The 19-year old Christin Schütte became the winner fo the "Preis der Zukunft" (Price of the Future) hosted at the national indoor show in Münster, Germany, last weekend. Aboard her Hanoverian Hohenstaufen (by Hohenstein), Schütte scored 74.35% in the kur to music
and referred 2006 European Junior Riders Champion Verena van der Linde and Mitchell to a second place. Mareike Köstens and Rubinero finished third with 70.37%.
Only eight young riders rode the qualification test and six placed for the kur to music finals. The riders were selected for the Preis der Zukunft based on their performance the previous year. Big absentees at this year's final were Tom Berg and Kristina Sprehe, who no longer own the horses they rode at the European Championships last year, as well as Jessica Werndl and Dinaro, who were not there because the 20-year old is already successful as a senior rider and member of the B2 Grand Prix team. Three riders withdrew: Theresa Wahler, Katharina Winkelhues and Max Wadenspanner.
"The Preis der Zukunft is held so that we can get a good overview at the beginning of the show season of the current training level of the young riders," team trainer Holger Schmezer said. "The performances in Münster are a good mirror of that current condition. They are proof that we have a group of good young riders' combination coming along. And we still have some time until the first European Championship selection trial at the Preis der Besten in Warendorf mid May. We have to use that time now to improve."
Photo copyrighted: Barbara Schnell
Related Links
Scores 2007 CDN Münster
Photo Report: 2007 CDN Munster Rolinck Cup