Germans show their might ahead of team medal decider

NEWSFLASH

TOKYO 2020 OLYMPIC GAMES - Dressage Day 2

by Louise Parkes 

As the second day of Grand Prix competition drew to a close at Baji Koen Equestrian Park tonight, the defending champions from Germany emerged to head the eight nations that have qualified for the Dressage team medal decider at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.  

Strong results from both Dorothee Schneider and Showtime (78.820) and world number one Isabell Werth and Bella Rose (82.500) bolstered yesterday’s colossal score of 84.379 posted by pathfinder Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera to leave Germany well out in front. But the evening’s show-stealer was no surprise, when Charlotte Dujardin steered the relatively inexperienced Gio to a great score of 80.963 which rocketed Great Britain up to second place.  

Denmark, USA, yesterday’s leaders form The Netherlands, Sweden, Portugal and Spain will all resume the battle for the team medals in Tuesday’s Grand Prix Special in which all teams start again with a clean sheet. And with the conclusion of today’s Grand Prix the 18 athletes qualified for Wednesday’s Freestyle which will decide the Individual medals has also been confirmed. 

The first two in each group of six riders have made the cut - Charlotte Fry and Charlotte Dujardin (GBR), Therese Nilshagen and Juliette Ramel (SWE), Cathrine Dufour and Carina Cassoe Kruth (DEN), Edward Gal (NED), Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, Dorothee Schneider and Isabell Werth (GER), Sabine Schut-Kery and Adrienne Lyle (USA). Also qualified are the six next-best individuals, Nanna Skodborg Merrald (DEN), Beatriz Ferrer-Salat (ESP), Hans Peter Minderhoud (NED), Carl Hester (GBR), Rodrigo Torres (POR) and Steffen Peters (USA). 

More to follow….   

Results here