Dorothee Schneider and First Romance won the 2018 Nurnberger Burgpokal Finals - The German Developing Prix St Georges Horse Championships - at the 2018 CDI Frankfurt on Saturday 15 December 2018.
Judged by five of Germany's 5* judges (Schule, Eisenhardt, Plewa, Wust, Holler), the Finals are contested through the Prix St Georges Special, a test designed by late legendary rider Rainer Klimke. It includes the infamous halt and rein back on the centerline followed by an extended trot and final halt and salute.
The 2018 Finals featured twelve riders, the majority of them were Germany's professional elite riders (Werth, Werndl, Schneider, Schmidt, Klimke). Heike Kemmer's student Nicole Kirschnick and Dr. Best were a late entry, substituting for a last minute withdrawal of Thomas Wagner and QC Fillipo Niro. They got the spot as the highest scoring pair in the qualifiers that did not get a ticket.
After placing second in the warm-up round with 73.488%, Schneider and Gabriele Kippert's 8-year old German Sport Horse bred First Romance (by Furst Romancier x Day Dream) upped their game in the finals round, scoring a winning 76.537%.
Schneider has had a stellar season on the young gelding First Romance this year, winning the small tour at the CDI Fritzens, CDIO Aachen and CDI Randbol. At the Nurnberger Finals in Frankfurt, she continued that streak of success. Three judges had her in first place and two second.
Isabell Werth and Luca Sophia Collin's 8-year old Hanoverian stallion Descolari (by Desperados x Weltmeyer) were the runners-up with 75.268%. The pair placed first with two judges, second, fourth and sixth with marks ranging from 73.292% to 76.951%.
Ingrid Klimke and Elena Knyaginicheva's PSI Auction horse Bluetooth OLD (by Bordeaux x Riccione) were third. Klimke and the 8-year old Oldenburg gelding scored 74.122%.
The winner of the warm up round, Kira Wulferding and Wolfgang Strizke's Westfalian mare Brianna (by Bvlgari x Rohdiamant) could not repeat their feat in the Finals and dropped to sixth place with 73.634%. Wulferding was fourth aboard Ulla Katzorke-Hellweg's Rhinelander mare Bohemian Rhapsody (by Belissimo M x De Niro) on 73.780%%.
Related Link
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Previous Winners
QC Flamboyant Wins the 2017 Nurnberger Burgpokal Final for Developing PSG Horses
Vitalis Wins the 2016 Nurnberger Burgpokal Finals for Developing Prix St Georges Horses
Dorothee Schneider and Santiago Win 2015 Nurnberger Burgpokal Finals
Rath and Samba King Win 2014 Nurnberger Burgpokal Finals
Beatrice Buchwald and Weihegold OLD Win 2013 Nurnberger Burgpokal Final
Schurmann and Burlington Secure Victory in 2012 Nurnberger Burgpokal Finals
Desperado OLD Wins 2011 Nurnberger Burgpokal Finals
Meyer zu Strohen and Rassolini Win 2010 Nurnberger Burgpokal Finals in Frankfurt
Blind Date, 2009 Nurnberger Burgpokal Winner
Victoria Max-Theurer and Augustin Win the 2007 Nurnberg Burgpokal Finals
Comic Hilltop FRH Wins 2006 Nurnberg Burgpokal Finals
Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff and Wahajama Unicef win 2002 Nurnberger Burgpokal
Cockney, 1999 Nurnberger Burgpokal Winner
