Danish Olympians Daniel Bachmann Andersen and Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour took over Hof Kasselmann and pushed the German home heroes to the back ground on the final days of competition at the 2026 CDI Hagen.
Bachmann won the 4* Kur to Music on Saturday evening 25 April, while Cathrine Dufour claimed the Grand Prix Special, held in the main stadium, on Sunday morning 26 April 2026.
Bachmann and Flash Gordon Have the Music
Bachmann and Nina Rahtjens' 12-year old Oldenburg Flash Gordon (by Fiderbach x Don Romantic) won the Kur to Music with 79.615%, pushing the winner of the Grand Prix, Katharina Hemmer and Denoix (by Destano x Pik Noir) to a second place.
Flash Gordon is brand new at international Grand Prix level, despite his age, and showed quality in the pirouettes, flying changes and piaffe-passage.
“He felt great and really took to the atmosphere,” said Bachmann Andersen. “Unfortunately, he had to poop in the trot half-pass; otherwise it would have been a thoroughly successful round. I’m really happy with him – he’s turning into a little megastar.”
Bachmann confirmed to Eurodressage that he has secured the ride on Flash Gordon until the 2026 World Championships in Aachen and is fighting for Danish team selection.
Hemmer and Denoix represented Germany at the 2025 European Championships in Crozet and reclaiming that team spot is high on the agenda. Her American owned Oldenburg gelding is notorious for not coping well with the electric atmosphere of the freestyle, which is why Katharina opted to ride the Kur in Hagen. They scored 77.710% for a second place. She rode to music by A-Ha.
"Denoix took to the freestyle relatively well,” said Hemmer. “He just doesn’t feel quite as comfortable yet when performing the freestyle, so I tried to keep the programme as classical as possible to give him more confidence.” The chestnut gelding was somewhat affected by the atmosphere and the music from the previous rides. “Out there during the warm-up, he did get a bit excited when he heard the music. We simply need more routine and will continue to practise. Basically, I was really pleased with him.”
Seven % Lead for Dufour in GP Special
Cathrine Dufour and the 17-year old Hanoverian mare Mount St. John Freestyle (by Fidermark x Donnerhall) captivated the crowds in the main arena with another thrilling ride that earned them a personal best mark of 83.085%.
Just two days earlier in the Grand Prix, Laudrup-Dufour had deliberately opted for a controlled ride. “I think it’s unfair on our horses to always push them to the limit – especially with a horse like her, who has already achieved so much in her life. We’re early in the season; it was our first outdoor competition.”
“When she’s in the right form, she does everything with joy. She hardly breaks a sweat, even though it was warm today, because she loves this work. That’s exactly the feeling we want to achieve as riders – becoming so at one that you play with the movements. It’s like dancing, like being in the flow together.” Even after countless competitions, Mount St John Freestyle remains exceptional to her rider. “She knows her job inside out, but she never tries to cut corners or take it easy. She is a real performer.”
Ingrid Klimke and the 16-year old Westfalian Vayron (by Vitalis x Gloster) were second with 74.915%
“He really let himself go today – actually, he’s been doing so all weekend – and was very content, with wonderful contact and always right with me," said Klimke. "He trusts me more, which meant I was able to show some lovely half-passes from one point to the next, some great extensions, and some very good moments in the canter too. I’m really happy.”
Photos © Astrid Appels - Stefan Lafrentz
Eurodressage took photos of all CDI riders in Hagen. Contact us if you are interested in buying them for social media (or prints).
Related Links
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