Germany Claims Team Gold at 2013 European Championship Reining Competition
Press release by: Ramona Billing
Nine nations sent teams to the 2013 European Championship Reining, in addition to several individual riders including one from Spain. In the end, it was Germany who claimed team gold for the fourth time in the history of the European Championship with a total score of 659 points. Silver was earned by Italy, who had won team gold at the 2011 EC and now scored a total of 655.5. Austria followed closely with only half a point behind (655) earning bronze.
Volker Schmitt and Smokin Mifilena (owner Sonja Lubas) started with a 215 for team Germany. Sylvia Rzepka and Hot Smokin Chex (owner Curtis Hof) followed next. A kick in the second lead change ended in a score of 194, which was tough for the German team as the Austrian and Italian teams already had great runs.
Rudi Kronsteiner and Whizoom (owner Jennifer Nixdorf) had had a brilliant run for Austria earning a high score of 223. Tina Künstner-Mantl and Heza Sure Whiz followed with a 216.5 and Martin Mühlstätter aboard Chic N Roost (owner Andrea Castrucci) added a 215.5 for team Austria, resulting in a total of 655.
As the first rider for Italy Mirko Piazzo and Cody Gio Phoebes (owner Giovanni Grenzi) had bad luck. The stallion crossfired once, and in the end the score was 211.5. Massimiliano Ruggeri and Spat Split And White (owner Le Colomare QH) had a penalty in their right spin and came out of the arena with a 218.5 – as did the following two Italian riders. Pierluigi Fabbri and Malerba Fiednora‘s Rooster Nic had penalties in their first circle, and Giuseppe Prevosti‘s great Chic Magnetic (owner Equus QH) had a bit of trouble with the ground and could not show his normal superb stops. This added to a total score of 655.5 for Italy.
In the meantime, Alexander Ripper and Wolfgang Müller‘s Wild At The Bar presented a fine run with great stops scoring a 221.5 for Germany. Everything depended on the last rider Grischa Ludwig – and he did it! Grischa, who had been 5th in the 2010 WEG in Kentucky, and Custom Del Cielo (owner Fabian Strebel) gave a superb performance ending with three great stops and a score of 221.5. This was a total score of 659 points which meant gold for Germany.
“I’m so happy,” says German Chef d’Equipe Nico Hörmann. “It was a tough competition, but we made it. The way in which that was achieved shows the spirit of our team.”
The Italian team, which had earned gold twice before, was obviously a bit disappointed. Trainer Filipo Masi says, “that’s what competition is like – sometimes you are luckier than other times. Our riders did their best, and I’m very proud of them!”
The Austrian Chef d’Equipe Gerold Dautzenberg, whose team of only three riders missed silver by only half a point, had this to say.
“We did not have a fourth result, which might have been scratched,” he said. “But our riders gave everything for the team. Tina and Martin were great, especially if you consider that Martin and Chic N Roost did not have much time to get accustomed to each other and then of course Rudi who rode high score.”
The Belgian team followed in fourth place scoring a 652 with NRHA Million Dollar Rider Bernard Fonck and his great Rooster Spurs (owner Wolfgang Wagner) scoring a 220.5 – the best result of his team. Cira Baeck and Colonels Shining Gun followed (220), Matyas Gobert and Soulas A Cinch scored a 211.5, and Ann Fonck-Poels had to correct her gelding Top Of The Top by using her second hand which was a 0.
The French team placed fifth with a total score of 646.5. Cedric Guerreiro aboard his 8-year-old Smart Furys Remedy scored a 219 and Bastien Bourgeois aboard Franck Parret’s AHR Lucky Whiz Dunit scored a 218 – the two best results of their team. Yves Fromont and Pistolero Bo Sun scored a 209.5, and Franck Perret and CDS Independence (owner Ghislaine Maury) scored a 209.
With a score of 636, Great Britain placed sixth with young Josh Collins aboard Corinna Schumacher’s Sparkin Tinsel having the best result. The two had a fine run collecting plus points especially in the stops for a score of 216. Francesca Sternberg and Smart Like Valentino scored a 210.5 after two penalties in the right circle. Doug Allen and Rosanne Sternberg‘s OK Spook had a penalty in the figure eight and left the arena with a 209.5, as did Jessica Sternberg and Wimpys Little Gal (owner Harry und Sadie Collins).
For Finland, this EC was a huge success as it was the first time they sent a whole team. All their members did great and the team placed 7th scoring a 627. Maria Mustonen and her Shezdunitthehardway scored the best result of her team, a 210.5, which also marked a place in the final. Pete Perkiö and his 7-year-old Mandy Lil Magnum had a great beginning in their run, but then lost points in their stops – 209 was the result. Maria Astikainen aboard Anna-Maria-Hendolin‘s Chic Ruf Enterprise scored a 207.5, Teija Pietilä and Remidoc a 206.5.
The Netherlands followed in 8th place scoring a 624.5, with Rieky Young and her flashy Brady Chex earning top score of their team (216). Wendy Van Osch and MN Ali Bo Sun scored a 205.5, Mariska Hak and Ripped Wrangler a 203 and Anne Grether aboard Paul Van Hoofts Lil Ruf Doc a 196.
The very young Swiss team placed 9th scoring a 604.5. Adrienne Speidel and her As Tuff Stuff scored the best result of their team, a 210.5. Daniel Schmutz and OW Be Mega Surprise scored a 188.5, Rahel Locher and Boggies Zan Par Dee scored a 197.5, and Julien Hasler aboard Diamond Cat Nifty scored a 196.5. NRHA Suisse president Sven Friesecke was proud of his team. “We had a young and unexperienced team, but they did great. And of course Adrienne, who has represented Switzerland already, did a great job.“
The top 20 (plus ties for 20th place) will meet in the individual final on Sunday again. Germany has five riders in the final (including the individual riders Steffen Breug and Mona Dörr, who scored a 212.5 and 216 respectively). Italy and Austria have all their team members in the final. Belgium will be represented by Bernard Fonck, Cira Baeck and Matyas Gobert; France by Cedric Guerreiro and Bastien Bourgeois; Great Britain by Josh Collins and Francesca Sternberg; The Netherlands by Rieky Young; Finland by Maria Mustonen; and Switzerland by Adrienne Speidel.
