23 Sep Matthis Westendarp first “Young Rider of the Year” – Thrilling final stage in Kronenberg
(Kronenberg/NED) That was close: Matthis Westendarp, the 20-year-old rider from Wallenhorst, won the overall classification with a four-point lead after the final eighth leg of the BEMER Young Riders Tour in Kronenberg. “This is an incredible feeling, I was invited to be a guest at the press conference when it was presented and have made it one of my goals for the season,” said a delighted Matthis, whose points cushion of 32 was enough to keep the competitors at bay.
Partnering the success was the Chacco Blue offspring Chillert Blue. “He is my top horse this year and provided me with the points at the different events,” said the first Young Rider of the Year, “and now I am really happy that it was enough to win.” Matthis had to suffer through some anxiety, as he missed the jump-off in the final leg of the BEMER Young Riders Grand Prix at the Peelbergen Equestrian Centre.
International jump-off in Kronenberg
Six young riders from Canada, Italy, Switzerland and Poland made it into the jump-off of the challenging BEMER Young Riders Grand Prix. With a clear round in 39.36 seconds, the Polish rider Aleksandra Kierznowska, who is just 19 years old, won the eighth competition of the first season of the BEMER Young Riders Tour, thereby taking third place in the overall ranking. She was completely overwhelmed: “I was not well placed before and my horse and I were still injured at the beginning of the year, but Badorette is quite incredible, she fights, is careful, just great,” enthused the young rider, who was cheered on by her young compatriots. Now Aleksandra is looking forward to competing at the Horses & Dreams CSI4* in the BEMER Riders Tour 2023 season.
Third place in the ranking is awarded with one starting place in the BEMER Riders Tour 2023, for second place there are two spots and for the overall winner four starting places in the 2023 tour season. It is the declared aim of the initiators to give young riders a chance and platform at the top level international stage.
Viva Italia
Right behind the overall winner, Matthis Westendarp, Italian rider Elena Datti secured second place in the BEMER Young Riders Tour ranking with a score of 28 points. With the Calido daughter Nebbia Delle Schiave, 20-year-old Elena came fourth in the Young Riders’ Grand Prix, earning 13 ranking points and raving about her horse: ” She’s been really good all year, but I never thought we’d get this far.” Meanwhile, Elena’s coach asked Francois Kasselmann (Riders Tours GmbH), the organiser of Horses & Dreams, to explain to him exactly which starting places his young protégé will be able to choose next year and was obviously pleased: “This is a really good idea – to give young talents a chance like this.”
Results Grand Prix (1,45m) with Jump-Off – BEMER Young Riders Tour Grand Prix
1. Alexandra Kierznowska (Polen), Badorette 0/39,36
2. Giacomo Casadei (Italien), Filou Vd Kruishoeve Z 0/39,67
3. Thibaut Keller (Schweiz), Arley de Vayrie 0/39,76
4. Elena Datti (Italien), Nebbia Delle Schiave 0/47,86
5. Eric Krawitt (Kanada), Cactus de Cooniere 4/ 39,34
6. Lauren Esdale (Kanada), Viamdios d’Avril 4/42,28
Final ranking of the BEMER Young Riders Tour after eight legs
1. Matthis Westendarp (GER), 32 points
2. Elena Datti (ITA), 28
3. Aleksandra Kieznowska (POL), 24
4. Giulia Mattioli (ITA), 21
4. Jules van Hoydonck (BEL), 21
6. Johanna Beckmann (GER), 20
7. Giacomo Casadei (ITA), 17
8. Roy van Beek (BEL), 15
8. Thibaut Keller (SUI), 15
10. Jules Orsolini (FRA), 14
PHOTO: The top three of the BEMER Young Riders Tour with Francois Kasselmann (Riders Tour GmbH) and Alena Knauer (BEMER Int. AG). Mathis Westendarp (centre), Elena Datti (left) and Aleksandra Kierznowska received starting places for 2023 and Uvex helmets. (Photo: Digishots)