World number 1 Kristina Bröring-Sprehe and her Desperados were the favourites in the first Grand Prix at the 2016 CDI Hagen Horses & Dreams meets Denmark , presented by WIK Elektro-Hausgeräte Vertriebs GmbH & Co. Prod. KG, at Hof Kasselmann in Hagen, Germany, on Friday afternoon 22 April 2016. They won the class with a personal best score of 82.80%
German team trainer Monica Theodorescu summoned the whole A-team to travel to Hagen to check fitness and physical appearance. With the exception of Isabell Werth who withdrew because of illness, all were there. Hagen is the first outdoor tournament in the Olympic year and is considered as first, although unofficial, observation event for German team selection the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
The presentations of the possible members of the team were expected with anticipation, and one thing became immediately clear: Germany hasn’t had such a high performance density, so many potential championship duos at such a high level for a very long time, and Theodorescu will have the “luxury problem”, the agony of choices. Place one to four went to German duos plus the sixth place for Anabel Balkenhol and Dablino.
Kristina Bröring-Sprehe dominated the competition with a personal best – 82.8 percent - a true benchmark! She even did not really realize her own record, but was only happy about the good feeling she had with her smart and shiny black stallion. The second Olympic Games after the fantastic performances in London in 2012 are not far away any more: “I actually only pray every day that Desperados stays healthy and fit. That’s the most important thing!”
Second place went to a particularly young duo. Sönke Rothenberger and Cosmo, however, are used to winning in Hagen. They won the Young Nations Cup “Future Champions” in Hagen in 2014; this competition is celebrated at the Hof Kasselmann every year. Both won the qualifier for the Louisdor-Prize in Hagen in 2015, and now they are about to win a ticket for the Olympics in Rio.
Third place went to an experienced rider. Riding instructor Hubertus Schmidt rode his Imperio. Fourth finished Jessica Bredow-Werndl, followed by Anna Kasprzak who represented this year’s host country with Donnperignon.
Photos © Astrid Appels
Related Link
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2016 CDI Hagen
