Last weekend Eurodressage's correspondent and German photographer Barbara Schnell drove to the 2012 CDI Lingen for a day and caught all the action going on in the Nurnberger Burgpokal Qualifier as well as the Grand Prix. Nadine Capellmann won the national Prix St Georges Special class while Laura Bechtolsheimer took highest honours in the Grand Prix.
Nadine Capellmann and the Westfalian chestnut mare Diamond Girl (by Diamond Hit x Liberty M) won the Nurnberger Burgpokal warm up class with 70.450 % and won the actual qualifier on Sunday with 72.650 %.
"She doesn't like award ceremonies and she did not like the one in Lingen at all," Capellmann said about her sensitive 9-ear old mare. "But she was nice in the test. She has without a doubt fantastic basic gaits and is still gaining more expression, so I forgive her the jumps of joy in the prize giving."
British Laura Bechtolsheimer and her 17-year old Danish warmblood gelding Mistral Hojris (by Michellino x Ibsen) were strong in the Grand Prix, taking home the trophy with an 78.383 % earning ride. In the Special she topped the leader board again with 77.556 % fending off Swedish Tinne Vilhelmson on Don Auriello for the second time.
The wind was an unwelcome addition at the German venue to make things tricky for the Special. Laura had a longer than desirable wait to enter the arena when the arena letters took off in the wind! Bechtolsheimer also brought along her second horse Andretti for the Kur tour and twice finished behind winner Patrik Kittel on Scandic.
"(I am) really pleased with the horses in not such easy weather conditions," said Bechtolsheimer. "The wind meant that Alf and I had to wait for the letters to be put back to their rightful places before starting the GP and by the time we entered the ring we were not 100% on the button. However, we were still able to enjoy a good win on a good score. In the special a little spook and little mistake meant the score could not reflect the fact that his way of going and general performance were back to proper "Alf style”! I am really pleased with where Alf and I are with regards to way of going, fitness and reliability in the ring, even in gale force winds!"
Photos © Barbara Schnell
Related Links
Scores 2012 CDI Lingen
Guest Columnist of the Week: Barbara Schnell: Every Picture Tells a Story