Olympic update: Germany is leading the Dressage Team competition at the end of the first day

Twenty-six riders out of 52 have competed in the first session of the Grand Prix Team competition, which also serves as 1st qualifier for the individual medals. The German team achieved 71.813 % after their two first riders Heike Kemmer / Bonaparte and Hubertus Schmidt / Wansuela Suerto. With a combined score of 69.146 %, United States lays in second place after rides from Günter Seidel and Lisa Wilcox, who has only recently returned to competition, after six months out with an injury to her horse Relevant 5. Close followers are Great Britain (69.084%), bronze medallist at 2003 European Championship and Spain (68.771%).

The best score of the day was achieved by Spanish rider Rafael Soto on his grey 15 year old Andalusian stallion Invasor with 72.792%. "I am proud of my horse and of what we did today" he said at the end of his test. "I am glad that in our third Olympic Games, my horse and I achieved our best result ever. Ever since I was young, I admired the Germans in Dressage, and I wanted to do what they did, but with an Andalusian horse. This will be the last Olympic for Invasor, though." The 47 year old Spanish rider had the time of his life at the 2002 World Equestrian Games, which took place in his home town of Jerez de la Frontera, where the Spanish team achieved their first ever medal at a World Championship.

Hubertus Schmidt (GER) finished on second position with 72.333 % on his 11 year old Hannoverian mare Wansuela Suerte by Warkant and St.Pr Westika. "I am very satisfied with what we did" he commented, "My horse felt very loose. I was afraid it would be too hot today but this was not the case." This is the first Olympic participation for 45 year old Hubertus Schmidt, who placed 3rd in the FEI World Cup Final in April this year.

Heike Kemmer and Bonaparte are placed third on the Intermediate result list with a score of 71.292 %.

The second part of the Grand Prix competition will start tomorrow 21 August at 8:30 and decide on the Dressage Team medal, to be awarded at 13:15, Greek time.