Gallagher and Eckroth Deliver Career-Best Rides at Qualifier Five
Denielle Gallagher claims victory with a career-high score, while Eline Eckroth continues her Grand Prix rise with a personal best of her own.
Qualifier Five took an unexpected turn after both frontrunners withdrew on Friday. To advance to the Grand Prix Freestyle, riders must first complete the Grand Prix test—but neither Anna Marek nor Caroline Stevenson managed to do so, leaving the field wide open for someone else to step up.
The unpredictability continued into Saturday when Nora Batchelder was forced to retire Nova mid-test, clearing the way for Canadian rider Denielle Gallagher to take the win. Gallagher and Come Back de Massa posted a personal best of 71.475%, securing victory and adding her name to the growing list of riders with 20 points on the US Equestrian Open of Dressage leaderboard.
Top 10 Riders on the Series Leaderboard after Qualifier 5 at WEC Dressage VIII:
See the full series standings, updated after each qualifier, here.
Eline Eckroth and 14-year-old Oldenburg mare, Daphne, also rode a personal best today with a final score of 69.325%. The pair are still gaining experience at Grand Prix, having only debuted at the level in November 2024, but their steady improvement makes them a combination to watch this season.
Next week, competition returns to Wellington for the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival 5, the third World Cup Qualifier at the venue. A stacked entry list includes Adrienne Lyle and Helix, Anna Marek and Fayvel, and Evelyn Edger and Tabledance 3. The field is competitive. Six of the ten entrants are currently ranked in the top 100 on the FEI World Rankings. If Marek can secure the win, she’ll take the top spot on the US Equestrian Open leaderboard.
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