Christoph Koschel Wins 2017 Palm Beach Dressage Derby Knock Out

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2017 CDI-W Palm Beach Derby

German Christoph Koschel became the grand winner of the 2017 Palm Beach Dressage derby, which included several rounds and a final knock out phase to determine the winner. The final Palm Beach Dressage Derby exhibition class took place on Saturday 4 March 2017 featuring riders competing at Small Tour level with unfamiliar horses to see who could ride to the best score.

Round one was a match up against defending champion Chris Von Martels (CAN) and Christoph Koschel (GER), riding Truhana De Ymas, a 2009 PRE mare (by Envidiado De Ymas out of Nicaragua III) owned by Yeguada de Ymas S.L. Ultimately Koschel came on the top with a score of 69.605%, knocking the last year’s winner out of the competition. Juan Matute Guimon (ESP) and Mikala Munter (DEN) competed in round one on Action Ace, a 2005 Dutch warmblood gelding (by Ijsselmeer x Wanroij) owned by Janice Murdoch. Munter won the round with a 69.474%.

Koschel and Munter advanced to the final knockout round of The Palm Beach Dressage Derby competition during the mid-way point at the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle, with both riders piloting Wrazzmatazz, a 2003 KWPN gelding (by Jazz x Darwin) owned by Sara Hellner.
The final round brought excitement to the arena as Koschel rode a well-executed test, clinching the win with a score of 72.588%.

Mikala Munter on Wrazzmatazz “This is always special in an atmosphere like this,” said Koschel. “I don’t know if this horse was ever in an atmosphere like this so you don’t know what you get or what you can expect. I think it was a perfect horse for this final because he was very, very honest and nice to ride, and it made it easier for both of us.”

Koschel is no stranger to derby riding, he was the winner of the 49th Dressur-Derby of Hamburg, as well as the Munich Derby. Munter also competed in the Hamburg Derby, finishing second.
Munter added, “The horse has not been in an atmosphere like this before. I was happy that Chris went first, so if the horse was going to be spooky, [it was] with him and really nice with me! He was really great with both of us though, and I had a super clean test with only a few mistakes in my three-tempis. It takes a special horse to go in there with strange riders and be so nice.”

AGDF Director of Sport, Thomas Baur concluded the evening by stating, “This was the first time we had the derby under the lights. It was also the first time we used the Spectator Judging app for the overall result, and it worked out quite well. We are going to continue to do that and are looking forward to the coming years.”