Dorothee Schneider and Barcelo Win the 2024 Nurnberger Burgpokal Finals

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2024 CDI Frankfurt

Dorothee Schneider and the Danish bred Atterupgaards Barcelo became the winners of the 2024 Nurnberger Burgpokal Finals, the German Developing Prix St Georges Horse Championship.

The Finals are held annually at the CDI Frankfurt and this year they were on Saturday 21 December 2024. For the second year in a row and for the third time since 2021 a Danish bred horse has won this prestigious Final. Last year Skovens Tzarina and in 2021 Straight Horse Ascensione were the Danish mares that claimed top honour.

Schneider and Barcelo

Schneider and the 8-year old Danish bred and Oldenburg registered Atterupgaards Barcelo (by Bon Coeur x Caprimond) worked their way into the tournament, placing third in the warm-up round with 74.195% and topping the board in the Finals round, the Prix St Georg Special, with 76.732%.

The Finals were judged by Katrina Wüst, Dr. Dietrich Plewa, Dr. Evi Eisenhardt, Henning Lehrmann, and Elke Ebert.

"Barcelo is an incredibly great and magnificent horse. I am very grateful that I can train him," Schneider commented. Kanitzky added, "we are so proud and overjoyed, what an outstanding performance by the two."

Schneider, who has won the Burgpokal finals for a third time in her career (Santiago in 2015, First Romance in 2018), also won the prize for the best execution of the rein-back, the touchstone of thoroughness, relaxation, and precision.

From Denmark to Germany

Barcelo is bred by Kristine Munch Nielsen of stud farm Atterupgaards and is out of Dicte (by Caprimond x Donnerhall), the full sister to Cathrine Dufour's Cassidy. The bay was licensed with Oldenburg in 2019 and approved in Denmark in 2019. Owned by Helgstrand Dressage in partnership with the breeder, Barcelo was the high scoring stallion at the 2019 Danish Warmblood Autumn Stallion Performance Testing.

In February 2021 Barcelo sold to German horse owner and breeder Maik Kanitzky of Gestut Heidehof in Leipzig, Germany. He allocated the ride to Tessa Frank and she placed fourth at the 2021 Bundeschampionate for 5-year old dressage horses. A year later they won the 2022 Bundeschampionate. He was also gelded in 2022.

In March 2023 Kanitzky pulled the ride from Frank and sent the horse to Dorothee Schneider. Owner Kanitzky runs the crane company Maxi Kraft and bought Helgstrand's German farm, Gestut Famos, in May. Dorothee Schneider qualified Barcelo for the 2024 Nurnberger Burgpokal finals by scoring 74,268% in Munich.

Brunkhorst and Diamante Negro Runner-Up

Juliane Brunkhorst and Janna Alpers' 8-year old DSP bred Diamante Negro (by DeLorean x Furst Romancier) became the runners-up. They were very close to victory after winning the warm-up round with 74.756% and then being edged out by Schneider. They were second with 75.512%.

Brunkhorst was one of three riders who qualified two horses for the 2024 Nurnberger Burgpokal Finals. In the end she only competed Diamante Negro as her other horse, the Swiss mare La Belle Noire (by Dante Weltoino x Furstenball), sold.

"What I find sensational is the coolness and matter-of-factness with which he goes into this arena and masters his task again," Brunkhorst told Kim Kreling.

Vitalos Third

Leonie Richter and Andreas Helgstrand's 7-year old Hanoverian breeding stallion Vitalos (by Vitalis x De Niro) finished third in the Burgpokal finals. He was second in the warm-up with 74.341% but in the Finals round he posted 74.415% for a third place.

It has been a very busy year for Vitalos. Aside from breeding duties, the stallion also competed at the World Young Horse Championdhips in Ermelo, where he collected his third, consecutive WCYH silver medal. In addition, he competed on the burgpokal circuit, clinching his ticket to the finals in June in Balve with a 75,951%.

On Saturday evening Richter and Vitalos won the "Siegerpreis", a fun exhibition show done for the crowds with the three highest placed pairs.

33rd Burgpokal Finals

The Nurnberger Burgpokal Finals are a bastion on the German dressage scene. Established with the help of Dr. Reiner Klimke, the show circuit and finals are a clear pathway for talented FEI level horses towards the top. Numerous future champions and Grand Prix team horses came through the Burgpokal system.

For 2024 the Nurnberger Burgpokal circuit includes eight qualifiers (Hagen, Munich, Balve, Bettenrode, Elmlohe, Görlitz, Donaueschingen, Darmstadt). The winners of each of the 8 qualifiers will compete in the finals in Frankfurt alongside the four highest scoring second placed riders at these qualifiers.