Tag Archives: CDIO3* Odense

US Dressage Team Finishes Fifth at CDIO3* Odense

Jennifer Hoffmann and XXXL Rubinio NRW (Ridehesten.com)

Odense, Denmark – The third and final day of the Nations Cup competition at the Odense Horse Festival sponsored by ECCO took place on Monday. Led by Chef d’Equipe Robert Dover, The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team of Katherine Bateson-Chandler and Alcazar, Susan Dutta and Currency DC, Jennifer Hoffmann and XXXL Rubinio NRW, and Beatrice Marienau and Stefano 8 had respectable performances throughout the competition. At the end of the three days of competition, The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team finished in fifth place on a score of 403.524.

“I was very proud of our American riders and horses here in Odense and thankful to them, their personal trainers, assistants, and supporters,” Dover said. “They showed excellent horsemanship and great potential to produce super results as the season progresses. I wish them all the very best of luck in their upcoming European competitions! Go Team USA!”

The Nations Cup format determined team results by adding the three best results per team in the Grand Prix, the two best results in the Grand Prix Special, and the best result in the Grand Prix Freestyle. All combinations performed the Grand Prix on Saturday with Bateson-Chandler and Alcazar as the top U.S. finishers in eighth place with a score of 69.000%. Dutta and Tim Dutta Inc.’s Currency DC and Marienau and her own Stefano 8 competed in Sunday’s Grand Prix Special, with Marienau finishing ninth on a score of 67.294% and Dutta in 12th on a score of 66.490%. The ECCO Grand Prix Freestyle was the final phase of the competition with Bateson-Chandler and Alcazar and Hoffmann and XXXL Rubinio NRW representing the U.S. in front of the Ground Jury of Kirsten Soegaard (DEN), Elke Ebert (GER), Francis Verbeek (NED), Jacques Van Daele (BEL), and Peter Storr (GBR).

Hoffmann (Duisburg, Germany) and her own XXXL Rubinio NRW performed a striking freestyle to dramatic music with an Arabian flair. The pair had several challenging movements including trot half-passes away from the judge at C to showcase their correctness in the movement, an extended canter to a one-and-a-half canter pirouette, one-tempi changes on the centerline, and a turn while performing the piaffe. Hoffman’s music matched the 2003 Westphalian stallion well, highlighted by a lovely extended trot that paired perfectly with the music. Their great performance was marred only by a moment of resistance during a piaffe towards the beginning of the test. Hoffmann and XXXL Rubinio NRW were awarded a score of 67.800% to finish in eighth place.

“Karen Robinson did the music, with Vanessa Mae playing the violin in the trot music, and Sarah Brightman singing at the end. It had a little bit of a Middle Eastern flavor,” Hoffmann explained about her freestyle. “It was a real challenge today; we have had our hands full with the weather. It has been super cold and windy with banners flapping and a lot going on. Today, I was really happy with how he held it together as well as he did. We all felt our scores didn’t reflect how we had been doing lately, but we dealt with the circumstances the best we could.”

Hoffmann made her Nations Cup debut at Odense and was delighted with the experience. “I loved the experience. The gals I was here with were so much fun. For [Marienau], it was her first time as well, with Katherine and Susie having been on teams before, but we didn’t really know what to expect. It was super; there was a nice feeling of comradery with everyone watching each other’s rides and helping each other out. We got along really well; there was a good harmony. Robert [Dover] was amazing! He was always there, always helping, answering any questions. It was wonderful to have him there.”

Bateson-Chandler (Wellington, Fla.) with Jane Clark’s Alcazar had entertaining funk music in her freestyle to songs such as “Uptown Funk,” “Superstition,” and “Play That Funky Music”. She managed to produce several quality movements with the 2005 Dutch Warmblood gelding but struggled with tension in the blustery conditions. They performed a one-and-a-half canter pirouette and nice trot half-pass zig zags. Bateson-Chandler and Alcazar received a score of 66.000% to finish in ninth place.

