Germany on form at Hickstead CDIO

German riders celebrate team win at Dressage at Hickstead’s international meeting with Wolfram Wittig and Breitling W winners of FEI grand prix

Wolfram Wittig and his imposingHanoverian stallion Breitling W dominated the FEI grand prix to become clear winners on a good score of 70.52%.

Wolfram who runs a training yard near Minden in Wesphalia where he also has his own successful breeding programme, is the only international international dressage rider riding his own home-bred horse.

Breitling W, a 10-year-old breeding stallion by Bismark, was third in this year’s Men’s German Championships with Wolfram and is also a full brother to team-mate Marcus Gribbe’s Meggles Biagiotti W, who finished in 10th place.

Germany’s Susanne Lebek finished in second place with her good looking Danish stallion Acolito whom she has owned for 10 years, on a score of 66.80%.

Wilfried Bechtolsheimer and his good German-bred mare Winniza made a successful return to international competition after a break of two years to finish best of the Brits in third place on a score of 66.20%.

Germany won the team competition, with Britain in second place with The Netherlands in third, not helped by having just three riders in their team.

Scats FEI Intermediaire I

Following on from the previous day’s prix st georges success, Marie-Jose Hulaman-Timmerman and Le Montrachet triumphed once again in the Scats FEI Intermediaire competition winning with a score of 68.30%.

Mari-Jose and her eight-year-old dapple grey stallion have been based in Britain with Lady Inchcape for three years and this is the combination’s first season in small tour competitions.”He has a great temperament for dressage – sharp but rideable,” said Marie-Jose. “I felt we rode a good test today and everything felt easy, especially the flying changes.”

Germany’s Marcus Gribbe and Meggies Rubino were runners- up with Holland’s Karen Nijvelt and Illinois in third place.

Once again Carl Hester and Wellington Laska were best of the Brits in fourth place, just ahead of Peter Storr and Jamiro.