World Championships - roundup
Historic World Championship dressage double-double gold for Britain’s Fry
Lottie Fry and Glamourdale
The crowd was approaching frenzy level with every rider as we built towards the climax, but clapping and cheering is like nectar to Van Olst Horses’ black stallion Glamourdale, who simply loves to show off. His 30-year-old rider Lottie Fry, originally from Yorkshire, was already flying high in confidence, having retained her individual World Championship title in yesterday’s Grand Prix Special, so the scene was set for something wonderful.
The duo delivered. Their freestyle programme, which is themed on songs featuring ‘flying’, debuted at last year’s FEI European Championships in Crozet, but it didn’t quite land with the judges. After some refinement over the last 12 months, tonight was a very different story. The crowd was behind them as soon as Lottie’s voice boomed throughout the stadium to welcome everyone to “Glamourdale Airlines” and the music started.
Some 40,000 souls were totally invested in the music and level of dressage skill on display, with audible gaps during the canter work, particularly the tempi changes and their trademark extended canter but, most importantly, so were the seven judges. The final centre line was done to a slow handclap, which simply made Glammy’s passage better and better. They halted and the crowd went mad.
As the cheering rung out, the announcer gave the scores – a range of 84–86+% for the technical work and four of the seven judges awarding 99% for the artistic presentation. The final score was 91.907%, which might be just a shade of their personal best on paper but, for many, it was the best performance they’d ever seen the duo perform. It shot them into the lead over Belgium’s Justin Verboomen and Zonik Plus, who had snuck ahead of Becky and Bomb earlier that night.
“It was my test of a lifetime – it couldn’t be better for me. He was completely relaxed, he was super-happy and we both enjoyed every second. I kept smiling in the test, then reminding myself to concentrate because we’re at a World Championship. It was just the most amazing feeling in the world – this was the best test of our lives so far. I hope we continue to improve but, for now, this is incredible,” said an excited Lottie.
“It’s been an amazing week. Glammy’s performed beyond all expectations and he’s been a complete dream to ride from the stable to the arena. He’s so happy here – he loves it. I was in the warm-up arena and he kept looking over every time there was clapping, like ‘can we go yet?’ and I was like ‘no, it’s not our time, we have to wait’. He’s whinnying the whole way because he’s excited to get in, then as soon as he’s in there, he’s quiet, calm and relaxed. This is his place. It’s just been the most incredible week for us.
“The crowd was amazing. To be honest, when you go in, you know there’s a huge atmosphere, but you don’t really look up to see what’s going on around you because you’re so focused, but you can just feel everyone there, especially when he does an extended canter – I can hear them, which is really good and I think Glammy likes it as well. It’s the most amazing atmosphere to ride in – I don’t think I’ve ever ridden in quite an arena like that,” she reflected.
Making history
The final combination into the electric arena was the Queen of Aachen herself, Isabell Werth, riding Wendy de Fontaine – just one final pairing who could spoil Lottie and Glammy’s evening. After missing out on the podium by a whisker in the Grand Prix Special, Isabell had a point to prove. The largely German crowd was certainly behind their home nation heroine, but there were some small errors and miscommunications which prevented them from getting the top marks.
It was a tense few moments where Lottie once again couldn’t look at the big screen in the warm-up area, but many reassured her that she’d done enough. After what felt like an agonisingly long time, the score flashed up as 88.650%. Lottie had done it. She’d successfully defended her Freestyle title won in Herning in 2022 and done the double in Aachen – two unbelievable tests, two gold medals and a place in history as the only rider to have ever retained both titles, all alongside her faithful black stallion, Glamourdale. Becky finished fifth overall and Carl seventh, making Britain the only nation to have three riders in the top seven.
Britain takes FEI Eventing World Championship team gold and individual silver and bronze
Sunday’s eventing finale at the FEI World Championships in Aachen was a fitting end to a rollercoaster week, but the one constant throughout has been the British team leading the competition from start to finish. In a thrilling showjumping final phase, the team of Ros Canter, Laura Collett, Tom McEwen and Gemma Stevens claimed gold on 84.0 penalties, taking the win by over 11 penalties from hosts Germany with 95.6, with Team USA in bronze on 113.5.