Host nation Denmark claimed top honors in the Nations Cup with a score of 436.521. Sweden was second on a score of 435.204 and Germany was third on a score of 412.113. Therese Nilshagen (SWE) and Dante Weltino OLD won the Grand Prix Freestyle with a score of 75.425%, and Agnete Kirk Thinggaard (DEN) and Jojo AZ were second on a 73.975% followed by Kathleen Keller (GER) and Daintree 3 in third on a score of 71.600%.

View more information about CDIO3* Odense and the complete results.

By Kathleen Landwehr

Katherine Bateson-Chandler and Alcazar to Represent Team USA at Nations Cup CDIO3* Odense

Photo courtesy of JRPR.

Wellington, Florida (April 22, 2016) – After completing a successful winter season at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, Florida, Grand Prix dressage rider and trainer Katherine Bateson-Chandler is headed to her summer home base in England. Paired with Jane F. Clark’s 11-year-old KWPN gelding Alcazar, Bateson-Chandler has consistently stayed in the top rankings during intense international competition, and plans for this summer to be no exception. Most exciting on the 2016 summer agenda is the pair’s next competition, where they will represent The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team at CDIO3* Odense on May 12-16 in Odense, Denmark.

“I am honored and thrilled to represent the USA as a member of the Nations Cup team in Odense,” Bateson-Chandler says. Led by mentor and Chef d’Equipe Robert Dover, Bateson-Chandler joins fellow teammates Susan Dutta, Jennifer Hoffmann, and Beatrice Marienau on the U.S. Dressage Team.

“My favorite thing is to be part of a team – there is nothing else like that feeling of camaraderie. It’s so fun to be able to support your teammates,” Bateson-Chandler adds.

Bateson-Chandler remarks on how the Wellington, Florida competition season was unifying for all dressage riders around the world by creating a sense of support and rapport amongst fellow competitors through the 12-week series. “This season I felt such an amazing sense of community between everybody in Wellington. I felt that much more than ever before, and that’s a very special thing.” She is excited to further this unifying energy during the Nations Cup competition.

While in England, Bateson-Chandler trains with British Olympic Gold Medalist Carl Hester. She will be preparing for four other competitions across Europe, as well. “Right now I want to keep a steady show and training schedule, without taxing my horse,” she explains.

Last summer, Bateson-Chandler wrapped up a successful European dressage tour with a strong 71.350 percent finish at the Comite Equestre De Saumur CDI 3* in Saumur, France. Before that the pair competed at the Dressage at Hickstead CDIO 3*, where they were the highest-placing American combination.

Bateson-Chandler offers training and coaching services through her business KBC Dressage. Her international Grand Prix experience ensures that her students – both human and equine – have the competitive edge necessary for success in the dressage ring. KBC Dressage offers training services, lessons, clinics, and prospect selection for clients. For more information about Katherine Bateson-Chandler, visit www.kbcdressage.com.

Contact: Katherine Bateson-Chandler
chandlercarlos@aol.com
908-391-9096

USEF Names The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team for CDIO3* Odense

Lexington, Ky. – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce the athlete-and-horse combinations who will represent The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team at CDIO3* Odense, May 12-16, 2016, in Odense, Denmark. Robert Dover will serve as the Chef d’Equipe.

The following combinations will make up The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team (in alphabetical order):

Katherine Bateson-Chandler (Wellington, Fla.) and Jane Clark’s Alcazar, a 2005 Dutch Warmblood gelding

Susan Dutta (Wellington, Fla.) and Tim Dutta Inc.’s Currency DC, a 2000 Oldenburg gelding

Jennifer Hoffmann (San Diego, Calif.) and her own XXXL Rubinio NRW, a 2003 Westphalian stallion

Beatrice Marienau (Oak Creek, Colo.) and her own Stefano 8, a 1999 Dutch Warmblood gelding

View more information about CDIO3* Odense.

From the USEF Communications Department