Fast Giulia wins in the Festhalle

Giulia Martinengo Marquet was fast, brave and precise. The 44-year-old championship rider from Italy won the acáo GmbH powered by CWD prize at the International Festhallen Riding Tournament in Frankfurt late on Saturday evening. Marquet was in the saddle of ten-year-old Frenchman Delta Del'Isle and remained clear in the winner's lap in 36.62 seconds. The Italian seemed to almost fly over the finish line with the ambitious, lively Frenchman. Her Latvian competitor Kristaps Neretnieks, who also competed at the 2022 World Championships and 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo, had no chance. He rode his nine-year-old Dutch mare Just Kannan fully on the attack, but remained almost a second slower than the winner and had to settle for second place. A German couple found themselves in third place. Patrick Stühlmeyer and eleven-year-old Quando Vengo, bred and owned by Harm Thormählen, completed the course in 39.18 seconds. “I was here for the first time last year,” beamed the winner, “and I really wanted to come back. I'm super happy about the win. I have a new horse with me, I've only had him for a few months and the owners came here especially - that's fantastic!” She felt from the start that Delta Del'Isle was a genius. “He is a real fighter and he would never let me down.”
Probably the largest dressage party in the world

Leonie Richter and Lord Europe did it: the sold-out festival hall shook! In winning the NUREMBERGER Burg Cup, the couple surpassed themselves, the spectators cheered and clapped and the seven-year-old stallion Lord Europe visibly enjoyed his show stage. The prominent judging team consisting of Dr. Evi Eisenhardt, Dr. Dietrich Plewa and Katrina Wüst – the victory! The winner's prize is a tradition: the top three of each NUREMBERG Burg Cup final compete against each other again in a show freestyle on Saturday evening. The 'rules of the game' are much looser than in a normal freestyle, the focus is on having fun in dressage sport - it is a recipe for success that the judges and the beautiful stallion implemented perfectly. Also in the winning prize: Helen Langehanenberg on DSP Danny Cool and Beata Stremler on For Magic Equesta. Danny Cool lived up to his name, remained very 'cool' and also showed a very expressive side. For Magic got a little too carried away by the enormous atmosphere in the hall. Once a year, the sport of dressage lets all its guards down when it comes to the winner's prize. The winner's prize of the NUREMBERGER Burg Cup is probably the largest dressage sport party in the world.

“Thanks, Showtime!”

Many of Showtime's companions had gathered in the Frankfurt Festhalle: his owners Gabriele Kippert and Eva-Maria Mann, the national coaches Monica Theodorescu and Jonny Hilberath, his carers and countless fans in the Festhalle - many of whom had to dry a tear or two . “The word that is most important to me today is gratitude,” explained Dorothee Schneider. “I am so grateful for this horse that danced with me for 14 years – first at competitions and now we will continue dancing at home.” The two-time team Olympic champion said goodbye to his fans on site, “standing in top form”. Festhalle said goodbye to 'Showi' with a very long and emotional standing ovation. Thank you, Showtime! (KiK/pe&pa)