By Jean Llewellyn / press release
Photography: DSP/Gabriele Knisel-Eberhard.
The eventing championships for German Sport Horses were once again held at the Laupheimer Lusshof in Baden-Württemberg, where the organizer welcomed significantly larger starting fields than in the past two years, especially in the field of six-year-olds.
FBW Cajuga (Casino Grande x St. Moritz Junior), bred by Regina Engelberth and consistently wellridden by Mareike Pape, claimed the DSP champion’s title in this age group with a result of 41.9 points. This followed the mare’s five-year-old victory last year. She finished ahead of Caruu (Carleyle x Landrebell), bred by Werner Voigt, owned by Dagmar Bierschenk, in the silver medal position under the saddle of Ronny Voigt with 41.8 points. Bronze went to Giganta (Landskron x Lahnstein), bred by Ludwig Ebermann, owned by Gertraude Trensch, and ridden by Sabine Friedrich with 40.6 points.
In the five-year-old age-group, it was DSP youngster Askala (Askari x Calato), bred by Claudia Kunert and owned by GWH Sportpony GmbH, who was ridden by Katrin Wagner and convinced the judges in all three partial tests to secure the title with 41.4 points. The silver medal went to a surprise entry and result when Maria Wagner rode the Finnigan (Weltano) daughter Fürstin Lillifee to a final 40.2 points. Bred and owned by Fritz Fleischmann, this was the mare’s first eventing start as she’d previously only been shown in dressage. The half-bred Franz-Josef B (Fragonard xx x Lauritz J), bred by Franz Josef Brüstle and ridden by his owner Bodo Battenberg, secured third place in DSP Championship for five-year-olds.
Sarah Schmierer rode to victory in the field of four-year-olds thanks to an outstanding cross-country round – rated at 9.50 by the judges – with Daybreak offspring Drogon S, bred and owned by the rider’s family. Hey Lucky Stan (Hickstead White x Stan the Man xx), ridden by her breeder/owner Julia Schmid, placed second with 43.1 points, ahead of Mon Cherie ZGE (Monte Bellini x High Spirits), ridden by Anna Sophie Engelberth, owned by ZG Engelberth, bred by Harald Engelberth. The pair produced an 8.30-rated cross-country performance and a final points tally of 41.3 to win bronze.
