Anabel Balkenhol (Münster), Fabienne Lütkemeier (Paderborn) and Bianca Kasselmann (Hagen a.T.W.) have conquered the final of the German Dressage Derby in Hamburg.
Anabel Balkenhol achieved the ultimate feat – first and second place in the Grand Prix de Dressage, the Helenenhof Prize – with her Olympic horse Dablino FRH and eleven-year-old Diamonds Forever.
Balkenhol answered the burning question, whether Dablino FRH will go forward to the horse exchange on Sunday, with a cool “we’ll see…” In fact the chestnut horse still has a pretty full programme ahead of him this season, so it will probably be Diamonds Forever who takes on the ‘horse swap’. 23 year-old student Fabienne Lütkemeier has achieved her run to the final in her first time competing at the Derby and is absolutely delighted. “I have been here before as a spectator when my mother rode here (Gina Capellmann-Lütkemeier), but this is my first time competing.” The reserve rider from the German Olympic team secured third place. Behind her came two-time German Professional Riders Champion Bianca Kasselmann from Hagen am Teutoburger Wald with her horse Weltclassiker, a highly trusting and reliable horse even with unfamiliar riders. “I’ll have to sleep on it, he’s only just had the horse exchange in the championship” said Kasselmann, “I’ve got the opportunity to utilise Limited Edition, who is qualified too.”
Organiser Volker Wulff and Dressage Coordinator Rainer Schwiebert (Kattendorf) are also looking forward to the horse exchange of the 55th German Dressage Derby. Schwiebert took seventh place with his stallion Helenenhof`s Carabas. Competitors from eleven countries took part in the Grand Prix.
Result Prize of Helenenhof-Stables, Family Schwiebert, Grand Prix de Dressage, Qualification Grand Prix Special, Grand Prix Freestyle and German Dressage Derby:
1. Anabel Balkenhol (Rosendahl), Dablino FRH, 1760.0 Punkte;
2. Anabel Balkenhol (Rosendahl), Diamonds Forever, 1695.5;
3.. Fabienne Lütkemeier (Paderborn), Qui Vincit Dynamis, 1629.5;
4. Bianca Kasselmann (Hagen), Weltclassiker, 1623.0;
5. Hannah Biggs (Großbritannien), Weltzin, 1622.5;
6. Lillann Jebsen (Norwegen), Pro-Set, 1619.0;