News
Aachen 2026: British team brings home silver
- Written By: British Dressage
- Published: Wed, 12 Aug 2026 21:36
After two fantastic days of competition, the British squad have brought home both a Silver medal and an Olympic qualification from the 2026 FEI World Championships in Aachen with a final total score of 231.445.
Carl Hester kicked off the second day of the British medal campaign, producing a masterclass performance aboard the 16-year-old stallion, Fame, to finish on 77.314%. Now in the pair’s fourth championship together following their team Silver medal at Crozet for the FEI European Championships in 2025, the pair entered the arena to a roaring crowd following Dinja van Liere’s 74.161% test. Carl and Fame trotted around the outer edge of the arena in complete confidence and harmony before entering in to a balanced halt. The pair flowed through the test, showing super supple power across the diagonal in extended trot, before transitioning into rangy, uphill half passes. Their piaffe and passage work throughout the test showed smooth transitions in and out, demonstrating super balance and sit on the haunches. In the canter tour, the canter zig zag was flawless, the tempi changes remained balanced and swinging throughout, and the canter pirouettes again showed super balance and technique.
Carl described their test as “absolutely one of the best tests I’ve done by far”, “I had to [produce a good test], Becky is so solid normally and a lot of horses, as we have seen, are being lit up by the atmosphere as he [Jagerbomb] did. I was more likely thinking that Fame would do that more than Bomb, so we just needed a good score.”
Carl credited his success to his morning spent reviewing his previous best test, picking out some of his top moments and enforcing which parts he knew he could perform with absolute precision and how he can ride it so that he can go into the arena with complete confidence. “I was so able to direct my inside thoughts on the horse and the horse reacted absolutely beautifully,” and going on to explain how “we’ve watched him over the years get calmer and calmer, and possibly today was one of his calmest tests. It’s very often the beginning of our tests that I don’t get the points that I try to get, generally be it the halts, rein back or the walk… all the fiddly things that are so important and as far as I can feel, this was absolutely one of the best tests I’ve done by far… He really didn’t bat an eyelid, but it gave me a lift going in there, suddenly I felt more confident because he didn’t react negatively at all to any of the noise, I went and thoroughly enjoyed my test.”
When describing the atmosphere of the event as a whole, Carl went on to explain that “With equestrian sports, you can feel the love from people that are here and it’s that get together of dressage riders, eventing riders, the vaulters… all the disciples that come here… it just makes it unique that we can share it. We wish it could be like Aachen every year – the buzz it gives you… this is a big time feeling as a competitor”.
Last to go was Lottie Fry, who rounded off the British campaign with a stellar score of 80.311%. Lottie had a fantastic start to the test, with a positive, bold entry and Glamourdale’s signature extended trot across the diagonal. The trot half pass was fluent and balanced, with super expression and reach. Unfortunately, the pair had a small blip in the first piaffe-passage transition, which proved costly, however, did perform a much better second set of piaffe and passage work. The walk was soft and swinging, with a good frame and brilliant relaxation. Moving into Glamourdale’s famously beautiful canter tour, the pair impressed the judges and the crowd with his enormous extended canter, expressive tempi changes, and balanced pirouettes. Upon completing her final halt, Lottie was left beaming as the crowd roared, later stating that “I’m feeling amazing. Glamourdale was just incredible... that was the most amazing feeling I’ve had in the ring.
“We had a small misunderstanding where I just threw him in to that first piaffe which was a shame because the rest of them were really good and the last piaffe on the centre line was just incredible… I was almost laughing inside it was that amazing. The whole test was just the best feeling - he [Glamourdale] absolutely loves Aachen, he always goes well here. I’ve never had a bad ride here touch wood! He was just insane in that arena, he loved every second of it and he loved the crowd at the end. He wanted to go right up to them which was just so cool! It’s just incredible to go into an arena like that and Glamourdale loves to show off, he rises to the occasion every time… everything is going to be a bit disappointing after that because it’s just incredible!”
Looking forward to Friday’s Grand Prix Special, Lottie explained that “he loves the arenas and I was so happy that I found the button for his piaffe because that’s been really strong at home, so I was happy that I found that on the final centre line. I’m hoping to carry that forward on to the special… to be honest not much else can be any better… he was just amazing!”
In the individual rankings, Catherine Laudrup-Dufour (DEN) piloted Emma Blundell’s Mount St John Freestyle (Fidermark x Donnerhall) expertly around the Grand Prix to claim top spot in the rankings. At 17 years old, the multiple medal-winning mare produced a fantastic performance to score 82.376%. Current World Ranked number one Justin Verboomen (BEL) finished in second place with Dressage Plus’ Zonik Plus on 80.885%, whilst Lottie Fry slotted in to finish third individually. Also placing in the top ten was Carl, who finished in seventh, with Becky just outside in 12th place. Fiona Bigwood ended the competition in 37th place individually, unfortunately just missing out on a place in the Grand Prix Special, which sees the top 30 combinations from the Team competition go head to head for an individual medal .
For the team event Germany took Gold with a final score of 235.063. The team consisted of Isabel Werth with Wendy de Fontaine, Raphael Netz with Great Escape Camelot, Frederic Wandres with Bluetooth OLD and finally Katharina Hemmer with Denoix PC. Great Britain fitted in second place, with just under four points separating the medals. Denmark came home with the Bronze medal this year on a combined score of 229.426, with Catherine Laudrup-Dufour leading the team aboard Mount St John Freestyle, Daniel Bachmann Andersen with Flash Gordon 37, Carina Cassøe Krüth with Heiline’s Danciera and Nadja Aaboe Sloth with Favour Gersdorf.
Congratulations go to each of the riders and their teams for the fantastic performances over the last couple of days. Thanks also go to the team who are out supporting the riders, especially the team Chef D’Equipe Darrell Scaife. We now look forward to the Grand Prix Special on Friday, where our combinations will be competing for individual medal glory!
Results
Team placings
1. Germany, 235.063
2. Great Britain, 231.445
3. Denmark, 229.426
Top ten and British placings
1. Catherine Laudrup-Dufour and Mount St John Freestyle, 82.376% (DEN)
2. Justin Verboomen and Zonik Plus, 80.885% (BEL)
3. Charlotte Fry and Glamourdale, 80.311% (GBR)
4. Isabell Werth and Wendy de Fontaine, 79.876% (GER)
5. Katharina Hemmer and Denoix PCH, 79.224% (GER)
6. Marieke van der Putten ad Zantana RS2 OLD N.O.P, 77.764% (NED)
7. Carl Hester and Fame, 77.314% (GBR)
8. Isabel Freese and Total Hope OLD, 76.227% (NOR)
9. Frederic Wandres and Bluetooth OLD, 75.963% (GER)
10. Daniel Bachmann Andersen and Flash Gordon 37, 74.876% (DEN)
12. Becky Moody and Jagerbomb, 73.820% (GBR)
37. Fiona Bigwood and Donna Bella, 69.348% (GBR)
