In Hardwiese, a picturesque village near Zurich, Switzerland, the 2003 Swiss Dressage Championships were contested July 11 to 13, 2003. Winning the Elite Class for Grand Prix dressage riders was Birgit Wientzek-Pläge
aboard her highly talented Sappalot. Brigit Pläge, who lives with her husband Christian Pläge in Rüti bei Büren, Switzerland, finished twice second and once third in the three championship classes. She scored 69.75%, 69.00% and 74.09% resulting in a 212,84 point total.
Her husband Christian reigned supreme in all three classes (Grand Prix, Special, Kur) with his steady Danish bred mount Regent. But as Christian was previously a German native and is only legible to win a Swiss title in 2004, his wife Birgit won her first 2003 national Swiss title due to three classy rides on Sappalot, a Hessian Silvano N offspring.
On the heels of Birgit Pläge was Sylvia Ikle who was only 0.03 points behind her after the Grand Prix Special. However, Ikle woke up with severe stomach cramps on the the kur day and was unable to ride her freestyle. Daniel Ramseier easily shifted into the silver medal position with 201.85 points in total. Riding the 8-year old stallion Palladino, instead of Rali Baba who was not in shape for the Championships, Ramseier had two good go's in the Grand Prix and Freestyle, but encountered several problems in the Special where his score got stuck on a 63.76%.
The bronze medal in the Grand Prix division was for Marie-Line Wettstein. Wettstein, who lives in Wermatswil, Switzerland, rode both Le Primeur and Watusi in the Championships, but it was with Le Primeur that she rode a 196.68 point total, which was good for an overall third place.
In the Junior Riders division, Andrina Sigrist excelled aboard Agassi III. With 201.06 points in total she was far superior to second placed Hélène Panchaud, riding the Belgian warmblood Pancho van het Gestelhof. Panchaud got silver for a 188.26 point total, while Ronja Zuffellato and Espoir IV claimed bronze with 180.21 points.
In the Young Rider division, the experienced Melanie Manser scored decent marks aboard her licensed Hanoverian breeding stallion Lanthano (Lanthan x Akzent I). With a 70.91% in the freestyle, Manser pushed up her total score to 204.67 points and won her second, consecutive gold medal in the Young Riders' division. Elena Fernandez and Duvon followed Manser closely with a total of 202.81 points, while bronze medal recipient Carolina Rindlisbacher and Hello Yellow followed in a distance with 192.50 points total.
Related Links
Scores 2003 Swiss Dressage Championships
Christian Plage and Regent, A Fresh Breeze on the Scene
Meike Lan and Lanthano at 2003 CDI-YR Babenhousen