Highly respected German dressage judge Eckhard Wemhöner passed away on 19 March 2021 after a brave battle against cancer. He was 62 years old.
Wemhöner was an active dressage rider till the late 1980s after which he dedicated himself to judging.
Judge
In 1983 he began his career as a dressage judge and quickly moved up the latter. In 1994 he became a Grand Prix dressage judge.
Wemhöner was known for judging numerous Bundeschampionate qualifiers and finals, as well as Nurnberger Burgpokal competitions, but he never officiated at CDI's.
At the same time he was part of the regional Youth Development task force and part of the performance sport committee for the Westfalian equestrian federation.
In 2000 he became the chair of the German Dressage Judges Club and board member of the Sport Divsion of the German Equestrian Federation (FN) and German Oympic Equestrian Committee (DOKR).
He was highly committed in the education and training of judges and a strong believer in the conservation of the principles of classical dressage.
Herford
Wemhöner was member of a famous family of entrepreneurs that founded Wemhöner Surface Technologies in 1925 in Herford, Germany. Wemhöner manufactures machines and systems for the finishing of wood based panels.
In 2005 Eckhard's brother Heinrich established the famous Herford art museum MARTA, designed by the world acclaimed architect Frank Gehry, where the Wemhöner family was able to exhibit its spectacular art collection.
Eckhard was the managing director of Wemhöner Real Estate and owned, for instance, the 400-year old hotel "Hotel zur Fürstabtei". He was actively involved in the historical preservation of Herford's monuments as chair of the Herforder Geschichtsvereins.
Eckhard leaves behind his partner, German 5* dressage judge Ulrike Nivelle, and his two children Daniela and Erik.
Related Links
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