Belgian defends title – Frankfurt “home win”
Dorothee Schneider was “gobsmacked” – Gregory Wathelet simply highly satisfied. One had just won the final of the Nürnberger Burg-Pokal, the other the Helaba Champions Cup, the world rankings show-jumping competition at the International Frankfurt Festhalle Riding Tournament. Dressage and show jumping at the highest level ensured the event had full ranks and an excellent atmosphere on the third day of competition.
Gregory Wathelet from Belgium successfully defended his title. In December 2014 the 35-year-old show-jumper, who lives near Liége, won the Helaba Champions Cup with the very same horse – Egano van het Slagenhof. Since then, Wathelet has climbed to number seven in the world rankings and, like Egano, is a year older and very satisfied. “My horse jumped really well here today”, said the Nations Cup rider “and I’ll be riding him on Sunday too.” The Deutsche Vermögensberatung AG Grand Prix will be on the programme on Sunday. Wathelet has also brought a young horse with him to Frankfurt as the young talents learn so much in the Festhalle. Wathelet: “There are hardly any other tournaments that have such a warm, special atmosphere.”
Benelux trio on the podium
Two Belgians and a Dutchman claimed the top three places. Behind Gregory Wathelet came Dutchman Willem Greve with Carambole, a Holstein stallion. “It all went brilliantly today and I’m actually really fortunate to have him,” emphasised Greve. Constant van Paesschen – son of former top Belgian rider and trainer Stanny van Paesschen – rode Holstein gelding Calore van de Helle into third place. The International Frankfurt Festhalle Riding Tournament is in fact only the second tournament the pair have competed in together. “We’ve only known each other for a month”, said van Paesschen “and I hadn’t expected everything to go so well so soon. The way he jumped today made me feel sure that he is the horse for tomorrow’s Grand Prix.”
Two Germans fell just short of top three
The top German rider in the event was Holger Wulschner from Groß Viegeln with BSC Skipper in fourth place, ahead of Christian Ahlmann from Marl who came fifth. National Coach Otto Becker remained calm and accepted the result was fitting: “We’re not riding worse than we have been, but the others have got much better and that is true in all areas of tournament sport”. The head of the German show-jumping squad highlighted the importance of the International Frankfurt Festhalle Riding Tournament as an international venue: “Frankfurt is important. We mustn’t forget that other tournaments have been lost, like Bremen and Hannover, and that Pforzheim was cancelled“.
Delight for Dorothee Schneider
Eight-year-old Santiago by Stedinger, under the sensitive direction of Dorothee Schneider, won the final of the Nürnberg Burg-Pokal-Series for 7-9 year-old dressage-horses with 78.90 percent. “Santi really was just brilliant – I’m totally gobsmacked”, admitted the rider, who has once again been given a place in the German championship squad, somewhat breathlessly. “Santi“ is a giant of a horse, but with it a fantastic dressage model and it was clear he completely trusted his rider in the “witches’ cauldron” that is the Festhalle. He was rewarded with apples and carrots galore. Sanitago’s owner is Alexander Stolzke, and the son of Stedinger hails from Klaus Hermann Ehlen’s breeding facility.
Second and third places went to Matthias Bouten from the Alps with Fräulein Auguste MJ and Hanoverian stallion Dante Delux MJ. Both horses are owned by Marianne Jerich. Bouten, who worked with Isabell Werth for seven years, has been independent for the last two years and trains with Wolfram Wittig. “Fraeulein Auguste was really true to form. She is a truly uncomplicated horse. I had a better test with Dante Delux MJ today than yesterday. The Festhalle isn’t always easy for the horses.” A total of ten eight-year-old horses competed in the final of the Nürnberg Burg-Pokal, as well as two nine-year-old horses and one seven-year-old candidate.
