23 Aug Münster and Zürich-Dielsdorf: BEMER Riders Tour featuring with two stages
(Münster) In insider circles, the fifth leg of the BEMER Riders Tour is already considered one of the season’s highlights. The ‘Turnier der Sieger’ is held at four-star level and an experienced, international field is expected. The leading rider in the ranking, Michael Viehweg (Schrobenhausen), and two of his closest pursuers, Jodie Hall Mcateer (GBR) and Patrick Stühlmeyer (Mühlen) will be competing. Only six points separate the British athlete and the ‘Rider of the Year 2021/22’ from the leader Viehweg. Speaking of Rider of the Year, with Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann the overall winner of the BEMER Riders Tour 2022/23 is also going to step out. Her brilliant victory in the rating competition of Münster last year gave her a valuable 20 points on the way to her second Riders Tour title.
“The Riders Tour is still an important part of the sport,” Münster’s Show Director Hendrik Snoek also confirms. “It demonstrates at the various events who is a consistent, good rider. To be in the mix of the Riders Tour is, I think, still very interesting for many, many people.”
29-year-old Michael Viehweg is making his debut in front of Münster Castle this weekend — a premiere he has been anticipating for a long time: “I have always wanted to ride in Münster, now it is working out and of course I would like to collect points there. Ideally, I want to defend my lead. My horse has been performing at a consistently good level all year. Of course, everything has to go right on Sunday, but I know that Contario will give his best.”
The pair travel to Münster highly motivated — Viehweg just enjoyed his honeymoon with wife Theresa, Contario was kept fit by his team at home. Since his victory in the fourth leg at Immenhöfen, further Tour starts are in the planning: “Unfortunately, Lier doesn’t fit into my show calendar, but depending on how things go in Münster, I could imagine riding in Wiener-Neustadt. Now that I’m in the lead, it would be good if I could also ride there, and it’s not that far away from Bavaria.” The Tour Final at the VR CLASSICS Neumünster is “already on my schedule from now on,” confirms the rider from Schrobenhausen. “Winning a car is always a good incentive, too!”
The run for ranking points in the BEMER Riders Tour begins with the qualifier on Saturday. In the Marktkauf Cup, the best 50 pairs qualify for the rating competition, which will be held on Sunday in the Grand Prix of the Auto Nagel Group. Pre-qualified for this international jumping competition with two rounds are also the top three of the current ranking and present riders from the top 25 of the world ranking list. ClipMyHorse.TV and WDR ‘Sport im Westen’ will broadcast live.
BEMER Young Riders Tour celebrates Swiss premiere
While the seniors are competing for Riders Tour points in Münster, the young riders are contesting their seventh and penultimate stop in the BEMER Young Riders Tour in Switzerland. The Zurich Youth Masters hosts the jumping series for the U21 generation for the first time. The Horse Park Zurich-Dielsdorf is expecting a total of over 150 riders with around 300 horses and spectators from home and abroad. Two young Swiss women have promising chances to improve their position in the ranking before the season finale. Joana Schildknecht is in fifth place with 21 points, Shirel Shornoz is in eighth place with one point less. A good result in the BEMER Young Riders Tour Grand Prix would bring her much closer to the 46 points of ranking leader Jess Hewlett (GBR). The Young Riders’ Qualifier will already be decided on Thursday, 24 August. The rating competition and the run for points will then follow in the BEMER Young Riders Tour Grand Prix on Friday.
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: Defending the title – Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann’s victory in Münster 2022 gave her a valuable 20 points towards her second Riders Tour title. © Stefan Lafrentz