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CDI-W Berlin
German Victor Emerges From Top Class Field
At CDI-W Berlin
 Hubertus
Schmidt and his lovely Hannoverian mare Wansuela Suerte
got the FEI World Cup Western European League off to
a great start with a convincing victory in the opening
Berlin qualifier.
A fluent and harmonious freestyle from the German partnership
gained a score of just under 80 per cent to beat compatriot
Heike Kemmer and her seasoned Grand Prix mount Albano.
Schmidt, a professional trainer who has ridden the ten-year-old
mare for most of her career under saddle, was delighted
with her performance. He said: "Wansuela Suerte looked
around a little at the beginning of our test, but in
this, her second season at Grand Prix level, she gives
me a really good feeling and just gets better and better."
Schmidt is determined to reach the final in Dusseldorf
(April 1-4 2004) and is now aiming to win further points
at the Maastricht, Amsterdam and Neumunster qualifiers.
Heike Kemmer, a native of Berlin who began her international
career here as a young rider, felt Albano benefited
from the big atmosphere. " With a lot of spectators
watching, even at the warm up arena, he shows himself
off better." She is also aiming to qualify Albano to
the final, while her European team gold medal horse
Bonaparte will be reserved for the outdoor season.
Kemmer and British rider Emma Hindle, who placed third
on her impressive stallion Wie Weltmeyer, now jointly
head the European league standings on 37 points. Both
ladies had a head start having won points at Central
European league shows. Hindle, the highest placed British
rider and team bronze medallist at the European championships
last August, secured a brilliant and emotional victory
in Saturday's Hotel Intercontinental Berlin Grand Prix
class.
 After
the Freestyle, the 28 year-old who is based in Germany
and runs Brookhouse Stud, blamed the small mistakes
on herself, lavishing all her praise on her horse. "Wie
Weltmeyer was so difficult when I first got him in '99,
but now he gives me a superb feeling and really wants
to work, " she said. Having been a spectator at several
World Cup finals, Hindle promised herself some years
ago that one day she would take part herself. With that
aim in mind, the next class on her calendar is the Stockholm
qualifier on November 30th.
Ground jury chairman Volker Moritz had high praise
for the standard - all fifteen riders scored over 69
percent - and for the improved conditions at CHI Berlin.
He added: " We saw excellent sport and it was very good
to see some new faces and new young horses on the World
Cup scene."
by © Bernadette Faurie
Images copyrighted: Dirk
Caremans - No Reproduction Allowed
Related Links
Scores 2003
CDI-W Berlin
Rubioso
N, Newest Addition to Brookhouse Stallion Collection
Heike Kemmer
and Ulla Salzgeber, a fruitful partnership |
