Fourteen combinations have been selected to participate in the 2011 Piaff Forderpreis show circuit following an official selection and observation trial in Warendorf, Germany. Young Grand Prix riders from all over Germany gathered at the National Training Centre of the DOKR in Warendorf to ride in front of the dressage selection committee. "The level has never been so high," praised German team trainer Holger Schmezer.
Seven pairs in total were able to score 69% or higher in the qualification Under 25 Grand Prix test in Warendorf. Twenty-seven riders participated, riding a total of 42 horses. After their ride each rider got a video of their test with commentary from the selectors.
"At the pilot project in 2000 we were happy to have 8 riders try," Schmezer reminisced. "Today we have a separate training seminar in Bavaria besides Warendorf." Young riders who initiated their Grand Prix career through the Piaff Forderpreis program include Matthias Alexander Rath, Christoph Koschel, and Ellen Schulten-Baumer.
The three official German team trainer, Holger Schmezer (Grand Prix), Jurgen Koschel (Under 25) and Jonny Hilberath (Grand Prix), assessed the combinations in Warendorf as they rode the short Grand Prix test. Four combinations scored above 70% and the winner of the class was Kristina Sprehe aboard the Hanoverian licensed stallion Desperados (by De Niro x Wolkenstein II). She achieved 74.797% and beat former young rider Stella Charlott Roth on Diva Royal (by Don Frederico) who got 71.87%. Sprehe and her Oldenburg licensed stallion Donnerball (by Donnerhall x Alabaster) tied for third place with Hedda Droege on the Westfalian auction horse Fifth Avenue (by Florestan) with a score of 70.162. European Young Rider Champion Fabienne Lutkemeier saddled Qui Vincit Dynamis (by Quattro B) to finish fourth together with Jenny Lang on Loverboy and Kathleen Keller on Wonder FRH.
The fourteen selected pairs to compete in the Piaff Forderpreis are:
- Ann-Kristin Dornbracht - Lancelot
- Hedda Droege - Fifth Avenue
- Annabel Frenzen - Cristobal
- Kathleen Keller - Wonder FRH
- Jenny Lang - Loverboy
- Fabienne Lütkemeier - Qui Vincit Dynamis
- Viktoria Michalke - Queeny
- Jill de Ridder - Wellington
- Stella-Charlott Roth - Diva Royal
- Kirsten Sieber - Charly
- Kristina Sprehe - Desperados and Donnerball
- Ann-Christin Wienkamp - Rubin
- Katharina Winkelhues - Wise-Guy.
This year four qualification shows determine which riders shall compete at the 2011 Piaff Forderpreis Finals in Stuttgart on 16 - 20 November 2011. The selection trials are held at Hagen (5-8 Mai), Lingen (19 - 22 May), Balve (16 - 19 June) and Verden (3 - 7 August).
Photo © Stefan Lafrentz
Related Links
Marion Engelen Wins 2010 Piaff Forderpreis Selection Trial
Sprehe Defeats Favourite Engelen in 2009 Piaff Forderpreis Finals
Matthias Alexander Rath Wins 2006 Piaff Forderpreis
Jessica Werndl wins 2006 Piaff Forderpreis Selection Trial
Ellen Schulten-Baumer Wins First Ever Piaff Forderpreis at 2001 CDI Stuttgart
