Max-Theurer Untouched to Ninth Austrian Grand Prix Champion's Title

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2011 Austrian Dressage Championships

Victoria Max-Theurer captured their ninth Austrian Grand Prix Champion's title in her career by winning the Nationals held at Gutenhof in Himburg, Austria, on 16 - 18 September 2011. Aboard her top horse the Oldenburg stallion Augustin OLD (by August der Starke x Rohdiamant) Max-Theurer was untouchable and won the Grand Prix and Kur to Music Finals.

Victoria won the Grand Prix with 74,94% and reigned in the freestyle with a 79,80% score. Max-Theurer rode to brand new music composed by Michael Erdmann and based on music from Dancing Stars. Her choreography had an increased level of technical difficulty with a complex floorplan. Victoria totalled 154.74 points and referred Peter Gmoser on Cointreau to the silver medal position (142.56). Gmoser rode his WEG freestyle based on The Fiddler on the Roof but was not able to stay mistake free despite highlights in the pirouettes and passage. The 24-year old Nikolaus Erdmann grabbed the bronze on Danny Wilde with 135.13 points.

"I'm not only happy about my ninth title, but I'm especially pleased that the new freestyle with Augustin went to so well on its debut. Both the judges and the audience liked it," said Max-Theurer. "The new kur has plenty of difficulties so I was a bit nervous to ride it for the first time at a championships, but the transitions worked. I will continue to work on the fine-tuning in my training so it will be perfect next time we show."

Jacqueline Toniutti and her Rhinelander gelding Nugget Need for Speed (by Newcastle x Gluckslee) reigned supreme at small tour level winning the Intermediaire I with 69,39% and the Inter I Kur to Music with 71,83% after placing 7th in the Prix St Georges (66,23%). The small tour title was hers as the championship ran over just two tests: the Inter I and Kur.

Lorenz, Fries, Pointinger Win Youth Riders Championships

Florentina-Gisi Lorenz was unstoppable in the FEI Pony riders division aboardher palomino Golden Juicy. The 12-year old Graz based rider claimed her third national title in her still young career. Lorenz won all three classes of which two counted for the Championship. With scores of 68,16% and 70,28% she got the gold and pushed Stefanie Auinger on Vivaldi to the reserve champion's position. Elisa Wankmüller and Versini settled for bronze.

Franziska Fries on Alassio's Boy "I'm very happy with my title and my pony", said Lorenz. "The test went really well and now we're having a winterbreak."

Junior Franziska Fries had to battle out a tough fight with Oliver Valenta to capture that top step on the podium. Aboard her chunky bay stallion Alassio's Boy Fries was second in the team test (66,40%) but won the individual test (70,61%) and totalled the highest amount of points for the gold. Oliver Valenta and Rivel scored 67,30% and 69,12% and got silver, while Tamara Michei and her Dutch bred stallion Jamiro slotted in thirs place.

Lea-Elisabeth Pointinger and Gino (by Gardez) were untouchable at Young Riders' level. She won the warm up test as well as round 1 (70,26%) and 2 (68,51%), despite a mistake in the three-tempi's, to claim her first national Young Riders' title after already having been the Austrian Junior Riders champion twice. Tatjana Svehla and Donaublick landed silver while Timna Zach and Waitongo finished in bronze medal position. The point differences between the three medalists wasn't too big. Pointinger tallied 138.77 points, Svehla 136.93 points and Zach 135.36 points.