Thursday, Session 1
Austria’s Daniel Dunst and Chevalier 97 were first up the center line, getting the eventing at the World Championships underway. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
THE LEADERBOARD:
1️⃣ 🇳🇿 Leader in the clubhouse right now, in gold medal spot at this early stage of the competition, is Clarke Johnstone and Rocket Man on a score of 28.7
2️⃣ 🇨🇭 In silver as things stand is >Robin Godel and Grandeur de Lully CH* on a score of 30.1.
3️⃣ 🇩🇪 Rounding out the rolling podium, currently in bronze medal position, is Libussa Lübekke and Caramia FRH on a score of 31.3.
🇺🇲 Phillip Dutton and Denim* are in 4th on 32.6.
You’ll find the full scoreboard right here.
THE ACTION:
🇦🇹 Daniel Dunst and Chevalier 97
The trailblazers for the eventing competition took on the huge pressure and atmosphere of being first to go at this immense venue in fine style. In particular, delivering a nicely relaxed walk, with Chevalier 97 really listening to his rider, and putting in four clean and true changes including the very tricky one on the final center line. Huge pats at the end and Austrian flags waving in the stands. The horse looked very pleased with himself and so was the rider. “Woo hoo!” he shouts to his team.
33.3
🇳🇿 Clarke Johnstone and Rocket Man
This striking gray horse cut an elegant figure throughout his test and was beautifully presented by Clarke. The transitions were smooth as butter and everything was low-key, really, just all super pro and accurate. The flying changes were especially neat and tidy. Big smile from Clarke at the end and pats for Rocket Man. Thumbs up to the crowd and a very relaxed horse walking out, nice to see. Very deservedly sub-30. A pleasure to watch.
28.7
🇨🇿 Miroslav Trunda and Mellevue van Rechteren
It’s the first time in 90 years that we’ve seen a Czech team at the World Championships and this pair got off to a great start. The trot work was nice and relaxed and the halt was particularly impressive, stock still. A little sticky going into the rein back but the mare was very responsive in the walk work, taking the contact out when asked and keeping a cool head in the atmosphere. This 9-year-old has a little developing to do in the canter work but a very polite early part of the test and much more to come from her, for sure. Pats and a pensive look from Miroslav at the end.
41
🇺🇸 Phillip Dutton and Denim*
Overall a total pro performance from this talented horse and super experienced rider, although the score ended up slightly higher than might have been expected from this pair. It all started out well, beautifully presented and accurately ridden and the walk was a particular highlight, expressive and relaxed. A little tension crept into the canter work though, just enough to keep them from the top marks. Phillip looked very serious at the end; Denim looked very relaxed walking out.
32.6
🇦🇺 Sophia Hill and Humble Glory*
Sophia rides this thoroughbred very tactfully between the white boards, he doesn’t find this phase easy, it’s fair to say. He tries his best for Sophia though and performs what’s asked of him on the whole, staying quiet and consistent throughout. Three out of four changes come off nicely. There’s a sigh of relief at the end from Sophia and a jig jog from Humble Glory. Flags waving and chants from the crowd.
37.6
🇮🇪 Ian Cassells and Millridge Atlantis*
This horse is beautifully expressive and powerful in the trot work, very impressive and striking as he bounds across the arena and lovely and light on his feet. A little tension crept into the walk work though and that continued in the canter, tightening in the neck a smidge although the changes were are clean and rhythmical. This pair totally nailed the final halt, dead straight and square, surely nothing to take off there? The horse looked proud of himself at the end, although the score was perhaps a little higher than we might have expected.
33.5
🇫🇷 Benjamin Massie and Figaro Fonroy*
This horse really does flick his toes in trot, very fancy. There’s a little resistance in the reinback but they manage a quiet enough walk, albeit a little tentative. The horse relaxes into the canter work though and they hit the four changes. They finish up with a nice straight, square halt. Big pats for Figaro Fonroy, who stretches his neck as he walks out of the ring. They’ve been sub-30, but not today.
36
🇨🇭 Robin Godel and Grandeur de Lully CH*
This is a third World Championships start for this pair, very impressive, even more so when we take into account that Robin’s only 27 years old, it’s his ninth senior championship appearance. This 18-year-old was strong and secure in his work but for an annoying break into canter during the trot section – Ronin was really going for it though, high risk, high reward, but it doesn’t quite come off. The rest of the trot is expressive and rhythmical and the walk work is nice and relaxed. Overall a solid test, well ridden and confident work from the horse. Huge pats at the end and a very happy-looking horse.
30.1
🇩🇪 Libussa Lübekke and Caramia FRH*
There were big cheers as this pair came into the ring but the horse stayed unflappable and totally pro. This mare’s expressive and totally on the rider’s side. The transitions were smooth and overall it was a flowing and pleasant test, although some tension creeping in, particularly in the changes proves expensive. Huge cheers from the home crowd at the end but a higher score than the Germans would have liked and been expecting.
31.3
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS:
👌 Robin Godel and Grandeur de Lully CH picked the perfect time to deliver a personal best, putting down a 30.1 to sit in 2nd.
🪩 Libussa Lübekke’s and Caramia FRHgets the prize for shiniest horse in the Aachen sunshine.
🩰 Benjamin Massie’s and Figaro Fonroy showed off some fancy toe flicks in the trot work.
🐮 Sophia Hill’s and Humble Glory went cowboy with a cheeky lil’ cow kick in the first flying change.
👏 Dutton fans were in da house, with a huge cheer for Phillip Dutton and Denim at the end of their test.
👍 Trailblazer Daniel Dunst finished up his test with Chevalier 97 with a big thumbs up to the camera.
THE CROSS COUNTRY QUESTION:
Eventing is not a dressage competition, we all know that. It’s an important part of the overall picture, sure, but everything can change come Saturday with overnight leaderboards being shaken up like a Boggle cube. Here’s a look at the most reliable cross country horses in the field, according to EquiRatings (with 100% XCJ in Eventing Manager), and how they fared in this session of dressage:
New Zealand’s Clarke Johnstone and Rocket Man have nary a cross country jumping penalty on their record since getting together in 2023. They’re in top spot as things stand and have put themselves in a great place with a sub-30 score of 28.7in the first phase.
Ireland’s Ian Cassells and Millridge Atlantis – the last time this pair picked up a 20 it was 2021. They’re on 33.5 but will be looking to climb on Saturday.
Switzerland’s Robin Godel and Grandeur de Lully CH are on a streak of 20 clear cross country jumping rounds, spanning five years. They’re sitting in second on 30.1 so it’ll be exciting to see how close they can stay to that on Saturday.
🪜 A combination we can expect to be in the ascendency on cross country day is Australia’s Sophia Hill and Humble Glory are classic cross country day leaderboard leapers due to this pair’s penchant for pace. They’re on 37.6 and will likely still be close to – or on – that score after all’s said and done on Saturday.
THE STATS:
Sub-30 is the benchmark for real success in the dressage phase and 1 combination cracked that barrier in this session.
Eyes on EN – more World Championships action coming up soon.
Go eventing!
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