competition was introduced into the world championship programme in 1966 and German Chef d’Equipe, Klaus Roeser, said this evening: “it’s been very interesting, both yesterday and today, with brilliant and fantastic sport on a very high level. I want to say thanks to four young, nice and charming ladies who worked as a team together making us really strong!”