Eger’s Epic Evening Produces Personal Best for Individual Nations Cup Gold
Evelyn Eger & Tabledance 3. Photo ©susanjstickle.com
Germany’s Evelyn Eger capped an unforgettable week by claiming the individual gold medal during “Friday Night Stars” in the Starpoint Dancesport FEI Nations Cup CDIO3* Grand Prix Freestyle on Friday, February 21. The last combination to dance down centerline, Eger and Hof Kasselmann’s home-bred Totilas daughter Tabledance 3 pulled out all the stops with a captivating Shakira-inspired performance which was rewarded with a new personal best of 77.235%.
The victory came just a day after the pair led Germany to the team gold with another winning career high score in the grand prix. The FEI Nations Cup is the centrepiece of week seven, the midway point of the 2025 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) in Wellington, FL, hosted by Wellington International.
It was incredibly close fought for the silver and bronze medals, with just 0.005 percentage points dividing the two. Eger’s compatriot Felicitas Hendricks won the battle for silver with 75.13% on her own Drombusch OLD. Devon Kane, best of the U.S. riders, filled the bronze medal podium step thanks to a 75.125% ride on Vamos.
The class was a qualifier for the new U.S. Equestrian Open of Dressage, which features 23 qualifying rounds — seven of which are being held by Wellington International at AGDF — before the final in California in November. To further bolster Eger’s epic evening, thanks to her victory, she now sits atop the table with 60 points, while Hendricks is in second with 54.
The 27-year-old Eger, who works for Hof Kasselmann, has been riding 12-year-old Tabledance since she was seven and they began their international career in the Under 25 division.
“I competed her first at Prix St. Georges and we made our way together up to the big sport,” said Eger. “We’ve grown and this makes a very deep relationship. Tonight was a big surprise and an unbelievable evening. Tabledance told me in the warm-up that she wanted to win. She was so relaxed and fighting for me, so I could enjoy the music and I could enjoy the audience. It was a perfect feeling.”
Long Game Pays Off for Karen Lipp
In the CDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle, presented by Buffalo Wild Wings, Karen Lipp (USA) rode her own 12-year-old Infinity to 72.255% and to the top of the leaderboard from last draw. Second place went to Japanese athlete Kiichi Harada who rode Chiemi Katayama’s 12-year-old Don Schufro gelding Impression to 67.42%. Amy Bradley (USA) rode her own 15-year-old Quileute CCW (by Quaterback) into third with 63.09%.
Lipp has produced the Dream Boy gelding since she bought him in The Netherlands as a four-year-old. The pair stepped up to international grand prix less than a year ago.
“The young horse stuff was really not his thing as he didn’t have the strength and power for it, so I backed off that and started working toward the high performance stuff,” explained Lipp, who trains with Charlotte Bredahl. “We wanted to take it slow, because it’s the best horse I’ve ever had and I want to preserve him. He never says no to me in the ring — ever — and I never want to feel that he’s pushed. I’ve protected him, not my ego, and played the long game.
“I chose him because even at four he had such a propensity for collection,” she continued. “Plus, he’s beautiful and his personality is a 10. He’s hot, but then he stands quiet in the awards ceremony.”
by Alice Collins
Wellington International
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