Austrian dressage champion Victoria Max-Theurer edged out U.S. Dressage Champion Steffen Peters in the Grand Prix for Kur at the 2014 CDI Fritzens, hosted at Klaus and Evelyn Haim-Swarovski's Schindlhof in Austria on Saturday 5 July 2014. The 11-time Austrian Champ scored 76.18% on her number one horse, 14-year old Augustin OLD (by August der Starke x Rohdiamant).
Peters and his number one Grand Prix horse Legolas (by Laomedon) were second with 75.34% after a mistake in the two tempi changes, while American Tina Konyot finished third with 72.60% and came one step closer to securing a spot on the U.S. Dressage Team for the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Caen, France, this summer.
“America had another great day in Fritzens today,” said U.S Chef d’Equipe Robert Dover. “I am very excited and hopeful that we will see more excellent U.S. rides and results tomorrow in the Grands Prix Special and Freestyle.”
Max-Theurer, who split from her coach Wolfram Wittig in the spring, is back to training at home with her father Hans Max. She has competed the massive Oldenburg stallion Augustin only very limitedly this show season.
"Augustin was very fresh. He obviously feels well here in the Tyrolian mountains," Max-Theurer explained. "I'm very proud of our performance. The 28-year old Victoria added, "you don't compete every day against the U.S champion."
Show host Evelyn Haim-Swarovski finished in a strong seventh place aboard the Danish warmblood mare Dorina (by Don Schufro). "We were finally able to ride," Evelyn commeted. "I'm very happy. Dorina senses the audience and gets nervous. She's afraid of the clapping and anticipates that."
Haim-Swarovski and Dorina will have their kur to music debut on Sunday, riding to modern music. "I'll surprise people," she quipped. Victoria Max-Theurer will be performing to an Italian-classical inspired freestyle, with which she was successful at the 2014 CDI Stadl Paura in April. She rides her piaffe-passage tour to Felicita.
More information, photos and videos at www.schindlhof.at or www.facebook.com/Schindlhof
Related Links
Scores 2014 CDI Fritzens
Max-Theurer Wins Grand Prix for Special, Graves Strong at 2014 CDI Fritzens
U.S. Anthem for Prix St Georges Winner Steffen Peters at 2014 CDI Fritzens