August 31, 2003

The very first FEI European Reining Championship was conquered by Germany who took both the team and individual gold medals home. The competition hosted in Reggio Emilia, Italy, location where the first FEI CRIO took place and where the AQHA European Championships are being held until September 7th, saw eight participating nations (Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain, Israel, Italy and Switzerland) and three individual riders (Yves Fromont and Gerald Fievet from France and Daude Henning from Germany).

The first go round of the competition took place on Friday and saw Team Germany take the lead with a total of 641points, score which was determined by keeping the three highest scores obtained and by dropping the lowest. Switzerland, Great Britain and Israel were standing in second place with a score of 634 and team Italy was fifth with a score of 631.5.

In the second go round held on Saturday, competition stepped up as the European reining enthusiasts gathered on the stands to cheer for their home country. Team Germany members Alexander Ripper riding Solanos Warlee Boy (220), Maik Bartmann riding Twist N Shout Whiz (211.5), Jurgen Pieper on GB Jac (216) and Oliver Stein con Enterprise Winder (213.5) scored a total of 649.5 bringing their composite total to 1290.5 which assured them the team gold. Thanks to the 214.5 obtained in the first go round and the 220 in the second, Alexander Ripper clenched the individual gold medal.

"This is truly a great team", said the smiling Team Coach Paul Kratschmer, "and working with them was so easy!". "It's my first time showing on a team and I am simply thrilled with this achievement", said 22 year old Alexander.

Team Italy members Giovanni Pagani on Show One Mark (202,5), Matteo Paracchini on Where is Snapper (215), Francesco Arrighi on Vudu Dunit (215) and Marco Ricotta on Mifillenium (219.5) climbed up three positions and conquered the silver medal as well as the individual bronze which went to Ricotta and Mifillenium. The President of the Italian Equestrian Sports Federation (FISE), Cesare Croce, who closely followed the performance of the team said: "Seeing the achievements of our athletes in the past, I would have enjoyed having our team on the first step of the podium. I am however proud of the work done by team coach Lucia Simonazzi, and that of our riders, who in the second go round gave their very best".

Bronze medal honours with a total of 1279, a half point behind Italy, went to Team Switzerland (Manuela Graf riding Sailwins Pride, Jeannette Krahenbuhl riding Arc Golden Boy, Daniel Straumann riding Gallo Pequeno, Judith Baumeister on Top Booggie Sail).

For the Swiss team who has always competed in European CRIO events and who also qualified for the 2002 WEG (World Equestrian Games), this is the first medal.

The individual silver medal went to Rosanne Sternberg of Great Britain who earned this prestigious spot after obtaining the top score of the second go round, a 220.5, astride her 14 year old stallion Nijomi Sonny Reb.

Micheal Stone, FEI Sports Director, summed up the feelings of all those present. "This is a fantastic achievement. The enthusiasm generated and level of competition was beyond all expectations".