Vallentin and Sorensen Win 2015 Danish Junior and Young Riders Championships

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2015 Danish Junior/Young Riders Championships

Junior rider Victoria Vallentin and young rider Alexandra Sorensen became the winners and brand new title holders at the 2015 Danish Championships for junior and young riders held in Ringsted, Denmark, on 21 - 23 August 2015. Denmark turned on the welcoming weather for the Nationals where some well known youngsters battled it out for the youth titles.

Scoring winning marks of 74.784%, 73.974% and 76.275% Victoria Vallentin and the Toft family's 10-year old Danish warmblood gelding Atnon (by De Noir x Akinos) blitzed the Junior tests. It was the 17-year old's last shot at the Junior title so she knew she had to give it everything.

“It was very exiting to participate in the Danish championship because you have to compete over three days. Atnon did his best and as always he performed very well,” Victoria told Eurodressage.

Getting the ride on Atnon one and a half months before the Europeans championships in Vidauban, Victoria was approched by Atnon’s owners, the Holm-Toft family, who offered her the ride on him. With Atnon currently for sale on Eurodressage, Victoria is "very, very, sorry" to loose such a fine horse.

"He is really a friend to me, but that's the game," said Victoria who has seen her top horse, Geisha, being sold from under her before.

While she knows what is coming, she is enjoying the current moment with this special horse. The weather in Denmark for the weekend of the Nationals was fantastic, making it a festive summer show with temperatures above 20 degrees, and sun on all days.

“Sunday it was a little bit windy, but overall there were many good competitors, with more than 40 riders in the junior class alone," said Victoria. "Denmark is a little country with a lot of possibilities for every one. Dressage riding is very popular and the breeding is famous. As a rider you are given opportunities to train and join many different kinds of competitions.”

Trained by her father Søren Vallentin at the family's private stables, Victoria also receives help from the Danish dressage team coach Rudolf Zeilinger. Victoria is a student at business in college and will finish her education next summer. She aims to combine a life as a professional rider with another profession.

"My goal for 2015 is to be successful as a Young Rider and improve my skills as a Grand Prix rider. I hope to join the Young Rider classes as soon as possible but right now we are looking for new horses. I have already competed a lot in Grand Prix so I hope I can benefit from my experiences," she explained.

Sorensen On Top in the Young Riders division

Alexandra Sorensen and Camiro Mandoe are the 2015 Danish Young Riders Champions Nineteen year old Young Rider champion Alexandra Sorensen scored 72.342%, 73.737%, and 74.100%, to take out the National title on board 12-year old Camiro (by Future Cup x Alfarvad Champion).

“I did not expect to win the championship, so I was very surprised and happy!” Alexandra told Eurodressage. “We were really lucky with the weather too!”

Purchased as a foal by her grandmother at the Hammelev auction, Camiro Mandoe has been a member of the Sorensen family ever since. Alexandra has big hopes for him in the future.

“We are already training piaffe and passage, and we both think it's very fun," she said.

Studying at the Skanderborg business college, Alexandra has set as next year's goal just to keep her best friend happy and healthy and continue her dressage training combined with her college life.

“Besides Camiro I'm also riding his 7-year old half-brother, who is just as lovely,” she added.

Results - 2015 Danish Junior/Young Riders Championships - Ringsted

Junior Riders

1. Victoria Vallentin - Atnon - 74.784 - 73.974 - 76.275 --- 225.033
2. Laura Hviid- Denzel - 71.730 - 70.184 - 72.200 --- 214.114
3. Camilla Søndberg Thomasberg Andersen - Raffaella K - 72.432 - 72.184 - 69.225 --- 213.841
4. Rie Wichmann - Trostruplunds Romano - 71.027 - 69.289 - 68.850 --- 209.166
5. Fiji Kjær Lynge - Labanos - 68.189 - 69.448 - 71.225 --- 208.862
6. Anne-Mette Lyager - Brandtoftes Sjubell - 69.486 - 69.605 - 69.100 --- 208.191
7. Nana Gajhede- Zoom In Firfod - 70.243 - 67.579 - 69.775 --- 207.597
8. Sofia Valentina Hegstrup - Santa - 71.270 - 67.026 - 67.450 --- 205.746
9. kristine koch bejtrup - Nairobi Melody - 68.081 - 67.868 - 69.125 --- 205.074
10. Stephanie Leth Espensen - Bentley WI - 68.568 - 69.000 - 67.200 --- 204.768
11. Sofie Nymark Vorm - Sarah Bernard - 67.270 - 67.842 - 69.075 --- 204.187
12. Celine Rørbæk Silfen - Atterupgaards Wellington - 65.351 - 69.447 - 69.100 --- 203.898
13. Sandra Kristoffersen - Cadillac - 67.541 - 69.868 - 64.825 --- 202.234
14. Mathilde Kure - Agertofts Cazall - 66.432 - 68.368 - 66.650 --- 201.45
15. Maria Dahl-Bruun - Do It - 66.919 - 68.026 - 66.225 --- 201.17

Young Riders

1. Alexandra Sørensen- Camiro Mandoe - 72.342 - 73.737 - 74.100 --- 220.179
2. Sille Engermann- Darius - 70.632 - 72.553 - 73.850 --- 217.035
3. Maja Andreasen- Kano - 70.395 - 71.789 - 73.975 --- 216.159
4. Marie Skov Olesen - Brizard - 70.105 - 70.974 - 74.900 --- 215.979
5. Kathrine Springborg - May Candeloro - 68.605 - 71.211 - 73.175 --- 212.991
6. Michala Mejlgaard Jensen- Uno IV - 70.105 - 66.711 - 71.525 --- 208.341
7. Celine Boddum Clausen - San Rabino - 68.026 - 68.105 - 69.450 --- 205.581
8. Mille Larsen Warncke - Donna Fetti - 66.605 - 68.026 - 70.400 --- 205.031
9. Caroline Aarosin - Daydream - 68.553 - 67.079 - 68.700 --- 204.332
10. Julie Liocouras - Pantani - 67.158 - 67.184 - 67.675 --- 202.017
11. Sara Juel Sproegel - Hot Shot - 66.395 - 66.868 - 68.225 --- 201.488
12. Emma-amalie Wraa - Furst Fahrenheit L - 66.763 - 65.000 - 69.475 --- 201.238
13. Regitse Rubæk - Romina Alsidig - 66.263 - 67.132 - 67.700 --- 201.095
14. Mathilde Worm - Corina - 65.763 - 65.921 - 68.400 --- 200.084