23 May First BEMER Riders Tour stage victory for Michael Kölz and Cellato
(Munich) The qualifier on Friday already suggested that the Grand Prix of Bavaria, which was also the second rating competition of the BEMER Riders Tour, would be an exciting decision until the very end. Michael Kölz (Leißnig) on Cellato won the 1.55m jumping competition with two rounds. This put the 39-year-old professional horse trainer from Saxony level on points with Patrick Stühlmeyer (Mühlen) at the top of the ranking in the BEMER Riders Tour.
Exciting decision in front of a large crowd
The numerous spectators, who surrounded the horseshoe arena, followed every ride with enthusiasm and applause. 45 riders started in the first round, which 10 pairs completed clear, including the winner of the qualification, Pénélope Leprevost (FRA), who once again showed a confident clear round with Bingo Del Tondou. 12 pairs then made it through to the second round, including the two fastest four-fault rides — local hero Simone Blum (Zolling) and Armin Schäfer Jun. (Bürstadt), who according to the rules were also allowed to start with a clean sheet again. The first clear round came from Maximilian Weishaupt (Jettingen) and the grey DSP Omerta Incipit, but the time was still to be beaten. Michael Kölz and Cellato had already shown in the Grand Prix of Redefin that they can go fast and they also set the best time of 55.50 seconds over the demanding course today. Kölz looked at the first riders in the jump-off before making his plan: “My horse is in extremely good shape. I have never jumped such a high course before, but I was sure that Cellato would master it. I knew that Pénélope Leprevost would ride really fast and I thought I had to try everything without doing anything crazy and it worked out!”
Kölz and Cellato continue winning streak
“I have ridden Cellato in three Grand Prix this year and he has won all of them. At some point our winning streak will come to an end, but until then we are enjoying it,” beamed an overjoyed Michael Kölz after his ride. He has been riding the Holsteiner gelding by Cellestial for one and a half years now and his big thanks go to owner Dirk Wellmann. The next goal of the Dream Team Kölz / Cellato is the German Championships in Balve, but after that, Kölz promises, he will definitely take a look at the schedule of the BEMER Riders Tour. A strong second place was taken by the French Olympic Champion Pénélope Leprevost with Bingo Del Tondou. Third place and best Bavarian was Maximilian Weishaupt (Jettingen) in the saddle of DSP Omerta Incipit. Simone Blum and her young hopeful Ciara PS took eighth place and thus improved their position in the BEMER Riders Tour Ranking to 11 points.
Diversity of nations and new spectator record
“We have never had so many nations here in the jumping, from the far north with Sweden to the entire New Zealand team,” expressed a satisfied organiser Hansi Blum. Francois Kasselmann from the Riders Tour GmbH also expressed his thanks and respect to the organising team: “We have seen so much top sport and so many people here on many days, you have to take your hat off.” Bavaria’s equestrian fans virtually flocked to the grounds in Munich-Riem and enjoyed the last day of the international multi-discipline festival in the best weather. The organisers reported 85,000 visitors, a new record.
There are two legs of the BEMER Riders Tour in July: The third stage will be decided from 6 – 9 July at the Dutch event CSI Ommen at the equestrian centre of the Schuttert family. Then the journey goes back to Southern Germany, to the Festival of Horses at the Immenhöfe in Donaueschingen from 27-30 July.
Result, BEMER Riders Tour rating competition, Großer Preis von Bayern präsentiert von Hirmer, Preis des Bayerischen Staatsministerium für Landwirtschaft, Ernährung und Forsten, CSI3* – jumping with two rounds (1.55 m)
1. Michael Kölz (Leißnig) & Cellato, *0.00 / 55.50, 20 points
2. Penelope Leprevost (FRA) & Bingo Del Tondou, *0.00 / 56.74, 17 points
3. Maximilian Weishaupt (Jettingen) & DSP Omerta Incipit, *0.00 / 58.76, 15 points
4. Alessandra Reich (AUT) & Anyway Van Het Kervijnhof Z *0.00 / 59.93, 13 points
5. Jenny Rankin (IRL) & Imar, *0.00 / 61.54, 11 points
6. James Shore (GBR) & Jaap Vd Bisschop, *1.00 / 69.14, 10 points
* In the second round
All results: https://results.hsr-performance.de/2023/muenchen/c6_result.html
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 May 2023
CSI Ommen, Ommen / NED, 06 – 09 July 2023
Fest der Pferde, Donaueschingen-Immenhöfe / GER, 27 – 30 July
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 October 2023
VR CLASSICS, Neumünster / GER, 15 – 18 February 2024
Photo: Winner Michael Kölz with Andy Schaaf and Francois Kasselmann (c) Fotoagentur Dill