After eight years, the German Paralympic riders have won a team medal again: Anna-Lena Niehues with Quimbaya, Regine Mispelkamp with Highlander Delight’s and Heidemarie Dresing with Doolopp won bronze for the German Para-Dressage team!
In the team competition, the participants competed in five divisions according to their level of disability, as always. And the starting rider got off to a good start. But in the end, the German riders had to wait – and tremble. The tension was worth it. The para-dressage team crowned a long day with bronze!
It started at 10:30 a.m., when Anna-Lena Niehues had to enter the arena with Quimbaya. They had already shown that the two could keep up with the competition: they won the bronze medal in Grade IV. And today, too, things went well: with 75.351 percent, they got the German team off to a good start in the competition. “It was great. Quimbaya really took part again, it was fun and I think she had a lot of fun too,” said Niehues happily after her ride. And national coach Silke Fütterer-Sommer was also satisfied: “It was a great trot, almost more expressive than in the first test,” she enthused.
Para-dressage: Personal best for Miskelkamp
At midday, the second German entered the Paralympics arena: Regine Mispelkamp and Highlander Delight’s fought for Grade V in the team competition – and wanted to use the good template. Their resolution came true: the duo achieved 75.500 percent. A strong result and personal best for the pair in the Para Grand Prix B. “I’m just happy how great he felt, how he enjoyed the whole setting, it’s really awesome,” said the horse management master, who suffers from MS. And she praised her animal partner: “Today he showed his gallant side and said: Regine, we’re going to rock it.”
The national trainer was also enthusiastic: “Lights had a great charisma, but seemed more relaxed than in the first test. Regine took some risks, but not recklessly. The strong canter was a real highlight, the walk was also good, the walk pirouettes could perhaps have been a little more diligent. But these were just small things.”
Decision was made only after the last section
Heidemarie Dresing and Dooloop were the last duo to compete in Grade II. The two narrowly missed out on a medal at the Paralympics on Tuesday, coming in fourth place. The reason: Dooloop was “on fire”. Today, however, he showed that he can also be calm. He went through the arena almost a little too calmly this time. As a result, the two only got 72.9 percent.
“Dooly basically rode a largely faultless round today. After the first task, the aim was to bring some calm into the ride, but today he lacked a bit of freshness, energy and diligence, especially in the walk,” said Fütter-Sommer. And Dresing was not satisfied either: “I would have liked to have ridden more points, but my horse had to stay cool because he was so excited the day before yesterday. We achieved our goal. But otherwise it was a bit too little, we can do more. But, bad luck. I have to be happy with it for now. But tomorrow is another day and we’ll give it a bit more gas.”
This gave Germany a total of 221.753 points – and they had to worry. Gold was already secured for the USA and silver for the Netherlands. But which para-dressage team would win bronze? They had to wait. The final decision came in the Grade III section – which had no German participation. In the end, it was the Italians, whose final rider Francesa Salvade with Escari came dangerously close to the German trio. But it wasn’t enough. The bronze medal went to Germany.
Tomorrow we’ll have to keep our fingers crossed again – for the individual free skates.
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