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Federation
Equestre Internationale News
FEI World Cup Dressage: German Riders Steal the Show - and
Mares Show The Way in Neumunster
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Hubertus
Schmidt and Wansuela Suerte won their second FEI World Cup qualifier
of the season in Neumunster, almost certainly booking a ticket
for April's FEI World Cup Dressage Final in Duesseldorf. "
I was very happy with Wansuela here", said Schmidt, "
She was hot at the beginning but the canter work felt very good
and we worked well to the music." As best German here, Schmidt
will now consult with team trainer Holger Schmezer, but expects
to concentrate on the Final, which takes place from April 1-4.
Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff is back in the hunt after her lovely mare
Wahajama-Unicef showed growing maturity for second place, just
half a point over Isabell Werth's Apache. With only three riders
per nation able to ride at the Final, the two ladies are heading
to the last qualifier, Indoor Brabant, on March 25-28. Werth is
in a strong position, now third in the points' standings behind
Schmidt and leader Heike Kemmer, but with Linsenhoff on 41 to
her 58 points, she must take it to the wire to be certain.
Werth was happy with Apache, who she rode here to Antony's music
rather than the 11-year-old's usual classical programme. "
There were a few little mistakes" she said, " but I
am so happy with his development this season. Of course there
are things to improve, but I feel he is heading the right way."
The surprise of the competition was newcomer Isabel von Wendorff's
fourth place on Legacy. While not in the FEI World Cup hunt, the
local rider on the 11-year-old Holstein gelding she bred and trained
herself made the most of her opportunity to ride at this show,
especially as she had just one week's notice.
British rider Emma Hindle was the only non-German to make a serious
inroad into the prizes placing fifth on Wie Weltmeyer. She now
shares equal fourth place in the standings with Holland's Anky
van Grunsven on 57 points.
Twelve starters scored over 70 per cent, and the winner, on 77.81,
was a unanimous verdict but as the sell out crowd produced a huge
atmosphere - standing ovations have become the in thing this year
- there were no faultless tests.
Judge at 'H" Volker Moritz commented: " It was a very
exciting class, but the standard was not as high as we expected.
The winner, Wansuela Suerte, can earn 80 per cent when she is
really good. She got better, and better as the test went on, but
she was tense in the beginning. Wahajama-Unicef did a good job
today, it is all coming together more." He agreed with FEI
Dressage Committee Chairman, and Ground Jury President, Mariette
Withages that one of the most exciting aspects of the class was
the number of good young horses. Mme Withages said: " It
was interesting and promising for the future. Legacy in particular
produced a good picture and has lots of potential."It was
all appreciated by the crowd, and just two days prior to this
penultimate FEI World Cup dressage qualifier, the show reported
that next year's Sunday performance is already sold out.
Result:
FEI World Cup Dressage Freestyle to Music Qualifier, presented
by
Volksbank Raiffeisenbank eG, Neumünster, dnd the Deutschen
Genossenschafts-Hypothekenbank AG
1,
Hubertus Schmidt GER (Wansuela Suerte) 77.814
2, Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff GER (Wahajama-Unicef) 75.683
3, Isabell Werth GER (Apache) 75.142
4, Isabel van Wendorff GER (Legacy) 74.381
5, Emma Hindle GBR (Wie Weltmeyer) 74.171
6, Martin Schaudt GER (Losdau's Loriot) 73.98
7, Gina Capellman-Lutkemeier GER (Amando) 71.86
8, Elena Sidneva RUS (Artax Condor) 71.64
9, Wolfram Wittig GER (Breitling W) 71.58
10, Nicole Ahlefeldt Laurvig-Lehn DEN (Esprit) 71.50
FEI
World Cup Dressage Western European League Points Standing (after
six of seven competitions)
1,
Heike Kemmer GER 72
2, Hubertus Schmidt GER 64
3, Isabell Werth GER 58
4= Emma Hindle GBR and Anky van Grunsven NED
6, Sven Rothenberger NED 46
7, Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff GER 41
8, Edward Gal NED 39
9, Louise Nathhorst SWE 37
10, Nicole Ahlefeldt Laurvig-Lehn DEN 35
For
further information:
CDI-W Neumunster
www.reitturnier.de
FEI
World Cup Dressage Final 2004
www.bcm.nl or www.duesseldorf-masters.de
FEI
www.horsesport.org
For
rider biographies
http://bios.horsesport.org
www.horsesport.org
.
