31 Jul Successful tactics for Hans-Dieter Dreher in the qualification for the BEMER Riders Tour
(Donaueschingen Immenhöfe) “Really?” the new leading man of the BEMER Riders Tour looked astonished when he heard that with his victory in the fourth stage during the Festival of Horses at the RZ-Frese in Donaueschingen Immenhöfe he now heads the overall ranking. Thanks to his first place, 29-year-old Michael Viehweg from Schrobenhausen was able to add another 20 points to his Riders Tour account and catapults himself to the top position with a total of 26 points. Second and third place in the Prize of the Fürstlich Fürstenberg Brewery went to Switzerland: Evelyne Bussmann and Virtuoso Semilly finished ahead of Adrian Schmid on Chicharito.
It was a tough as hell circuit that course director Phil Schmauder had built today in the Grand Prix of the Immenhöfe. A total of 40 pairs competed and the winner of the previous day was unlucky: Hans-Dieter Dreher and Cous Cous missed the second round with four faults. According to the rules, the best 25 percent go into the second round and thus 10 combinations started in the final round.
Highly exciting second round
Rebecca Hotz from Schopfheim opened the second round with a strong, clear ride on the Holsteiner mare Akatie. Dominik Fuhrer from Switzerland and Ghost showed that they could go even faster, but conceded one fault. His compatriot Evelyne Bussmann on Virtuoso Semilly took the lead immediately afterwards with a new best time. Adrian Schmid and Chicharito, competing for Switzerland, also went clear, but did not come close to Bussmann’s time. The young Swiss talent Edouard Schmitz in the saddle of the grey Karel Doorman had no trouble beating this best time, but a rail prevented a better placing than fifth place. Michael Viehweg and Contario entered the course as the penultimate pair and produced a killer round, 43.11 seconds meant victory!
Winged Contario
“It is a great end to the weekend that I was able to win the Grand Prix here. I asked a fellow rider what I could still do in the combination with the seven canter strides and that’s what I did,” laughed a happy Viehweg and explained that his Contario had just enjoyed five weeks of summer break. The Festival of Horses was his first show. A break that obviously gave the Austrian warmblood stallion by Contendro I wings. “You can ride Contario fast. He also doesn’t mind if you come a bit closer out of the turn, he responds very well to that.” The young professional with his own riding facility in Schrobenhausen, student of Markus Merschformann and former Bavarian Junior Champion, is now looking forward to the upcoming leg of the BEMER Riders Tour at the Turnier der Sieger in Münster: “I’ve always wanted to ride there!”
The fifth stage of the BEMER Riders Tour will take place from 24 to 27 August.
Result Prize of the FÜRSTLICH FÜRSTENBERGISCHE BRAUEREI GmbH & Co KG, Großer Preis der Immenhöfe – BEMER Riders Tour rating competition, CSI2* – Int. jumping competition with 2 rounds (1.45m)
- Michael Viehweg (GER) & Contario, 0/43.11
- Evelyne Bussmann (SUI) & Virtuoso Semilly, 0/43.50
- Adrian Schmid (SUI) & Chicharito, 0/46.02
- Rebecca Hotz (SUI) & Akatie, 0/47.94
- Edouard Schmitz (SUI) & Karel Doorman, 4/43.26
- Dominik Fuhrer (SUI) & Ghost, 4/44.05
- Daniel Böttcher (GER) & Obora’s Little Richard, 4/47.02
- Günter Treiber (GER) & Cassis S, 4/47.10
- Detlef Kaiser Jun. (GER) & Jury Bleu K, 5/58.79
All results: https://results.equi-score.de/event/2023/24020/de/resultlist/01
Ranking BEMER Riders Tour after four of eight legs
1. Michael Viehweg (GER), 26 Punkte
2. Patrick Stühlmeyer (GER), 20
2. Michael Kölz (GER), 20
2. Jodie Hall Mcateer (GBR), 20
5. Eoin McMahon (IRE), 17
5. Penelope Leprevost (FRA), 17
5. Michael Greeve (NED), 17
5. Evelyne Bussmann, 17
9. Eiken Sato (JPN), 15
9. Maximilian Weishaupt (GER), 15
9. Harry Allen (IRL), 15
9. Adrian Schmid (SUI), 15
The legs of the BEMER Riders Tour 2023/24
Horses & Dreams meets Sweden, Hagen a.T.W. / GER, 19. – 23. April 2023
Pferd International, München-Riem / GER, 18. – 21. Mai 2023
CSI Ommen, Ommen / NED, 06. – 09. Juli 2023
Fest der Pferde, Donaueschingen-Immenhöfe / GER, 27. – 30. Juli 2023
Turnier der Sieger, Münster / GER, 24. – 27. August 2023
CSI Lier Azelhof Horse Events, Lier / BEL, 31. August – 03. September 2023
CSI Arena Nova, Wiener Neustadt / AUT, 05. – 08. Oktober 2023
VR CLASSICS, Neumünster / GER, 15. – 18. Februar 2024
Photo: BEMER partner Nicole Hartmann and Ute Raabe for the Riders Tour congratulate the new ranking leader on the victory. (c) Roger Müller