When he had read the starter list of the FEI Grand Prix at the World Cup tournament in Lipica, Christian Schumach just hoped to get a place in that competition. At the end, the man from Austria stands at the top of the Grand Prix and could not believe what had happened.
With his 16-year-old Hanoverian "Auheim's Da Vinci" (by Davignon), the 26-year-old professional rider from Kärtnen won with 1651 points (68.79%) ahead of the British Jane Gregory on Lucky Star (67.91%) and the irish Anna Merveldt on Coryolano (67, 62%). Another Austrian pair ranked high, Peter Gmoser and Contreau finished on the fourth place (67, 41%). Fifth place went to Frenchman Remy Issartel on Hilton du Clotobie (66, 75%).
With his first start in Lipica ever, the tournament proved to be a good patch for Christian Schumach. He is riding his dark brown gelding for five years and has been placed internationally with him several times. The biggest success was in 2006, when he celebrated his victory in the Grand Prix Special in Kaposvar in Hungary.
In Lipica "Da Vinci" particularly convinced with good piaffe and passage. Happy about the success of his student, the Austrian coach Fritz Gaulhofer also enjoyed the smooth atmosphere of the dressage festival of Lipica. A return to the show ring with Christian Schumach and "Da Vinci" will be on Sunday in the FEI-freestyle test to music. And as he is a real Austrian, Schumach will let dance his horse to the sounds of "Falco".
The Irish Olympian Anna Merveldt had to wait the whole night for her victorious leap in the Grand Prix Special at the FEI World Cup competition in Lipica. Because of a severe thunderstorm the test on Saturday evening was cancelled shortly before the end. It continued on Sunday morning, and after the last three riders have been ridden the Irish national anthem for Anna Merveldt could have started. She earned 1649 points (65.96%) with "Coryolano". Second place went to Swede Pernilla Markusson on "Loredo" (65.60%) before Remy Issartel from France with "Hilton du Clotobie" ( 64.72%).
Coryolano’s strength is his interior"; Anna Merveldt said about her twelve-year-old gelding by Coriolan. The Irish woman, who lived many years in the Bavarian Landsberg am Lech and trained with Jo Hinnemann, now lives for half a year in Italy, half an hour's drive from Milan. "Right now I just ride for fun", she told. In Lipica the 45-year-old woman belongs to the best-known riders.
Virginia Maghenzani was the best junior rider at the dressage days in Lipica. The beautiful italian girl had let her competitors not the breath of a chance. She won all the three tests with her ten year old Westphalian horse "Flori" (by Florestan), including the freestyle test to music. Once successful in the saddle of ponies, Virginia rode at first in the jumping course before she moved to the dressage sport. "Flori" just lived since a month in her stable, and Lipica was the first international start of the two. With this furious debut in the international dressage sport, the professional world can still expect some of the talented horsegirl.
The Grand Prix Special in Lipica had been interrupted because of a violent thunderstorm in the early evening and will be continued on Sunday morning at 7.30 clock.
by Susanne Müller - Lipica press officer
Related Links
Scores 2008 CDI-W Lipica
Wayne Channon and Lorenzo In Command at 2006 CDI-W Lipica