Felicitas Hendricks & Drombusch 2. Photo © SusanJStickle.com.
For the third consecutive year, it was Germany whose national anthem rang out at the conclusion of the Stillpoint Farm FEI Nations Cup™ contest in Week 7 of the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) in Wellington, Florida.
The Nations Cup™ in Wellington is a mixed team competition, allowing countries to put forward a combination of small tour and big tour combinations, with the grand prix combinations being awarded a bonus of 1.5% on their score. Germany’s winning team of Frederic Wandres, Felicitas Hendricks, Anna-Christina Abbelen, and Michael Klimke finished on 437.844 points, with the silver medal winning USA team of Charlotte Jorst, Anna Marek, Christian Simonson, and Susan Dutta on 427.285, and Sweden (Christina Devine, Caroline Darcourt, and Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfvén) in bronze on 414.498.
Germany’s top score on Friday came courtesy of a 72.234% (rounded up to 73.734% with the bonus) personal best in the CDIO3* Grand Prix Special from rising stars Hendricks — the youngest rider on the team — and her own Drombusch 2 (by Destano).
“I’m really glad I had the opportunity to show here, and I think it’s perfect conditions for us riders and a top series,” said the 22-year-old. “I was able to have the highest score today and I love the grand prix special. It went well with the passage and extended trot parts — those were our highlights today. I couldn’t be prouder of our team.”
Personal Bests under the Lights
In the “Friday Night Stars” class under lights, the CDI3* FEI Grand Prix Freestyle, presented by Buffalo Wild Wings, the Spanish rider Pablo Gómez Molina punched the air in jubilation at the final halt after completing a 77.865% test. Aboard the 13-year-old PRE gelding Ulises De Ymas — who is owned by Javier Bacariza, Cristina Danguillecourt, and Yeguada de Ymas SL — Gómez Molina scored a huge new personal best of 77.865%.
Gómez Molina rode to an upbeat compilation featuring Queen and “Harry Potter” theme song music, for which he received two nines.
“Ulises is really active with a lot of activity and knee action, and I think it fits him really well. I was hearing the crowd clapping in time, so I think they liked it,” said the beaming 28-year-old. “I started competing internationally in Wellington, so for me to win the grand prix yesterday and today win the freestyle — I’ve been here watching every single freestyle — it’s pretty special.”
For more information and results, visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.