Of year in review and Christmas wishes
Course director Phil Schmauder and his team set up the last Grand Prix of the year 2022 in the Christmas decorated event hall of Riesenbeck International - and it was a tough one. 52 pairs competed, eight of them qualified for the jump-off with a clear round. The round was straightforward, straightforward and yet difficult, in the jump-off it was then a matter of mastering the many turns on offer and a final sprint over a steep jump to the finish. And this time it was the stable jockey of Beerbaum Stables, Philipp Weishaupt, who was obviously in a hurry on his only ten-year-old gelding Zineday (0/36.68) to join his heavily pregnant wife Domenika in the warm room not even a kilometer away. However, the golden ribbon was snatched away from the Riesenbecker by the final rider Jur Vrieling. The Dutch rider won on the grey mare Griffin Van De Heffinck (0/36.25) ahead of Weishaupt and the Hungarian Balázs Krucsó on Caja (0/36.76).
The many visitors really got into the spirit the day before at the Sparkassen Team Challenge, which was held in the hall for the first time. Eight teams formed teams of four, which competed in the classes A,L,M and S-start. The competition was not decided until the final riders. The Sparkassen Team won by a razor-thin margin, ahead of the Coesfeld District Riders' Association and the Steinfurt District Team.
A year with many tournaments comes to an end in Riesenbeck. Time to remember and also to formulate wishes for 2023.
Johannes Ehning, a welcome guest in Riesenbeck came to the Christmas tournament with his wife Kaya, little daughter Grace and a new family member. Johannes Ehning is grateful: "I am very happy with the ending year. Kaya and I got married, and two and a half weeks ago our Leon was born. We are happy. It also went well for our stable. For 2023, I wish that Kaya can take off again athletically and that we all stay healthy."
Sophie Hinners (second in the Small Tour Final), who is praised by all her colleagues for her friendly nature, naturalness and intelligence and is undoubtedly considered the top talent in German show jumping, also thinks back fondly on the year that is drawing to a close: "I had a very, very good year with many beautiful moments together with my horses. I was able to celebrate the greatest successes of my career so far." She has been on the team of David Will and her partner Richard Vogel for a year and a half. "I am very proud to be able to work with these two." For Christmas, she really only has one wish: "In times like these, health comes first and foremost. I wish for our families to stay healthy. We don't have much time for each other during the year, so it's very important for us to be together at Christmas. Since I'm from the north and Richie (Richard Vogel) is from the south, we'll go to see my family together first and then go to the south."
Homeowner Ludger Beerbaum sees 2022 with mixed feelings. "For me, of course, the year started with a negative experience. The RTL report and the accusations made in it was fierce. Thank God I was able to celebrate her first five-star victory with Mila six weeks later in Doha, then another six weeks later in Mexico the second Grand Prix at the 5* tournament. That was balm on my soul at the time. All in all, we had a successful year at the stable, and things went very well with the Berlin Eagles as well." Ludger Beerbaum has two wishes for Christmas: "To celebrate in peace with his family and to stay healthy."
After the show is before the show! Next year, the best riders in the world will gather at the Riesenbeck International facility. From July 21 to 23, 2023, the world's show jumpers will meet at the Surenburg for the tenth of 16 legs of the Longines Global Champions Tour with their world-class horses. At stake in the only German leg is immensely high prize money and the coveted qualification for the final Super Cup Grand Prix in Prague. A short time later, from September 5 to 10, two European Championships will be held simultaneously at the Surenburg, that of the dressage riders and that of the Para riders.
Show director and managing director of Riesenbeck International Karsten Lütteken is already in the preparation phase with his team. His wish for the year 2023 is thus clear. Full of anticipation for the upcoming tasks, he says: "We have worked over the past seven years to play a role in international sport. My wish is that we consolidate this status and once again experience great events together with the active athletes and hopefully many spectators."
All results here.
