The European Youngster Classic, an international CDI event for FEI pony, junior and young riders, previously hosted in Duisburg, Germany, has returned on the FEI calendar and is taking place this year in Bonn, the former capital of Germany.
“The Academic Riding Club of Bonn (ARC), has decided to organize an international Dressage horse show only for the youth,” says ARC president and managing director of the show, Uwe Spenlen. The European Youngster Classics Bonn will take place on Whitsun weekend, May 25th to 27th, at the show ground in Bonn-Hardtberg, Germany.
The best pony, junior and young riders of eleven nations will be invited to the “CDI JYP”, as it is officially named. The national federations of Austria, Belgium, Spain, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Italy, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Poland and Sweden are expected to send their young stars to the new event and compete in the nations cup. The Whitsun weekend matches ideally the schedule of the international young riders. Therefore the organizers count on interesting participants.
The organising committee is made of well known people in the Dressage world: FEI International Dressage Judge Uwe Spenlen and trainer Wolfgang Winkelhues and his wife Gaby (parents of Katharina Winkelhues, who already earned some victories in Junior and Pony European Championships) will give their experience to the show as well as Heidi van Thiel, who already visited a lot of shows as German pony riders Chef d’Equipe. The two competition arenas are going to be prepared by Daniel Barton, Luxemburg, who also takes care of the show grounds in many other famous locations all over the world.
In former years the ARC had put on the so called “Parkfestival Dressur”. Even though the best German, American, Spanish and even Australian riders showed there, the event had problems to find sponsors. “We think we have better chances to find sponsors in Bonn with our new program. There are many people, who prefer to help young talents. They will find a first class starter field in Bonn”, Uwe Spenlen says.
Further information: www.european-youngster-classics.com
Related Link
Photo Report of the 2004 European Youngster Classic in Duisburg