German WEG team gold medalist Dorothee Schneider and her rising star Smirnoff aced the Intermediaire I at the 2019 CDI Fritzens on Saturday morning 29 June 2019.
The second day of competition at the 25th edition of the Manfred and Hilde Swarovski Memorial Show, set at Klaus and Evelyn Haim-Swarovski's beautiful, intimate equestrian centre Schindlhof in the Tyrolean Alps, is blessed with more gorgeous weather.
An experienced panel of judges, including Hoevenaars (AUS), Schwab (AUT), Maknami (RUS), Storr (GBR), and Wüst (GER), officiated in the Intermediaire I and saw a winner in Dorothee Schneider and Hof Rosenthal's 9-year old Hanoverian Smirnoff.
Schneider and the 185 cm tall Sir Donnerhall x Florencio gelding received 72.971% for the victory and was unanimously the high scorer in the class. As a youngster Smirnoff competed at the 2013, 2014 and 2015 Bundeschampionate with Anna-Maria Köpke and Manuel Bammel, winning the 5-year old Finals in 2015, before the ride went to Dorothee Schneider in the late spring of 2018.
"We twice got a 9 for the rein back and that's a first for is which I'm very happy about," said Schneider. "This is because it's the highest measure of throughness there is."
"Fanti and I have only been a team for seven months and we are understanding each other better and better," said Zach. "I tried to implement the guidelines of my trainer Jonny Hilberath which he gave me at our last show in Munich. The trot worked much better in the arena. He was obedient. It will be so cool with him soon."
Back in third position was the Spanish duo Pablo Gomez Molino on Yeguada de Ymas' 12-year old Westfalian gelding Furst Fiorano (by Furst Piccolo x Pik Bube I). The tall chestnut gelding scored 69.500% and edged out Austrian Stefan Lehfellner on Sissy Max-Theurer's 9-year old Oldenburg Silky Moves (by Starnberg x Furst Heinrich), which was previously shown by Czech Hana Vasaryova.
The winners of the Prix St Georges, Victoria Max-Theurer and the 8-year old Westfalian Valparaiso (by Vitalis x Fidermark), did not compete in the Intermediaire I. The liver chestnut already had the CDI's of Munich and Achleiten on his plate and one start in Fritzens sufficed for the horse. He was withdrawn from the Inter I.
Photos © Petra Kerschbaum
Related Links
Scores: 2019 CDI Fritzens
Coverage of the 2019 CDI Fritzens on Eurodressage