Grand Prix Special triumph for Beatrice Buchwald
In December 2013 she won the Nürnberg Burg-Pokal in Frankfurt, in December 2014 the Louisdor Prize and now, 12 months later, she has won the international Grand Prix Special. Beatrice Buchwald (Rheinberg) and mare Weihegold OLD made it very clear with a score of 75.96 percent that “boss” Isabell Werth’s theory that this pair would be good for championships was right on the mark. A third consecutive victory in Frankfurt, in increasingly demanding events, for Buchwald. Second place in the Liselott Schindlung Foundation Prize went to master horseman Hubertus Schmidt from Borchen with Trakehner stallion Imperio (75.19 percent), ahead of Anabel Balkenhol (Münster) with Dablino. One person is particularly delighted with the result: Weihegold’s groom, Thomas Jügel, was awarded the Lufthansa Cargo AG Special Prize for the the groom of the winning horse – two flights for two people and a set of luggage, because if you’re going on a journey you need something to pack your things in…
Roaring football success for Eintracht Frankfurt’s heroes
The riders gave it their all but their defeat by Karl-Heinz “Charly” Körbel’s Eintracht team (former premier division players) was inevitable. So inevitable that trainer Paul Schockemöhle knocked over the goal when in the second half he saw ball and player rolling towards the net. But former Bundesliga-Referee Lutz Wagner, who had been brought in to referee this important event, didn’t see it as a rule violation. Ex- Bundesliga referee Lutz Wagner didn’t blow his whistle but instead showed understanding: “In view of the superiority of Eintracht, it was the only appropriate measure by Paul Schockemöhle to avoid worse happening.”
With Ervin Skela, Manni Binz, Charly Körbel, Ralf Weber, Uwe Müller and Rudi Bommer, Charly Körbel had at his disposal the combined experience of 1849 Bundesliga games and 104 national games, and there was nothing to be done for the highly motivated riders. Maurice Tebbel, David Will, Jan Wernke, Matthias Alexander Rath, Jörg Oppermann, Guido Klatte – even Toni, the head barman of the Maritim Hotel – gave their absolute all, but were well and truly “outplayed”, both technically and tactically. Either way, both players and spectators thoroughly enjoyed the first ever “Frankfurt Friendship Cup“.
Full throttle in both car and saddle
Men and their cars – this saying could certainly hold true for the legendary Jump & Drive in the Lavazza A Modo Mio Prize, following the strenuous football match – supported by Hit-Radio FFH. The riders, some still wearing their football kit, leapt into the saddle, while the Eintracht heroes gathered with great interest around a snow-white Mercedes GLE AMG S with 585 HP under the gently undulating bonnet. And in the spectacular test, which combines riding and driving, show-jumper Jan Wernke (Holdorf) with Lorelli and referee Lutz Wagner in the Mercedes, proved themselves top speedsters. Wernke took clever short-cuts on the course, sprinted to the passenger seat at breakneck speed after the riding and Wagner accelerated off at a pace neither the police nor the Bundesliga regulations allow…
Watching the reactions of those in the stands, it was clear that December 2016 would definitely see a rematch for both – the Frankfurt Friendship Cup and Jump & Drive in the mixed style….
Results international tournament CDI/ CSI Frankfurt
16 Int. Grand Prix Special
Liselott Schindling Foundation Prize – Lufthansa Cargo AG presents:
Special award for the groom of the winning horse
1. Beatrice Buchwald (GER) with Weihegold OLD, 75.96%
2. Hubertus Schmidt (GER) with Imperio 3, 75.20%
3. Anabel Balkenhol (GER) with Dablino FRH, 74.75%
4. Katja Gevers (NED) with Thriller 4, 69.86%
5. Anna Nolte (GER) with Pentimento, 68.61%
6. Delphine Meiresonne (BEL) with Wipsy vh Heihof, 67.25%
21 Nat. dressage test S* cl. – Prix St. Georges –
NÜRNBERG BURG-POKAL for dressage riders – 2015 final
1. Dorothee Schneider (GER) with Santiago 221, 78.90%
2. Matthias Bouten (GER) with Fraeulein Auguste MJ, 75.32%
3. Matthias Bouten (GER) with Dante Delux MJ, 73.63%
4. Anabel Balkenhol (GER) with Heuberger TSF, 72.32% 5. Heiner Schiergen (GER) with Carlos 609, 71.63% 6. Jasmine Sanche-Burger (SUI) with Baron 321, 70.98%
For more information visit: www.pst-marketing.de or check #FesthallenReitturnier
Source: Press release
