Evelyn Haim-Swarovski and Klaus Haim hosted the prestigious Manfred Swarovski Memorial Dressage Show for the 21st time on 26 - 28 June 2015. The CDI 4* in Fritzens, a small hamlet in the Austrian Alps, annually lives up to its reputation of being one of the most beautiful, well organized dressage competitions set in the friendliest atmosphere.
Staged at the Swarovski family's equestrian centre Schindlhof for the first time in 1995, the year Evelyn’s father Manfred Swarovski died -- the CDI Fritzens developed itself into a high profile event with the encouragement of Bianca and Ullrich Kasselmann from the start. One of the greatest highlights of the show’s 21-year history was the first-ever encounter in 1999 of the German top combinations Ulla Salzgeber with Rusty, and Nadine Capellmann with Farbenfroh, respectively, in a Grand Prix test. “This was the most thrilling moment I had seen, thus far, in a dressage competition,” as Klaus Haim later remembered; “The interest from all over was immense. After the Grand Prix I received many calls asking for the outcome.” The Grand Prix was won by the 2000 Olympic bronze medallist Ulla Salzgeber with Rusty ahead of their Olympic team gold colleagues Nadine Capellmann and Farbenfroh.
The show's unique atmosphere does not only come from its niche dressage audience. It is also a social highlight on the tyrolian calendar. Numerous visitors and guests from the poltiical, sport, culturual, musical and artistic world attend the CDI Fritzens and its highly praised gala evening. Spectators who attend the show combine this trip with a memorable visit to the Swarovski Crystal Worlds in the nearby town of Wattens.
This year Austria's number one Grand Prix rider Victoria Max-Theurer reclaimed the Manfred Swarovski Trophy after winning the Grand Prix Kur to Music. The 29-year old Max-Theurer and her number one Grand Prix horse Augustin OLD (by August der Starke x Rohdiamant) made their show come back in Fritzens after not having competing since the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Caen, France in August 2014. Max-Theurer scored a whopping 80.825% for her freestyle.
Evelyn Haim-Swarovski's coach Dorothee Schneider won the Grand Prix Special on the 9-year old Hanoverian Showtime (by Sandro Hit x Rotspon). The duo made their Special duo and scored a winning 74.627%. British Michael Eilberg and his double World Young Horse champion Woodlander Farouche (by Furst Heinrich x Dimaggio) swept the small tour, winning the Prix St Georges and Intermediaire I.
Check out a special photo report from the 2015 CDI Fritzens by Selene Scarsi
For more information, visit www.schindlhof.at
Related Link
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2015 CDI Fritzens