Baumgurtel, Sieverding, Westendarp Win 2018 Hagen Preis der Besten qualifier

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2018 Preis der Besten Qualifier

Pony rider Lucie-Anouk Baumgurtel, junior rider Marlene Sieverding, and Young Rider Alexa Westendarp became the grand winners of the 2018 Preis der Besten Qualifier held for the north based German riders in Hagen, Germany, on 14 - 15 April 2018.

The north qualifier relocated from Vechta to Hof Kasselmann in Hagen, Germany, in 2017 and the venue welcomed the creme de la creme of the northern based German youth riders again at their venue this year.

The Preis der Besten is the inofficial German Youth Riders Championships annually taking place in Warendorf in May. Each year two qualifiers are held to determine the field of participants, one in the north in Hagen and one in the south in Kronberg. The dressage selection committee as well as the regional team trainers decide which riders move on to the Preis der Besten. They base their decision on the riders' performance at the training seminars in combination with the results at the qualifiers.

In Hagen, reigning European Pony Champion Lucie-Anouk Baumgurtel saddled her top pony Massimiliano (by Monsun N x Cap Cennedy N) and won both rounds with 73.974% and 76.260%. Anna Middelberg and her 10-year old gelding Drink Pink (by Don't Worry x Golden Highlight) proved consistency and was second twice on 71.11% and 74.471%. After a not so focused start on her second pony Coriander (by Chambertin x Donnertraum), Lucie-Anouk Baumgurtel moved from 17th place (66.154%) to 3rd (72.073%) on Sunday.

In the junior division Marlene Sieverding and her new acquisition Furst Levantino, a 10-year old Oldenburg by Furst Romancier x Sandro Hit), went from third place in round one (71.261%) to first place in round two (71.009%). Marlene's sister Johanna Sieverding, who was member of the German team at the 2017 European JR Championships, won the first round (71.937%) on her 9-year old Hanoverian Lady Danza (by Dimaggio x Rubin Royal), but dropped to 9th place in round 2 (67.851%). Sophie Ritzinger was more consistent on the 14-year old Danish bred Romano (by Romanov x Ragazzo) with a second place finish (71.306%) and a third place (69.781%).

In the Young riders classes routinier Alexa Westendarp saddled two horses: her experienced 11-year old Hanoverian Der Prinz (by Diamond Hit x Davignon) and a new ride, the home bred 7-year old Hanoverian mare Four Seasons (by Furstenball x Fidertanz). She scored a double victory, winning round one on Four Seasons with 71.930% and round 2 on Der Prinz with 71.974%, while Four Seasons was second with 71.491%. Der Prinz was second in the first round with 71.667%. The third place in the class was obtained by Lisa Breimann on the 12-year old Oldenburg mare Aida Luna in round one (71.316%), but Kirsten Biermann and Zwetcher, who represented Germany at the 2015 European Junior Riders Championships), captured third place in round 2 on 70.132%.

Full scores here