WELLINGTON, Fla.--Canada just beat the U.S. in the Nations Cup for Under 25 on March 17, while, with one day remaining, Germany leads the U.S. in the Nations Cup at Global Dressage.
Camille Carter Bergeron on Sound Of Silence (Photo by Susan Stickle)The under-25 division was a battle between arch rivals Canada and the U.S., with team Canada coming out on top, scoring 133.323 points to win gold, and the U.S.taking silver with 129.5 points.
Camille Carier Bergeron rode Sound Of Silence 4 in only the pair’s second under-25 CDI to the top spot for the winning nation, placing second overall in the CDIOU25 Intermediate II.
Individually, Benjamin Ebeling won the class with 70.529 percent on Ann Romney’s Status Royal OLD,but Ebeling was not on the under-25 U.S. team as he is riding Indeed on the senior team.
The 22-year-old Vanessa Creech-Terauds helped Canada, clinching gold by finishing fourth with 65.764 percent on Fleur De Lis.
“IT'S VERY exciting to have won the second year in a row with Camille," said Creech-Terauds, who was also on last year’s winning under-25 Canadian team riding Carier Bergeron. "It’s always been so much fun. I’ve been competing against and with Camille for a long time, and it’s so nice that in the U25 we’re able to be on the same team, because in juniors and young riders we always had to compete against each other. It’s always a really great experience going in that ring and representing Canada and getting more experience for both of our futures, and I know we both have goals to represent Canada more often, so every time it really makes me proud.”
“I’ve been riding Fleur since we were both juniors, and I was so proud of her today,"said Creech-Terauds. "She’s an awesome team horse because she goes out there every time and tries her best. Just last weekend we participated in the Challenge of the Americas fund raiser. I rode her in the cowboy and cowgirl theme. And for her to go from that really big atmosphere — people were cheering and clapping, and music, and I had a lasso on my leg, and chaps on — to be able to then come to this week doing the Nations Cup, it really attests to her character.”
“We have an awesome chef d’equipe in Denielle Gallagher, who was also our chef d’equipe last year, so we are surrounded by great people," said Carier Bergeron, 21." I’m very happy with today’s test considering the weather was extremely hot. It’s not easy for the horses, and I think they tried the best they could. Today we had two bobbles, and the mistakes in the one-tempis were quite expensive because of the coefficient, but overall I’m really proud of my horse. You always have to adapt to all kinds of atmosphere, environment, and temperature, so today we did a short warm up. We tried to preserve his energy, and I think it worked quite well.”
The highest scoring American rider was Quinn Iverson, who rode Beckham 19 to 65.824 percent and third place individually to help win silver to the U.S. team.
It was the first time any of the American riders had represented their country.
“We’re still quite a new partnership, and for him to just go out and still be as honest as he was in this weather, I was very happy with him,” said Iverson, who was riding in her third-ever CDI and at only the fourth show on this horse. “It was a really big honor to be able to do it on such a big stage with the team.”
“I’ve had my mare since the junior division, and we’ve come up the levels together, so we’re still both a bit green at this level," said Nicole Scarpino, 23, who scored 63.676 percent on Lambada 224. "But I was super happy with how much energy she brought to the test, even with the weather. We also had some miscommunication in our one-tempis, but I’m very happy how she handled the atmosphere and the weather, and I’m grateful to be here.”
The U.S. third rider, Kaylee Christensen,23 from Michigan,rode Chateau 28 to 58.353 percent with a tricky ride.
“Unfortunately, my horse got his tongue over the bit today,” she said. “Sometimes there’s nothing you can do, but I’m still really proud of him. He still tried his heart out in this really difficult weather for him. We’re from Michigan, so we’re not really used to this. But I’m still grateful to be here and part of this team.”
AT THE half-way point of the two days of team competition in the FEI Nations Cup CDIO3*, team Germany leads the way.
Michael Klimke on Sanrino RHP (Photo by Susan Stickle)The format at this show allows teams to combine small tour and grand prix combinations, with the latter getting a 1.5 percent bonus for the more difficult test.
With all teams having posted four results, Germany is leading the U.S. with 217.204 points to 215.419, and Canada is third with 203.891 points.
Thursday’s action included Prix St. Georges and Grand Prix, with small tour riders progressing to the Intermediate I test on Friday, and the big tour riders tackling the Grand Prix Special, after which the team medals will be awarded.
Germany’s top three scores were over 72 percent.
The team’s two big tour combinations placed first and second individually in the Grand Prix CDIO3*, as Michael Klimke on Sanrino RHP scored a new personal best of 71.152 percent (72.652 percent including the bonus) and Christoph Koschel on Dünensee placing second with 71.022 percent (72.522 percent including the bonus).
Katie Duerrhammer was third with 70.152 percent (71.652 percent including the bonus) riding Quartett, keeping the U.S. team in striking distance of the gold.
In the Prix St. Georges CDIO3*, Bianca Berktold won with a commanding 72.441 percent on Imperial.
Frederic Wandres of Germany was second on Dolciario, with his teammate Lars Ligus placing third on Soccer City.
Danish-born U.S. rider Charlotte Jorst had a good day.
Not only did she win the Grand Prix CDI3* (for Special), but she also won the CDI3* FEI Prix St. Georges on Zhaplin Langholt.
In the grand prix, she rode the 19-year-old Kastel’s Nintendo to 72.326 percent to win over Alice Tarjan on her 9-year-old mare, Serenade MF, who scored 71.348 percent.
Japan’s Kiichi Harada scored a new personal best with Sir Galanto of 69.696 percent to place third.
Jorst’s small tour ride, Zhaplin Langholt, won with 72.382 percent over Canada’s Belinda Trussell, second in the Prix St. Georges with 67.883 percent on Insterlana NRW.and Rebecca Waite was third with 65.912 percent on Beirholms Eclaire.
Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén rode her newest grand prix horse, Devanto, to a career-high score for the 13-year-old Holsteiner.
The seven-time Swedish Olympian laid down 71.522 percent in the Grand Prix CDI3* (for Freestyle), winning over 11 starters and receiving $70,000 in prize-money.
The Dominican Republic’s Yvonne Losos de Muñiz was second on Aquamarij, 70.978 percent, before she heads to Germany for the World Cup Final in April.
Alice Tarjan finished third with Donatella M on another plus-70 percent score of 70.456 percent.
