Werth Makes it Four out of Four, Pearce Breaks Double Australian Record at 2020 CDI Achleiten

Mon, 07/27/2020 - 12:03
2020 CDI Achleiten
Isabell Werth and Weihegold at the 2020 CDI Achleiten :: Photo © Michael Rzepa

World Champion Isabell Werth freewheeled to a quadruple victory in the four big tour classes held at the small, invitational 2020 CDI Achleiten on 23 - 26 July 2020, hosted at Sissy Max-Theurer's beautiful castle in Rohr, Austria. 

Cruise Control

After winning both Grand Prix classes on Friday with top ride Weihegold (by Don Schufro x Sandro Hit) and Victoria Max-Theurer's rising star Quantaz (by Quaterback x Hohenstein) with two 80+ % scores, Werth continued to ride on cruise control to another double victory on Saturday and Sunday.

In Saturday evening's Grand Prix Kur to Music, Werth and the 10-year old DSP bred Quantaz scored a winning 85.450% well ahead of her student, Victoria Max-Theurer on the 10-year old Westfalian Rockabilly (by Rock Forever x Ehrentusch) with 80.725%. German Frederic Wandres and Elena Knyaginicheva's 13-year old Oldenburg gelding Sa Coeur (by Sir Donnerhall) were third with 77.380%

In Sunday's Grand Prix Special, Werth and her number 2 Grand Prix horse, Christine Arns-Krogman's Weihegold continued to impress judges Alice Schwab, Hans Voser, Thomas Lang, Elke Ebert and Christoph Umbach, who rewarded the horse a winning 80.915%; with individual marks going from 79.255 to 82.234%. Max-Theurer and her newest acquisition, the 10-year old Westfalian Abegglen (by Ampere x Carabas) were second with 77.596%. Abegglen was trained and competed at Grand Prix level by Marcus Hermes. 

"There was a small miscommunication but overall Weihe was very good," said Werth. "I'm especially happy with the trot work. The fine tuning and the self confidence are always getting better." 

Double Australian Record

Australian Simone Pearce has caught a wave of success since starting to work for stallion station Sprehe in Germany. Coached by Oliver Oelrich and managed by Sabine Rueben, Pearce has formed a partnership on the 13-year old Hanoverian stallion Destano (by Desperados x Brentano II), which was previously trained and competed at Grand Prix level by Swedish Michelle Hagman. 

Simone Pearce and Destano at the CDI Achleiten
Pearce found her match in Destano and after first posting a 75% at a post-corona national show on home turf at Gestut Sprehe in Essen-Herbergen, the success in the international arena followed at the CDI-W Mariakalnok. In Achleiten the pair upped the ante, breaking the Australian Grand Prix record score with their 74.152% on Friday.

On Sunday Pearce and Destano broke the Australian Grand Prix Special record, when they posted 74.617% at the CDI Achleiten. The Grand Prix and Special record were previously held by Kristy Oatley and Du Soleil. The Australian Kur record is held by Mary Hanna. 

"We had all 3," Kristy Oatley posted on Instagram. "Congratulations to Simone for knocking me down times 2. Very well done, great rides! Also Mary for the freestyle in Melbourne. Records are made to be broken."

Pearce replied, "I'm pretty sure it will be taken back very quickly. I remember when I was about 12 years old and you (Kristy) were my biggest idol in the world and on my birthday you sent me a signed hat which I framed and made my parents display in the living room of our house. You have always been a massive inspiration and motivation for me and I'm so grateful for your support all the way through my career."

Photos © Michael Rzepa

Related Links
Scores: 2020 CDI Achleiten
Double 80% for Isabell Werth at the 2020 CDI Achleiten