The pressure was on throughout the opening day of the FEI Dressage World Championship Aachen (GER). Germany arrived as favourites for team gold and lead after the first day on 149.301%, but nothing came easily for any of the leading nations. Even some of the favourites made mistakes, increasing the pressure on the remaining team athletes who will enter the arena tomorrow.
After the first day of Grand Prix competition, Germany lead the team standings and have two combinations inside the individual top three. Frederic Wandres (GER) and Bluetooth OLD produced the highest score of the day. The experienced partnership leads the individual standings with 75.963%.
Their assured performance, one of the most polished tests of the day, strengthened Germany’s position at the head of the team standings.
His compatriot Raphael Netz (GER), making his World Championship debut, also gave Germany a strong start with Great Escape Camelot. Their score of 73.338% puts them in provisional third place. Netz, a multiple medallist at FEI Youth Championships, had an error in the one-time changes but otherwise produced a strong test.
“I enjoyed it. Camelot gave me a good feeling. He made himself look about 15 centimetres taller than usual in the Main Stadium. I am so happy and grateful that we get to do this together,” said the 27-year-old Athlete.
German head coach Monica Theodorescu was pleased with the opening day, although she was not ready to celebrate too soon.
“Where we are now looks good. We have a clear lead. Frederic rode an amazing test, one of his best Grand Prix tests. His horse was fresh, and they were fault-free and precise. He has swing and is supple: everything we want to see. For now, it looks good, but we continue tomorrow.”
Denmark and Great Britain remain in contention
Denmark currently sits second with 144.130%. Nadja Aaboe Sloth (DEN) was the first of their team to enter the arena, riding Favour Gersdorf. With an impressive piaffe and passage and a pleasing uphill frame, they scored 71.956%.
“It was a shame about the mistake in the one-time changes. We need to practise those ahead of the Grand Prix Special. But I would like to carry the good, smooth feeling we had, particularly in the first part, into Friday,” she said.
Carina Cassøe Krüth (DEN) and Heiline’s Danciera, an experienced championship partnership, followed with 72.174% to secure Denmark’s provisional second place.
Great Britain is still well placed in third after the opening day with a team total of 143.168%. However, Becky Moody (GBR) and Jagerbomb, one of the leading individual combinations and winners of this year’s FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final, made several mistakes. Their 73.820% currently puts them in second individually, but the result was way short of their best scores.
Jagerbomb was a little too excited in the arena, and mistakes crept into the test.
“Some of our test was the best we’ve done; some of it was really bad. He was a little too excited and distracted when we entered the arena, but we pulled it back and still had some really good bits,” Moody reflected.
The British team won silver at the ECCO FEI World Championships Herning 2022 and will need strong performances from their remaining combinations tomorrow if they are to catch Denmark and defend that medal.
A different look to the top ten
Sweden currently occupies fourth place in the team standings with 141.087%, followed by Portugal in fifth on 140.078% and Australia in sixth on 139.658%.
The opening day therefore produced a different look to both the team and individual standings at the FEI Dressage World Championship Aachen 2026. The high positions of Portugal and Australia in the team competition were particularly notable. Individually, Athletes representing Australia, Portugal, Ecuador and Austria all currently feature in the top ten.
The first combination to break the 70% barrier today was Austria’s Felicita Simoncic and Four Legends. With a solid test and a personal best of 70.730%, the 22-year-old athlete currently occupies tenth place.
“He really showed himself at his best in the arena. He was behaving very much like a stallion in the warm-up, so I am really pleased that everything came together in the arena.”
Simone Pearce (AUS) and Will Marq currently sit fourth individually, while their score helped Australia into an impressive provisional sixth place in the team standings.
“This was what I had hoped for, but given our limited experience together, I had expected a few more hiccups in the test. But Will was super. He is such a positive horse.”
Team medals to be decided tomorrow
The Grand Prix team competition continues tomorrow from 08:20, with the final athlete scheduled to enter the arena at 17:50. With many of the world’s leading combinations still to come, the pressure will remain high throughout the second and decisive day of team competition. Once the Grand Prix team competition has concluded, the team medals will be awarded and the 30 individual combinations qualifying for the Grand Prix Special will be confirmed.
FULL RESULTS here.
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