Photo Report: Rhineland Honouring Its Heroes of 2006

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2006 Rhinish Evening

For a few years now the Rhineland Equestrian Association has honored its "heroes" with a nice party at the end of the season, but they've never seen a turnout like this time. Presenting medalists at the World Equestrian Games as well as the pony, junior and young riders' European Championships

in dressage as well as several national and international eventing and vaulting champions, the Rhineland is Germany's most successful regional association of the year.

So the house was packed at the Landes-Reit-und-Fahrschule in Langenfeld when FN vice president Friedrich Witte and Rhinish vice president Heiner Nachbarschulte took turns awarding silver plates and the prestigious needles of honor to their many, many successful athletes.

If she continues like this, Friedrich Witte will be at a loss next year, because Isabell Werth's needle of honor has been upgraded with diamonds and saphires (representing the Rhineland colors white and green) so many times now that there simply isn't room for more. (Of course Nadine Capellmann was honored as well for her WEG team gold, however, she had excused herself and was absent.)

All photos copyrighted Barbara Schnell
No Reproduction Allowed without Permission/Payment

Heiner Schiergen with Carlotta and Claudius Söffing.

Lydia Camp, individual and team gold at the EC in Saumur. She also won the German championships aboard Dulcia and is now moving on to the junior division (her award was presentede by Heiner Nachbarschulte).

Carolin van der Linde won team gold at the European Championships & became German champion.

Susanne Rimkus, manager of the state-owned stud farm in Warendorf which owns Feinsinn NRW thanked the taxpayers in the room for giving Carolin van der Linde the chance to compete on this horse.

The room was fully packed

Annabel Frenzen, EC pony team gold, winner of the German Pony Derby and the Rhineland Championships. She is moving on to the Junior division as well.

Louisa Lüttgen won team gold at the European Pony Championships and claimed individual silver aboard the breeding stallion Dornik B.

Three Young Dressage Riders (and one jumper, Jens Hofrogge) are moving on to "real" life now: Marion Engelen, Caroline van der Linde and Bianca Lüttgens with their chef d'equipe Heidi van Thiel.

August Schulte-Quaterkamp recited a couple of horse-related poems. He hits the nail so well on the head that maybe they should invite him to the Global Dressage Forum. He'd be sure to make people laugh or swallow their laughter.

Party girls: Miriam Licinio, who won the Preis der Besten this year on FS Don't Worry, and Nicole Kux, who competed with Valido's Contrast at the German Championships in Freudenberg.

Katja and August Camp