The 2020 CDI Mariakalnok on 26 - 28 June will be the first international dressage competition since the corona lockdown brought all sport competitions to a halt.
The Hungarian international, which offers classes from ponies to Grand Prix, boasts an impressive field of starters with a total of 160 combinations entered.
The same weekend, international competition will also start in Italy with the CDI-PCHJYR Arezzo for youth riders. Italy has dropped the minimum criteria to compete in a CDI on home turf from 64% to 61%.
World Cup Qualifier
The CDI-W Mariakalnok will offer the first World Cup qualifying event for the 2021 Finals, post corona.
From Austria riders Belinda Weinbauer (Fraulein Auguste MJ), Christian Schumach (Rovereto), Amanda Hartung (Dresscode Black) and Katharina Haas (Saint Tropez) will be there.
After fracturing her arm in January, Irish Anna Merveldt is back in action and will compete the Lusitano Esporim. Russian Elena Sidneva will be putting mileage on her 8-year old Sacura at Grand Prix level after she sold her 2019 Russian team horse Fuhur to Denmark.
Dutch Thamar Zweistra will bring her long-time partner Hexagon's Double Dutch.
Australian Simone Pearce will begin her Olympic campaign on Destano in the CDI 3* division, just like Luxembourg's Nicolas Wagner on Quater Back Junior.
Germans Full Force
German Olympian Helen Langehanenberg is taking her number one Damsey to Mariakalnok, while current German team rider Jessica von Bredow-Werndl is entered with her second GP horse, Zaire-E. Frederic Wandres will bring his second GP ride Westminster as well as World Young Horse champion Sa Coeur. Jessica Süss is also making her World Cup debut on Duisenberg.
Talking about debuts, or let's say come backs. German Olympic medal winner Ulla Salzgeber is returning to the CDI ring after a 3-year break from international competition. She's on the starters' list with Liberte, an 8-year old Hanoverian by Londontime x Accord.
In the youth divisions, it stands out how many of the German A-squad riders, especially pony and junior riders, are traveling to Hungary for this show. German Pony Champion Rose Oatley, the Baumgurtel sisters, and team riders Shona Benner and Antonia Busch-Kuffner will there there.
2019 European Junior Rider Champion Jana Schrödter is making the transition to Young Riders with Der Erbe, while young rider Nadine Krause is premiering a new horse alongside Dancer, i.e. Bailando II, who was previously competed by Leonie Guerra, Patricia Schärli and Holga Finken.
Related Links
Anna Merveldt Fractures Arm
Austrian Team Selected for 2019 European Dressage Championships
Photo Report: Weinbauer and Schulz Take the Big Tour at 2019 CDI-W Mariakalnok
Mariakalnok Dressage Centre Boosting Dressage in Hungary, First Major Successes Achieved
Photo Report: Salzgeber and Sir Simon Capture First CDI Big Tour Trophies at 2016 CDI Mariakalnok