German youth riders put the bar high at their first selection trial for European Championship team consideration held in the Biebrich Castle Park at the 2012 CDI Wiesbaden on 26 - 28 May 2012. The Rothenberger sisters and junior Vivien Niemann won the Kur Finals with top marks, putting them in a strong position for team contention.
All youth riders had to perform two tests: the Team Championship Test and Kur to Music. In the pony division, the 12-year old Semmieke Rothenberger stood out on her very experienced schoolmasters, European Pony Champions Golden Girl (2009, 2010) and Deinhard B (2008). In the freestyle Rothenberger rode Golden Girl (by Don't Worry) to children's music from Pipi Longstocking and Maya The Bee and scored a winning 77.65%. With Deinahrd B (by Dornik), she finished second with 75.9%. Newcomers on the FEI pony scene, Anouk Wiemers and Die Feine Chanel, posted a score of 75.25% to finish third.
European Junior Riders Champion Vivien Niemann is on form with the Hanoverian Cipollini and only needed a 73.5% score to win the Kur Finals. Niemann said she's working on a new, more difficult floorplan but will keep using her Lady Gaga music. The winner of the team test, Maxi Kira von Platen on Flamenco Girl, placed second in the Kur with 72.550%. Claire Louise Averkorn and the 8-year old Hanoverian Condio S were third with 70.8%. 2011 European Championship silver medallist Pia Katharina Voigtlander has so far been unable to come back to greatness with her bay gelding Laetitian (by Lord Sinclair) and got stuck on fifth place with 68.65%.
The 19-year old Sanneke Rothenberger won the Young Riders Kur to Music aboard the 13-year old chestnut Hanoverian Wolke Sieben (by Wolkenstein II). The Bad Homburg based European YR champion scored 76.75% and referred Louisa Luttgen on the Hanoverian gelding Habitus (by Hohenstein) and on the Oldenburg mare Diamantenborse (by Diamond Hit) to a second and third place (73.300 - 73.200%).
The winner of the team championship test, Charlott Maria Schurmann on Burlington (by Breitling W) dropped to an eight place in the kur with 69.75% due to mistakes in the canter work.
The unlucky fellow of the day was Tara Schneider, whose CD got stuck during her freestyle. The 21-year old Dusseldorf based rider was allowed to start again on Little Diamond and finished 10th.
Photos © Barbara Schnell
Related Links
Scores 2012 CDI Wiesbaden
German Long Lists for 2012 European Pony, Junior and Young Riders Championships