By media release

(Hagen a.T.W.) The Grand Prix Special on Saturday evening, Prize of the Meggle AG, marked the beginning of a new season of a top-class dressage series, the Meggle Champions. The best four duos (instead of formerly three) of the qualifier will win the ticket for the Final at the SIGNAL IDUNA CUP in Dortmund. It was no surprise that Kristina Sprehe (Dinklage) who already presented her Desperados in top form on Friday, won the Grand Prix Special yesterday evening with a final score of 80.98%, followed by Isabell Werth (Rheinberg) and Fabienne Lütkemeier (Paderborn).

Photo: supplied

„We love horses – we have both been riding horses our entire lives, and we are therefore committed to supporting this sports with this dressage series,” Toni Meggle, founder of the Meggle Champions Tour, explained after the competition. Particularly Isabell Werth had to accomplish the test in pouring rain. “The first thing you notice is the never ending rain and the wet clothes, but Don Johnson was always concentrated,” the dressage star said. “Such a performance wouldn’t have been possible with him last year under these circumstances. I am very proud of him.” Werth who finished fifth with El Santo at the World Cup Final in Lyon last week, rode the 12-year-old Hanoverian Don Johnson FRH yesterday evening, coming in second with a final score of 77.82%. Bella Rose, Don Johnson and El Santo are the outstanding horses in the stable of the gold medalist. She still does not know which horse she will choose for the World Championships at the end of the year in the Normandy. “I think the horses will answer my question. Let’s see what happens.” Fabienne Lütkemeier who earned a final score of 74.63% with D’Agostino, was satisfied with the performances of the 14-year-old De Niro-son. “Despite some minor faults, D’Agostino accomplished two excellent rounds here in Hagen. I am more than happy.” Arlene Page and Alina from the US came in fourth and also qualified for the Final of Meggle Champions.

Following the opening competition, the Norwegian Isabel Bach now also won the qualifier for the Final of the young horse series Nuremberg Cup in Frankfurt, designed for horses aged seven to nine. “I never expected to qualify for the Final already now,” said Bache during the “Dressage Talk” in the VIP-area yesterday evening. The insurance company Nürnberger Versicherungsgruppe launched the Cup in 1992. “If all horses at European Championships, World Championships and similar events would have competed at the Nuremberg Cup before, this would be a valuable recognition and confirm the importance of this series,” Thorsten Magin of the Nürnberger Versicherungsgruppe happily said, and he thanked the dressage boss of the Hof Kasselmann, Dr. Ulf Möller, one more time for the idea to host the Nuremberg Cup at Horses & Dreams in Hagen.

Results Saturday afternoon:

37 Junior riding competition - Final, Prize of the Sparkasse Osnabrück: 1. Niklas Knoop (ZRFV Riesenbeck e. V.), Velvet Boy, 8.5; 2. Julia Linkemeyer (RFV Engter e.V.), Da Vinci's Boy, 8.3; 3. Lara Middelberg (RV Lienen e.V.), Classic Cathy, 8.2; 4. Mathis Gilhaus (RV Recke e.V.), Pauline 110, 8.1; 5. Sina Knoop (ZRFV Riesenbeck e. V.), Crocoman T, 8.0; 5. Natalie Bartsch (RFV Wehdem-Oppendorf e.V.), C'est Courage, 8.0

12 International jumper class fault/time (1.45 m) CSI4* - FEI Art. 271, Prize of the Hof Kasselmann GmbH & Co. KG: 1. Felix Haßmann (Lienen), SL Brazonado, 44.77; 2. David Will (Pfungstadt), Black Jack 163, 46.14; 3. Tobias Meyer (Löningen), Carlucci 13, 46.81; 4. Michel Hecart (FRA), Nokia de Brekka, 48.75; 5. Jan Sprehe (Cloppenburg), La Cucaracha 7, 48.95; 6. Bruce Goodin (NZL), Caltona, 49.84

5 International dressage test - Grand Prix Special CDI4* qualifier for the „MEGGLE Champions Final 2015“, Prize of the MEGGLE AG: 1. Kristina Sprehe (Dinklage), Desperados FRH, 80.980%; 2. Isabell Werth (Rheinberg), Don Johnson FRH, 77.824%; 3. Fabienne Lütkemeier (Paderborn), D'Agostino FRH, 74.627%; 4. Arlene Page (USA), Alina 455, 71.235%; 5. Renate Voglsang (AUT), Fabriano 58, 70.961%; 6. Gareth Hughes (GBR), DV Stenkjers Nadonna, 69.765%

31 National dressage test - Prix St. Georges Special CDN qualifier for the 2014 Final, Nuremberg Cup: 1. Isabel Bache (NOR), Riverdance 66, 75.585%; 2. Helen Langehanenberg (Havixbeck), Damon's Delorange, 75.537%; 3. Susan Pape (GBR), Harmony's Don Noblesse, 72.902%; 4. Tessa Frank (Bad Zwischenahn), Fürst Nymphenburg, 71.780%; 5. Anabel Balkenhol (Rosendahl), Rosalie B 2, 71.073%; 6. Therese Nilshagen (SWE), Dante Weltino OLD, 70.756%

39 Final PM-Schulpferde-Cup: 1. Team 6 (RV v. Bredow Keppeln), Lea Steinhövel, Scarlett | Lea Zadelaar, Roxy | Alison Ohmen, Macintosch | Sabrina Engler, Diego, 173.3; 2. Team 2 (Reitschule Altrogge Terbrack), Leonie van Wesel, Argentina / Roger | Freya Scheipers, Bekecs / Argentina | Sonja Weitkamp, Harry Boo / Bekecs | Greta Bastian, Roger / Harry Boo, 172.5; 3. Team 4 (RSG Meeresberg II), Laura Schierholz, Daresalam Max | Emma Behrens, Butscher | Lisa Marie Heinrich, Lucy Creek | Michelle Hannekum, Jamo, 169.7