Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour presented her new free skate program in Falsterbo, and Leonie Richter wowed the crowd

The premiere of Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour’s new free skate program had been eagerly anticipated. The world team champion and two-time European silver medalist had skipped the Danish Championships in order to devote herself entirely to developing her new program. Today in Falsterbo was the world premiere.

Musically, her new free skate program sounds as if she’s combed through the “Kuschelrock” editions Vol. 1 through 5. It begins with Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan’s “Especially for You,” followed by “All Together Now” by The Farm and “Every Step I Take” at a brisk pace. The highlight of the routine is the final sequence featuring piaffe and passage, perfectly synchronized with a remix of “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now.”

Choreographically, the highlights include the transitions from the piaffe to the canter pirouette and the transitions between piaffes, passages, and collected trot, interspersed with zigzag traverses in passage and collection.

Their freestyle went well, but the program didn’t come quite as easily to the two of them—yet—as their wonderful “Formidable” free skate. They scored 88.420 percent, with 82.8 percent for technical execution and 94.040 percent for artistic performance. That put them more than ten percent ahead of the rest of the field in Falsterbo. In Aachen, the competition will be tighter.

International Free Skating Debut for Leonie Richter

Leonie Richter and her 10-year-old Rhineland stallion, Lord Europe, received just as much applause as the winners for their freestyle—and rightly so! The pair began in classic style with Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” for their entrance, and then let Robbie Williams entertain them with a medley of his greatest hits.

The music is perfectly matched to the freestyle routine, and the stallion’s highlights during the canter sequence are skillfully emphasized—for example, in the transition from double to single changes, though the last one seemed a bit short. This flows directly into the piaffe, a 180-degree turn, and a final, expressive passage on the center line to “Freude, schöner Götterfunken.” Also very well executed: the walk sequence, which is interrupted in both directions by a canter pirouette.

Conclusion: A really great freestyle routine, performed with great focus and precision from one element to the next. Leonie Richter has also gotten better at keeping the stallion under control during the piaffes.

The judges liked it, too: 78.295 percent in their first international free skate. That’s nearly three percent more than they received during their first free skate performance at the German Championships in Balve, where they placed eighth with 75.960 percent. Today, they placed second in their first international free skate.

“Quel Filou” Finishes Third, Along with Two Other German Couples

Anna Zibrandtsen, a student of Laudrup-Dufour, and her Oldenburg gelding Quel Filou also presented a very beautiful freestyle. The two have really grown into a wonderful pair. Their only real weakness is the single changes, during which the 15-year-old son of Quaterback—bred by the successful Oldenburg breeder Aloys Hinxlage, who passed away in April—struggles to find his rhythm. They scored 76.475 percent today and placed third.

World Cup finalists Moritz Treffinger and Fiderdance also struggled with their sequence changes today. With a score of 72.265 percent, they finished fifth. Right behind them, Helen Langehanenberg and Daniela also earned a ribbon with a score of 72.160 percent.

Daniel Bachmann Andersen’s “Flash Gordon” Gains Momentum in the Special

Among the breakthroughs in the dressage scene this season are Daniel Bachmann Andersen and the 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding Flash Gordon, who had already attracted attention in this country with his trainer, Mathis Goerens, up to the Grand Prix level, but only really took off under the Danish rider. They made their international debut in early December 2025. Then came Hagen, where the chestnut already showed himself to be quite confident, though still a bit tight.

Falsterbo this weekend was the pair’s fourth international tournament. In the Grand Prix, Flash Gordon showed his class, but seemed a bit distracted by his surroundings, especially at the start—looking here and there—yet still managed to stay “on track.” Thanks to his riding skill, Bachmann Andersen managed to keep “nudging” the gelding forward and completed the test without any faults in the dressage movements.

Today, the Grand Prix Special was on the program for the two of them—a huge success! Although there’s still plenty of room for improvement—as was evident, for example, when Flash Gorden spotted Gorden on the serpentine just outside the arena while coming out of the passage before the canter, got briefly distracted, and hesitated. But Bachmann Andersen quickly regained control and strung together several highlights during the canter sequence, such as the pirouettes and the perfectly straight, relaxed, and fluid flying changes. The result: a victory with 75.638 percent.

World Championship pairs in second and third place

While Denmark has not yet revealed who will be competing in Aachen, the Swedish team has already been finalized: Patrik Kittel on Touchdown, Therese Nilshagen on Navarro, Maria von Essen on Invoice, and Rebecca Mauleon on Johnnie Walker. Two of these four pairs also competed in Falsterbo.

The 2024 World Cup champions, Patrik Kittel and Touchdown, finished their World Championship dress rehearsal in second place with 73.298 percent, just ahead of his Olympic teammate Therese Nilshagen, who, riding the 10-year-old Hanoverian stallion Navarro by Negro, has found a successor to her longtime championship partner Dante Weltino. They scored 73.043 percent, their second-best result in their six international Special appearances to date.

In fourth place was the Danish European Championship pair Nadja Aaboe Sloth and her horse Favour Gersdorf. The 13-year-old son of Foundation, who shows great talent for the piaffe, scored 72.553 percent today.

Behind them, Evelyn Eger, riding the nine-year-old Oldenburg gelding Global Power OLD, took fifth place with a score of 69.881 percent. Kurt Christensen, judge for Class E, even placed the pair third with 71.915 percent—scores that the pair can certainly surpass once the Grey Flanell son has enough strength, experience, and self-confidence to “take the lead” in the class.

You can find all the results from Falsterbo here.