27 Aug Dreher wins, Stühlmeyer regains the lead in the BEMER Riders Tour
(Münster) 42 top riders, a downpour, thunder and lightning – the fifth leg of the BEMER Riders at the Turnier der Sieger had its very own drama. However, the weather did not detract from the good sport: Hansi Dreher and the brilliant chestnut gelding Vestmalle Des Cotis wrote another chapter in the event history when they took the victory in the Grand Prix in front of Münster Castle today. In a gripping two-round decider that was completely unpredictable until the very end, the pair relegated Christian Kukuk and Checker to second place in 42.30 seconds. Patrick Stühlmeyer with Drako de Maugre and Mario Stevens in the saddle of Starissa were tied for third place (43.11).
Dreher in another league
“It was awesome,” a very happy Hansi Dreher summed up afterwards. “I knew I had to give everything if I wanted to win. And I couldn’t ride around the front of the third last obstacle, the vertical, like the other competitors. But the tactic worked… I have to thank my horse for giving everything. The first distance to the vertical was also quite far away . Then it was seven canter strides onto the oxer and by then I actually already knew that it was enough and was able to pick up a bit at the last jump. Vestmalle Des Cotis is very fast.” Dreher has already had a few successes with the 14-year-old French Baloubet du Rouet son Vestmalle Des Cotis, but today they rode in a league of their own, taking almost two seconds off the second-placed pair.
Christian Kukuk on the Westphalian Checker chose the tighter turn, like most of the competitors, and was happy about his second place: “Hansi is absolutely the deserved winner today. I had actually planned to ride around the fence like Hansi, but then Checker put in a little buck. He sometimes does that when the adrenalin is running high in the jump-off. I didn’t see the distance any more and did one more stride. Then I thought I could also go around the front. My horse did a great job at that moment. I tried everything, I couldn’t have done it much faster.”
Stühlmeyer tops the ranking again
The best quarter started in reverse order in the second round. The finalists, all riders of the German top guard, gave everything. Patrick Stühlmeyer and Drako de Maugre had already shown in the opening leg of the Riders Tour in Hagen a.T.W. that they can be fast and took the new lead. Mario Stevens and Starissa, who were second in the qualifier yesterday, were also clear, the clock stopped at 43.11 seconds, as it did for Stühlmeyer. The latter takes the lead again in the BEMER Riders Tour with 35 points – good prerequisites for his second ‘Rider of the Year’ title after the 2021/22 season. “My horse jumped very well in both rounds today. I didn’t take the ultimate risk in the jump-off, but I am very happy about the third place and about being in the lead in the overall standings again,” said the show jumper from Mühlen, who definitely wants to take part in the final leg of the Tour in Neumünster.
Good atmosphere and good sport
“The Münster audience is really great. We are glad that we managed to offer the something special as well. I want to see a good atmosphere and good sport – I don’t need anything else – and that’s what the four of you did so well today. It couldn’t have been better,” Show Director Hendrik Snoek paid tribute to the four riders on the podium. Michael Viehweg, who had been leading in the ranking until Münster, spared his Contario for further tasks and retired after two faults in the first round. The winning pair of the qualification, Philipp Schulze Topphoff with Carla NRW, also did not reach the second round. From Münster in Westphalia, the Tour will now travel directly to Lier in Belgium from 31 August to 3 September to the CSI3* Azelhof, which is hosting the series for the second time.
Result PRIZE OF AUTO NAGEL UNTERNEHMENS-GRUPPE – BEMER Riders Tour rating competition, CSI4* – Int. competition with two rounds (1.55m)
- Hans Dieter Dreher (GER) & Vestmalle Des Cotis, 0/40.72
- Christian Kukuk (GER) & Checker, 0/42.30
- Patrick Stühlmeyer (GER) & Drako de Maugre, 0/43.11
- Mario Stevens (GER) & Starissa, 0/43.11
- David Will (GER) & Zinedream, 0/43.18
- Jörne Sprehe (GER) Hot Easy, 0/45.14
- Marco Kutscher (GER) & Aventador S, 0/45.54
- Rene Dittmer (GER) & Donald, 0/45.90
- Katrin Eckermann (GER) & Chao Lee, 1/44.73
- Douglas Lindelöw (SWE) & Charlie’s Way, 8/45.15
- Kristaps Neretnieks (LAT) & Palladium KJV 8/46.16
All results: https://results.hippodata.de/2023/2332/html/de/hippodata/resultlist_09.html?style=wn
Ranking of the BEMER Riders Tour after five of eight stages
1. Patrick Stühlmeyer (GER), 35 Punkte
2. Michael Viehweg (GER), 26
3. Hans Dieter Dreher (GER), 25
4. Michael Kölz (GER), 20
4. Jodie Hall Mcateer (GBR), 20
6. Eoin McMahon (IRE), 17
6. Penelope Leprevost (FRA), 17
6. Michael Greeve (NED), 17
6. Evelyne Bussmann (SUI), 17
6. Christian Kukuk (GER), 17
Stages of the BEMER Riders Tour 2023/24
Horses & Dreams meets Sweden, Hagen a.T.W. / GER, 19. – 23. April 2023
Pferd International, München-Riem / GER, 18. – 21. May 2023
CSI Ommen, Ommen / NED, 06. – 09. July 2023
Fest der Pferde, Donaueschingen-Immenhöfe / GER, 27. – 30. July 2023
Turnier der Sieger, Münster / GER, 24. – 27. August 2023
CSI Lier Azelhof Horse Events, Lier / BEL, 31. August – 03. September 2023
CSI Arena Nova, Wiener Neustadt / AUT, 05 – 08 October 2023
VR CLASSICS, Neumünster / GER, 15. – 18. February 2024
Photo: Hansi Dreher rode Vestmalle Des Cotis in a league of his own today and won the 5th rating competition of the BEMER Riders Tour. © Stefan Lafrentz