Individual silver and bronze for Britain’s para duo
Grade 1 – Individual: Mari Duward-Akhurst and Athene Lindebjerg
At 19 years young, Athene Lindebjerg has been there, done that and collected a host of medals along the way with three different riders. Incredibly, though, today she made her World Championship debut with Mari Durward-Akhurst, also a World Championship first timer.
Mari was drawn 13th to go out of 20 starters, so was aware of the benchmark she had to achieve. Her test with Athene started well, with the mare’s long, languid walk producing quality movements as her rider expertly guided her through the technical twists and turns of the test to score 74.542% – it was her first ever individual silver.
“Everything came together [today] and she was really up for it,” Mari said of the evergreen Danish Warmblood mare.
“It’s really special to be in Aachen with her. She’s obviously 19 now, so we’re not sure what the future holds. I’ve had so much pressure everywhere we’ve gone – we’ve always had to deliver because somebody else has – but this is our story and she’s such a unique mare. I’m so pleased that she’s now a World Championship horse, to add to all of her [accolades].”
Mari had a clear plan today; “I definitely didn't play safe – I went bold. I worked really hard with the team psychologist [Leonie Lightfoot] on going in and owning Grand Prix A because I find it harder than B. We definitely went in bold and hopefully next time we'll have a bit more to give,” she explained.
As a youngster, Mari learned her trade at the South Bucks Riding for the Disabled and discovered a love of competing. The heartbeat of the centre is Di Redfern, who owns Athene along with Romilly Hart and a share for Mari’s dad, Nick Duward-Akhurst. Di has been instrumental in many para dressage careers – both equine and human – and today was a particularly proud moment for her.
Grade 2 – Individual: Jemima Green and Fantabulous
Jemima Green discovered para dressage after a car accident left the former eventer and point-to-pointer paralysed from the waist down. Determined to prove the medics wrong, she got back into riding to help her mentally and physically recover. The competitive side in her drove her to take up the sport and she’s been hooked ever since. In 2022, Fantabulous came into her life as a young, unproven four-year-old and she set about training him into the world of para. Two years later, they made their international debut and they’ve never looked back.
Drawn fourth to go, Jemima knew she’d have to be on her A game with ‘Fanta’ and throw down the gauntlet because the start list was peppered with the world’s best to follow. They absolutely did that – the only blip in the test was a miscommunication in a trot transition, when the Dutch-bred chestnut was so relaxed in the arena that he missed the signal from his rider, but they were quick to recover. A final score of 75.241% was a new personal best for the Grand Prix A for the duo – there was even an 80.345% from the judge at B, Anne Prain, which caused Jemima to gasp as she exited the arena - it was a debut bronze for Jemima and Fanta.
“He’s still young, and the fact that he went in there today and performed and coped with the atmosphere is great,” said a delighted Jemima.
“We had a moment of miscommunication when we were supposed to be trotting, but were still in walk, but that’s okay and we learn from it. The rest of the test felt really smooth, and he was really relaxed in there, and we can build from that.”
With thoughts turning to Friday’s team test for medals, Jemima said; “If he's still giving that relaxed vibe, I think I can definitely try and get a little bit more. All I can hope is that he goes in there with the same confidence – he should do. He's had a really, really good ride today, so I hope he remembers that. I've had a good ride too, so hopefully I remember that and we can bring home another great score for the team.”
An emotional gold and brilliant bronze for Britain’s para dressage athletes
Over in Stadium 3, it was the turn of the para dressage grade 4 and 5 riders to ride their individual tests, which brought World Championship debutante Nicola Naylor into action alongside Sophie Wells, who is competing in her fifth FEI World Championship.
Grade 4 – Individual: Nicola Naylor and Humberto L
Visually impaired Nicola Naylor rode and jumped in her youth but, as her sight deteriorated and family, life and work took over, her connection to horses began to fade. However, when her daughter had some riding lessons, the horse bug bit once again and she’s never looked back. In fact, she’s honed her riding skills to such an incredible degree that she regularly rides at small tour at able-bodied dressage and is the first visually impaired rider ever to compete at Grand Prix level.
They started brightly, with ‘Humbo’ flowing in the early trot work in a good rhythm, and the scores averaging over seven. There was a small spook in the corner by the Cachet L-sired bay gelding, but Nicola was quick to get him on his way. The walk tour showed good purpose but, once they hit canter, the marks began to clock up, with plenty of eights being awarded. A good halt brought the test to an end for a score of 73.861%, setting the bar for the remaining combinations to better.
