German rider Heike Kemmer is leading for the team medals in Olympic equestrian grand prix dressage at the Shatin Equestrian Venue Wednesday night.
"That was a good start for the team. Bonnie (her horse Bonaparte) gave everything", Heike, who scored 72.250 percent, told reporters after the competition.
On being the first rider for the German team, she said "It is a disadvantage because points might be lower, but I am not nervous and can handle this quite well. I had to do this quite often already and mostly it has been a good luck charm for the team."
Emmn Thindle of Great Britain on Lancet posted 70.875 percent while Imke Schellekens-Bartels scored 70.875 percent for the Netherlands on Sunrise.
"After scoring 71.125 (percent), I couldn't find a word to describe my feeling and I'm most satisfied because I'm competing for the best team", Emmn told reporters.
Chinese rider Liu Lina, riding her horse Piroschka, also showed up at the equestrian arena. She scored 60.625 percent.
Liu began her equestrian career in Xinjiang equestrian team in 1994 and later established her dominance in national-level equestrian competitions. She headed for Denmark for advanced training six years ago and spent nearly every minute in stalls and training fields in the foreign land.
The grand prix test counts not only for the team medals but also as a qualifier for the individual medals. The top riders from the team test will ride a harder test called the grand prix special on Saturday and on Tuesday a freestyle test to determine the individual medals.
(Xinhua News Agency August 14, 2008)