Junior rider Semmieke Rothenberger and young rider Anna Christina Abbelen shone brightly in the "Preis der Zukunft" competition for German junior and young riders held annually at the very well attended national show K + K Cup in Munster, Germany, on 8 - 10 January 2016.
The Preis der Zukunft (Prize of the Future) is the first big German youth riders' event of the year. Youth riders who stood out with their performances in 2015 and who left a good impression at the most recent national training seminar with the team coach in Warendorf, were invited to attend the competition in Munster. It serves as a barometer, or stepping stone or event starting point for this year's competition season for junior and young riders which will lead up to German team selection for the European JR/YR Championships in the summer.
In the junior riders' division Semmieke Rothenberger reigned on her brand new ride Dissertation, a 9-year old Hanoverian mare by Don Crusador. They won the warm up test and later on the finals' test with 74.956%. The black Dissertation, who is nicknamed Daisy, is the fourth mare that Semmieke has competed so far.
"I'm so happy after everything that has happened. Only three weeks after Daisy arrived in our barn, my pony Deinhard passed away. It was and still is very painful," said the 16-year old. "Fortunately now I have a new horse which gives me confidence in the tests, like Deinhard did. He always gave me the feeling "come on Semmie let's go for it' and Daisy does the same thing. We didn't really look for a mare but we seem to attract the ladies. Daisy is a lot of fun, also because she shows potential for more than the movements of the junior tour. I hope I can move across the levels with her."
Runner-up in the junior division was the 18-year old Alexa Westendarp on the 9-year old Hanoverian Der Prinz (by Diamond Hit). She scored 73.684% in the finals' test. Not competing in Munster were the 2015 European Junior Riders' Champion Hannah Erbe nor her medal winning team colleague Paulina Holzknecht.
"There is no obligation to start here in Munster," said judge Kerstin Holthaus. "For us it's all about assessing the new pairs and those moving from juniors to young riders' level."
In the young riders' division the 19-year old Anna Christina Abbelen scored a whopping 75.482% on her experienced, 11-year old Rhinelander Furst on Tour (by Furst Heinrich) for victory. The 2014 European Junior Riders Champion was also member of the 2015 German YR team and showed outstanding form in Munster.
"She proves that the transition from juniors to young riders takes time, but it is very joyful to see that both can now show equally good performances at S-level like they did at M-level," said Holthaus.
The Young riders' runner-up in Munster was the Bad Essen based Leonie Richter on the Westfalian bred Babylon (by Belissimo M), who scored 74.561% to finish second.
Photos © LL-foto
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