Rothenberger, Erbe, von Bredow-Werndl Win 2023 German Dressage Championships

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2023 German Dressage Championships

Under 25 riders Semmieke Rothenberger and Helen Erbe and senior Grand Prix rider Jessica von Bredow-Werndl collected the gold medals and titles at the 2023 German Dressage Championships in Balve, on 8 - 11 June 2023.

In a sun-filled four-day competition, Germany's best of the best gathered to compete for national honour as well as get assessed in the first team selection trial for the European Championships this summer.

Seniors: Double Gold for Jessica von Bredow-Werndl

After a hotly contested first medal round in the Grand Prix Special on Saturday, Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and Beatrice Burchler-Keller's 16-year old Trakehner mare Dalera BB (by Easy Game x Handryk) were the only medalists who returned on Sunday for the Kur championship. Sönke Rothenberger opted to spare his silver medal winning 9-year old Fendi and rode Matchball instead, while bronze medal winning Frederic Wandres spared Hof Kasselmann's 16-year old Duke of Britain and opted to ride 13-year old Bluetooth.

From the 16 riders in the Special, 11 remained in the freestyle and even then, Dorothee Schneider dropped out last minute with First Romance. The field was wide open for Jessica to pilot Dalera to another title and victory riding to their French Chanson music. They scored 90.075% and left all competition miles behind.

Wandres and Hof Kasselmann's Bluetooth (by Bordeaux x Riccione) were second with 81.775%, while the bronze went to Ingrid Klimke with Wilhelm Holkenbrink's 15-year old Hanoverian stallion Franziskus (by Fidertanz x Alabaster) on 80.650%

"Dalera was simply in top shape. Our warm-up was extremely short," said Von Bredow-Werndl. "I wanted to have a supple round and to give her even more self-confidence. It was our first outdoor show of the 2023 season."

At the end of the show Balve senior first-timer Katharina Hemmer received the "Best Newcomer" prize from the Liselott-Schindling foundation. "She rode a great Championships and showed strong nerves," said Monica Theodorescu about Hemmer, who finished fourth in the freestyle aboard Nancy Gooding's Denoix PCH (by Destano x Pik Noir).

Under 25: Rothenberger and Erbe

Under 25 podiu: Erbe, Rothenberger, Söder

The 2023 German Under 25 Championships were a fiercly contested battle between youth team routiniers Semmieke Rothenberger and Helen Erbe. In the warm-up round Intermediaire II class Erbe had the upper-hand but the medals were determined in the Short Grand Prix and Freestyle so a new day meant new opportunities.

In the Short Grand Prix it was Semmieke Rothenberger who dominated the field of 15 riders aboard her newly acquired 13-year old KWPN gelding Farrington (by Jazz x Samba Hit), who was previously competed in the U.S.A. by previous owner Michael Pineo and in Europe by Belgian Under 25 rider Nic Nyssen before selling to Germany. Rothenberger and Farrington placed first unanimously with 77.651% while Helen Erbe and her sister Hanna's 16-year old Hanoverian Carlso (by Carabas x Weltmeyer) got silver with 75.628%. Bavarian Selina Söder and the 19-year old KWPN mare Zaire E (by Son de Niro x Jazz) landed on the podium for bronze with 73.395% but had Felicitas Hendricks and Luca Collin breathing down her neck. They tied in fourth place with 73.233%.

"I had an incredible feeling on Farrington today," said Semmieke. "Balve was only our second show together and we only know each other since the end of the year. We're still trying things out and getting to know each other."

In Sunday's Kur to Music, Helen Erbe went for gold with Carlos after placing first with four judges and second with the judge at C. Her total of 80.575% put her on the highest step of the podium. Rothenberger was second with 78.825%, while Felicitas Hendricks this time easily edged out Söder for bronze. Felicitas and the 12-year old Oldenburg bred Drombusch (by Destano x Dimaggio) posted 76.350% while Söder scored 73.475%.

"I owe most to Carlos of course, without him this wouldn't be possible, but I also owe a lot to my (twin) sister Linda. Without her this wouldn't be possible," said Helen. "She is always by my side, no matter in the preparation or debrief of the test afterwards. She's the first I talk things over with." Semmieke called her silver medal after her first ever freestyle on Farrington "the cherry on the cake."

Photos © Stefan Lafrentz - Barbara Schnell

Previous Winners
Dorothee Schneider and Isabell Werth Win the 2022 German Grand Prix Championships
Von Bredow-Werndl Makes it a Double, No Surprises on Kur Podium at 2021 German Dressage Championships
Schrader and Erbe Win Gold at the 2021 German Under 25 Championships

Rothenberger schooling Farrington in Balve

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl schooling Dalera BB

Isabell Werth and Valdiviani

Jeanine Pelzer on Dorothee Schneider's former German team horse Sammy Davis jr