Six different winners took highest honour at the 2012 Preis der Besten qualifier at Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff's Schafhof in Kronberg, Germany on Saturday and Sunday 14-15 April 2012. While in previous years certain riders were able to dominate their age division in both classes, this year the competition was tough and ended up with Semmieke Rothenberger, Lena Charlotte Walterscheidt, Anna Christina Abbelen, Jessica Krieg, Juliette Piotrowski and Tara Schneider as trophy-getters.
The pony division was hotly contested by three riders: Semmieke Rothenberger, her cousin Nadine Krause and Lena Charlotte Walterscheidt. Rothenberger won Saturday's class on the palomino stallion Deinhard B (by Dornik) with 72.564%, but she had Walterscheidt on Equestricons Lord Champion (by Le Champion) closely in her wake with 72.308% followed by Krause on the palomino stallion Danilo (by Dornik) with 72.051%. On Sunday Rothenberger had too many mistakes and dropped to a 7th place, opening up plenty of room for Walterscheidt to move into first place (76.423%) and Krause into second (75.691%). Luca Michels and his gorgeous grey pony Dein Freund were third with 71.870%.
In the junior riders division pony rider Anna-Christina Abbelen was on form on Saturday aboard her 7-year old Rhinelander gelding Furst On Tour (by Furst Heinrich x Rubioso N). She scored the winning mark of 68.108%. Johannes Ruhl and the 11-year old Hanoverian stallion Rascalino (by Rotspon x Velten Third), previously owned by the Celle state stud, were second with 67.658%. Melinda Schmadl and her 13-year old Hanoverian Well Done (by Weltruhm) slotted in third with 65.946%. On Sunday a completely different top three emerged in the junior ranks. Former European pony champion Jessica Krieg and the 7-year old liver chestnut Special Edition (by Sir Donnerhall I x Rohdiamant) won with 66.228%, followed by Laura Ponnath on the Dutch bred Citango (by Contango x Jazz) with 66.140%. Lisa Maier posted the third best score of 65.877% on Gestüt Charlottenhof's 13-year old Cher CH (by Coriander x Indigo).
"I can hardly believe it, my 'Spezi' is such a doll," Krieg commented after her victory. "Even though he is still insecure at shows, he carried me through the test today as if he had everything to say and was checking what I knew."
With Sanneke Rothenberger's number one horse Deveraux at home, new cards are dealt in the young riders' division and Juliette Piotrowski topped the leader board on Saturday. Aboard her 15-year old Rhinelander gelding Flick Flack (by Fidermark x Patron), she scored the winning 69.123%. Rothenberger and her new focus of the season, the home bered 13-year old Oldenburg stallion Wembley (by Weyden x Placido) were second after a mistake in the tempi changes every four strides. They got 68.509% from the judges and were the runners up. Tara Schneider and her own Westfalian gelding Little Diamond (by Laurentianer x Fagott) were third with 67.895%. Schneider certainly found her stride on Sunday, winninh the class with Little Diamond on 68.333% and placing third with Like the Wind (by Laudabilis x Ferragamo) on 67.719%. Florine Kienbaum and her cute chestnut Rhinelander Good Morning M (by Goethe x Newcastle) were second with 68.246%.
The Preis der Besten is a mid-season German Youth Riders championships at which the best 25 riders per age division can compete after a select series of qualifiers. The 2012 Preis der Besten will be held 11 - 13 May 2012 in Warendorf, Germany, and is considered an essential selection trial for team nomination for this summer's European Pony, Junior and Young Riders Championships.
Photos © Barbara Schnell
Related Links
Scores 2012 CDN Kronberg - Preis der Besten Qualifier
Krieg, Ruhl, Plewa, Rothenberger Take the Blue at 2011 Preis der Besten Qualifier in Kronberg
Krieg, De Ridder, Roth, Lüttgen Score at 2010 Preis der Besten Qualifier in Kronberg