D-Day AT and Timberlake SH Win Dressage Pony Divisions at 2015 Bundeschampionate

Wed, 09/09/2015 - 10:19
2015 Bundeschampionate

The 5-year old D-Day AT and the 6-year old Timberlake SH became the grand champions in the Dressage Pony divisions at the 2015 Bundeschampionate in Warendorf, Germany, on 3 - 6 September. The Dressage Pony classes are quite important tests, closely inspected by the German pony team trainer Connie Endres, as they are the nursury for future FEI level dressage ponies that could make it onto the German team in the upcoming years.

"The quality of the 5-year old ponies really stood out," said Endres. "But we also saw very well ridden ponies in the 6-year old class; ponies which are easy to manage by children which is important to us."

The 5-year old Dressage Pony finals were won by Zoe Gilbers aboard Adolf-Theo Schurf's German Riding Pony stallion D-Day AT (by Dance Star x Notre Beau). The pair was second in the qualification round with 8.1. and certainly hopefuls for the title. In the Finals on Sunday they scored 8.30 for the victory. The bay stallion got 8.5 for trot, 8 for walk and canter, and 8.5 for submission and general impression.  Alissa Hoz and the chestnut stallion FS Dorian Gray (by Don't Worry x Cocky Dundee) made a staggering leap on the board after ranking seventh in the qualifier (7.9) and becoming reserve champions on Sunday. Dorian Gray scored a total of 8.2 with 8 for trot, 9 for walk, 7.5 for canter, 8 for submission and 8.5 for general impression. 2014 German pony team rider Maike Mende made a similar leap on the board with Sascha Hahn's black stallion Tiger Hill (by Top Anthony II x Sandro Song). They jumped from seventh place in the qualified (7.9) to to the bronze medal position with the same score. Tiger Hill got 8 for walk and trot, 7.5 for canter, and 8 for submission and general impression.

In the 6-year old category Maike Mende steered the Westfalian stallion Timberlake SH (by Timberland x Top Karetino) to the title, their third big one this 2015 show season as the pony also won the Westfalian regional championships and the inaugural International Dressage Cup for Young Ponies in Verden.  Bred by Karl Heinz and Gaby Sander and owned by Sabina Hübner, Timberlake SH was fourth in the preliminary test with 7.8 but upped the ante in the Finals and with an 8.3 total score they won the division. The pony got 8.5 for walk and trot, 8 for canter and submission and 8.5 for general impression. Sophie Dupree and Danica Duen's dark bay stallion Del Estero (by Dance Star x Marsvogel xx) were the runners-up  with 8.1. The pony got 7 for trot, 8.5 for walk, canter and submission and 8 for general impression.  The biggest rise on the board was made by  Marlen Schramm aboard the chestnut stallion Curschill E (by Chicago x Viktoria's Colano). Moving from a 9th place in the preliminary round with 7.4, the dup scored 8.0 for bronze. The chestnut stallion got 8 for trot, 8.5 for walk, 7.5 for canter and 8 for submission and general impression.

Photos © LL-foto

Related Links
Eurodressage coverage of the 2015 Bundeschampionate
Scores - 2015 Bundeschampionate