After her test, Nicola commented; “I thought he was fabulous. Obviously, I was first to go and it’s my first World Championships, so I can’t say that I wasn’t a bit nervous, and Humbo was a bit nervous, but I’m super-pleased. It felt like a real partnership in there and he really trusted me. He really settled, but for one moment, and he was super.” - It was debut World Championship individual bronze for the Kent-based rider.
Grade 5 – Individual: Sophie Wells and MSJ Gold Standard
After missing last year’s European Championships as a rider – although still being there as coach – it was great to see Sophie Wells back in the British team. Since making her senior para dressage team debut at the World Championships in 2010 in Kentucky, Sophie has only been absent on that one occasion. In those 16 years, the Nottinghamshire rider has produced an incredible seven horses to championship level and, at Aachen, she debuted number eight – MSJ Gold Standard.
Drawn eighth of 21 combinations, Sophie and Gracie had a score of 71.436 to beat, set by Australian Lisa Martin. They started their trot work with an active approach and open frame. Sophie is a master at producing a test, provided she has a horse that’s with her, and Gracie was receptive and with her every step of the way. The neighboring main arena crowd of 30,000 erupted following a clear round in the jumping just as they started a medium trot, but Gracie didn’t bat an eyelid and appeared totally unfazed, carried on with her work. It was a picture of harmony and relaxation, expertly executed. The final centre line was super and, all the way through, Sophie had been trending slightly higher than Lisa – the final score of 74.949% confirmed she’d taken the lead in convincing style.
“I’m not going to lie, waiting until the last [grade] to go on the second day doesn’t get any easier – you just want to crack on and get started. I was definitely more nervous than I thought I’d be,” declared Sophie post-test. “She’s such a good girl – every test I go and do, the scores just get a little better. She’s been so chilled, which is what I kind of expected because she’s not that type of horse. But you still don’t know what they’re going to be like until you get them in this sort of environment. I’m just so proud of her. Our partnership is still quite new and I want her to trust me in there – my biggest goal was to give her a good experience in the arena and for her to just enjoy it. Hopefully, she did.”
Britain’s jumpers clinch bronze and Olympic qualification
Ten of the globe’s best jumping nations met in the floodlit main area at Aachen for a showdown to determine the FEI Jumping World Championship 2026 team medals – and the huge matter of Olympic qualification for Los Angeles in 2028, which would go to the best seven teams, excluding the United States as hosts.
Course designer Frank Rothenberger of Germany set a clever course that was up to 1.65m in height. There were 14 fences with 17 jumping efforts, including the water jump for the first time this championship, and the 580m track had a time allowed of 87 seconds.
One round from each team member, with the three best scores to count. Simple.
Charles and LT Holst Freda: the fairytale of Aachen
Individual jumping final day at any World Championship is a feast of sporting action, but at Aachen – the mecca of equestrian sport – it would be a whole new level. A capacity crowd of 40,000 people, perfect weather and two rounds of 1.65m jumping, promised an afternoon for the ages.
Britain had three riders qualified in the form of Harry Charles with his own and Eve Jobs’ LT Holst Freda in 23rd, Scott Brash with Lady Pauline Harris and Lady Pauline Kirkham’s Hello Mango in 10th and Ben Maher with Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright’s Point Break in third. Today’s test would be two rounds – the first would see the top 25 complete a course, before whittling them down to the best placed 12 combinations to go forward to battle for the medals in the second round.
British hopes now rested on Harry Charles and the grey mare Freda. Harry has been a lynchpin in numerous championship and international teams, but has never claimed an individual medal. However, it would be a big ask to do so from 10th place. He and Freda came in and their fifth round of the competition looked to be their the best yet. The athletic mare has a huge engine and never looked like touching a fence – they crossed the line with all the poles still in the cups, leaving them on a finishing score of 7.17. It was now just a case of waiting to see whether they could climb any higher up the leaderboard.
As each combination came in, they lowered rails and Harry moved up the placings. Belgian rider Thibeau Spits was the first clear, which relegated Harry one place down, but home favourite Daniel Deusser lowered a rail, as did Roberton Teran Tafur for Colombia and Piergiorgio Bucci for Italy. Harry had secured a place on the podium.