Stockholm, Sweden – Dec. 1, 2019 – The SAAB Top 10 Dressage competition in Stockholm over the weekend proved to be an exciting competition with eight riders earning over 80%, six personal bests and a young Cathrine Dufour beating world number one, Isabell Werth.
Following her Grand Prix Freestyle, Denmark’s Dufour on Atterupgaards Cassidy, could hardly believe what she saw when the results came up after her ride. The impressive score of 89.445% was not only a new personal best for Dufour, but it was also the winning score in the SAAB Top 10 Final by 0.1 percent.
“I thought, ‘Is this really happening!?’ The numbers were coming in and the results were flipping between me and Isabell in the top, says Dufour. “This is of course huge for me and I’m so happy with my little chestnut pony. He’s 17 and people ask me if I will retire him, but he loves to compete and I think he really showed that today.”
Germany’s Werth was the runner-up in the freestyle with 89.310% aboard Weihegold OLD.
“I’m super happy with ‘Weihe’ today,” Werth said. “She didn’t make any mistakes, but this time it wasn’t my luck with the numbers. I think this is really good sport. When we are this close it gets really exciting.”
Home rider Patrik Kittel of Sweden produced not only a personal best, but also a new Swedish record in Grand Prix Freestyle — 86,115% with Well Done de la Roche CMF.
“I’m so happy, not only for me, but for this whole competition and what we have built together with SAAB,” Kittel explained. “Six riders produced personal bests here today. And everybody who goes into the arena wants to win. This is top sport and how dressage should be; the public leaving the arena wanting to see more.”
CDI Grand Prix Freestyle
Rider / Country / Horse / Total Score
1. Cathrine Dufour / DEN / Atterupgaards Cassidy / 89.445
2. Isabell Werth / GER / Weihevoll OLD / 89.31
3. Patrik Kittel / SWE / Well Done de La Roche / 86.115
4. Jessica von Bredow-Werndl / GER / Zaire-E / 85.825
5. Therese Nilshagen / SWE / Dante Weltino / 83.765
6. Emmelie Scholtens / NED / Desperado / 83.045
7. Helen Langehanenberg / GER / Damsey FRH / 82.725
8. Anne Meulendijks / NED / Avanti / 80.845
9. Antonia Ramel / SWE / Brother de Jeu / 77.925
19. Michelle Hagman Hassink / SWE / Chagall H / 72.92