Brits tighten grip on gold as grand prix nears its climax at the dressage Europeans

Britain remain in pole position at the European Dressage Championships, with just one rider left to go from each team.

Charlotte Dujardin produced a cracker of a test with the 10-year-old gelding Imhotep, scoring the combination’s grand prix personal best of 82.42% and taking over the lead from Carl Hester and Fame, who now sit second in the individual standings.

“Pete has done his absolute best today, and he is such a phenomenal horse,” said Charlotte, who said she had been aiming to score 81% here today. “Win or lose, when you do a test like that it doesn’t matter, and I can’t ask any more.”

It means Britain strengthen their position at the top of the European Dressage Championships team standings after the third rotation of riders, with a current score of 160.962. Germany maintain the silver medal slot they held overnight, with a super mark of 77.88% from Frederic Wandres and Bluetooth OLD giving them a team total of 155.062 at the moment.

Denmark lie in bronze at this stage, with 150.171, ahead of Sweden in fourth, having moved up the rankings thanks to a plus-75% test from Therse Nilshagen and Dante Weltino OLD.

But there is still everything to play for as the final team members take to the Riesenbeck arena this afternoon – traditionally the strongest rider for each team. For Britain, that anchorwoman will be Lottie Fry, riding her reigning world champion Glamourdale, who are on at 4.15pm (3.15pm UK time).

For Germany, defending European champion Jessica von Bredow-Werndl is yet to come, riding the horse who carried her to Olympic and European gold in 2021, TSF Dalera BB, at 3.57pm (2.57pm UK time).

And Denmark also still have their hottest iron to throw into the fire, in the form of Nanna Skodborg Merrald and Blue Hors Zepter. This pair recently overtook Lottie and Glamourdale in the FEI rankings, and are now ranked number two in the world behind Jessica and Dalera. They will be in action at 4.06pm (4.06pm UK time).

You may also be interested in…

How to watch the European Dressage Championships 2023

Who will win medals at the 2023 European Dressage Championships?

Watch Carl Hester’s incredible grand prix test at European Dressage Championships

Alan Davies on speed-dial and perfect plaits: a day in the life of Charlotte Dujardin’s groom Francesca Gorni at the Europeans

Glamourdale v Dalera: who will come out on top in European Championships showdown?

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound has a team of reporters covering all the European dressage action. To keep reading on our website after five articles, readers will need to buy a subscription. Visit horseandhound.co.uk/join to buy a Horse & Hound website unlimited subscription or, for great value, visit magazinesdirect.com for a combined magazine and website subscription. If you are already a magazine subscriber, the cost to upgrade your subscription to include full website access is minimal – call 0330 333 1113 to find out more.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now