Berlin Tempelhof Airport Tournament - Dressage Day 1
Hauptstadt Tournier Berlin (Historic Tournament, Historic Date & Historical Venue) Report by Kelly Bauer Photos courtesy of Kian Bullock
The first dressage class of the Berlin show was underway on Wednesday 30th September with the first of two Prix St George’s class. The winners were Julia Voigtänder and her 8 year old Oldenburg gelding Laetitian R. (By Lord Sinclair I) with a score of 63.842%
The winners of the second PSG class were Falk Rosenbauer riding Famaso, a 7 year old brown stallion by Fürst Heinich with a score of 69.053%
Photos: Hayley Beresford and the very impressive Fernhill Derry.
Aussie Hayley Beresford and Fernhill Derry, a brown 9 year old Irish Sport Horse gelding by Ricardo Z were also amongst the starters in this second PSG class. They produced a superb test, giving the Berlin spectators an insight into the quality of both horse and rider. The judges put this pair in second place with 67.316%
Whilst scanning the startlist, my eyes were immediately drawn to a very Aussie name: Down Under. DownUnder is an 8year old liver chestnut Oldenburg stallion (by Donnerhall/ Rubinstein I) owned by Robert & Rosalind Oatley. In Berlin he was ridden by Karin Rehbein and this pair placed equal 8th with 62.211%
The Short Grand Prix was won by Jörg Ladwig and the 10 year old Brandenburger Stallion Quaterman. This impressive stallion is by Australian Kristy Oatley’s Grand Prix stallion Quando Quando who was shortlisted for the Olympics in Athens, and represented Australia at the Olympic Games in Beijing.
The Grand Prix took place on Saturday morning and with such close competition, there ended up being 2 winners. Alexandra Simons-de Ridder and Dieter Laugks both took the title with 69.447% along with €2200 in prize money.
Alexandra Simons-de Ridder was wrapped with Wellington. The 14 year old Hannoverian gelding by Wanderer/ Gibraldi II worked well to improve on their 68.638 % from Munster. Alexandra was part of the Gold medal team at the Olympic Games in Sydney with her horse Chacomo.
Dieter Laugks and Meggle’s Weltall also earning themselves a rug and a spot up front for the prize giving ceremony. Meggle’s Weltall is a brown 15 year old gelding by Weltmeyer who is known to be quite spooky and can become quickly tense. However the pair showcased their ability this weekend in Berlin. Just before the Special on Sunday Weltall threw a shoe, the brilliant organising committee at Berlin had the farrier there instantly, the shoe was quickly put back on and the pair entered the arena as the last starters… with a very relieved rider!
Photo: Kristy Oatley-Nist and Clive.
Aussie Kristy Oatley-Nist was 14th with her 10 year old Holsteiner gelding Clive (Caletto I) with a score of 63.234% Hayley and Relampago do Retiro were hot on their tails, slotting in just behind them in 15th with 62.936% Kristy and Don Bolero, the 15 year old Stallion by Donnerhall retired from their test.
Having heard that Ulla and her mare were set to compete in Berlin I was shocked to hear that the mare had suffered a minor accident in the lead up to the show. Heidi had become cast in her box and as a result the vet diagnosed a slight strain in her back. Both Ulla and Dr Brehms (the Vet) deciding to play it safe and give the mare more time to return to normal, Ulla had to withdraw from Berlin.
The results from the dressage classes are as follows.
