Rider Press Conference at WEG following Dressage Day 1

The following are rider statements from the press conference following the first day of dressage competition at WEG.

The German dressage equipe remains unbeaten at the World Championships for 32 years. And on the first competition day of the FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen, the team of national coach, Holger Schmelzer, is already on its way to gold in the ARAG Prize, Dressage Grand Prix Team. Heike Kemmer with Bonaparte and Hubertus Schmidt with Wansuela Suerte received a total score of 145. Their fellow competitors from the Netherlands - represented in the dressage arena by Laurens von Lieren and Imke Schellekens-Bartels today - are currently lying close behind them in second place (total score 140.042), ahead of Great Britain (134.917).

Question: Mrs. Kemmer, what was is like today riding into the main stadium for the first time in front of tens of thousands of spectators?

Heike Kemmer: It was a wonderful feeling. The crowd really motivated me. And Bonaparte was so good today, as if he wanted to say: "Okay, let's get on with our job."

Question: Was this one of your best ever Grand Prix results, achieving the top ranking of the day?

Kemmer: Yes, perhaps also because the stadium was big enough for Bonaparte. He likes it when the spectators aren't sitting so close to the dressage arena and he can look a long way in front of him.

Question: How is the team coping with the fact that Klaus Husenbeth and Isabell Werth's "Warum nicht" had to withdraw?

Kemmer: Hubertus Schmidt is a strong replacement for Klaus Husenbeth and rides at the same level. And Satchmo, Isabell's new WEG horse is in good form. She also rode him at the training camp, so we are all in best spirits.

Hubertus Schmidt: Perhaps I wasn't quite as strong as I had estimated. In the Grand Prix Spéciale, I would like to prove that I can do better and would like to qualify myself for the freestyle.

Question: So what colour will the medal be after Nadine Capellmann and Isabell Werth have competed?

Kemmer: Gold, no question about it.

Question: Mrs. Schellekens-Bartels, how satisfied were you at achieving the second best score of the day and with your performance in the arena?

Imke Schellekens-Bartels: I am very satisfied and enjoyed many moments in this terrific stadium. I was very impressed during the arena familiarisation yesterday and just thought: "Wow, and this is going to be reality tomorrow?" Luckily Sunrise was not as nervous as I had feared."

Question: Laurens van Lieren, what was wrong? You had problems with a sponsor's logo, I heard?

!related!Laurens van Lieren: Yes, there was a misunderstanding with one of the stewards. I had to have a logo that belonged to an official team sponsor removed, which meant I only had 30 minutes instead of 45 minutes to warm up. It is a shame that something like this had to happen at the WEG of all places, and it spoilt my concentration somewhat too.

Source: 2006 WEG website