Aachen Dressage Youngstars: High-class event before Christmas

Top-class dressage sport and a festively decorated indoor arena – these are the ingredients of the Aachen Dressage Youngstars, the high-quality dressage show with a star-studded cast that brings the year to a close at the CHIO Aachen grounds. Just under 80 participants from 14 nations took part in the competitions from Thursday to Sunday. The show was also open to spectators, under the prerequisite that there were either fully vaccinated against or recovered from COVID-19. “We are very pleased that we were able to offer the young riders a nice concluding event, especially this year where so many shows had to be cancelled,” stated Birgit Rosenberg, spokeswoman of the board of the organisers, the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein e.V. (ALRV).
Jana Lang successful in young rider competitions
The tears flowed in the prize-giving ceremony: Jana Lang could hardly believe she had won. The team European Champion of the Juniors excelled in all three classes, although it was her international debut in the Young Riders classification. In the concluding Freestyle competition, the Prize of Family Hans-Peter Simons, Lang and her sports partner, Baron, notched up an impressive 81.333 percent. “I performed the freestyle routine for the first time ever today. I didn’t have any expectations beforehand; I just wanted to perform some good tests and gain a bit of routine. Which is why I am all the more overjoyed at the outcome. I am speechless,” the rider beamed. Three classes, three victories, so it wasn’t difficult calculate the result: In addition to the three golden rosettes, Lang also collected the coveted sash, a trophy and the title: Young Riders Champion 2021. Second and third place in the Freestyle also went to Germany: Helena Schmitz-Morkramer and DSP Lifestyle finished second on a score of 79.083 percent, ahead of Lucie-Anouk Baumgürtel and Zinq Hugo FH in third place.
Three classes, two victories – Allegra Schmitz-Morkramer dominated the Junior competitions and went on to win the WOTAX Prize
“Allegra” is Italian and means “happy”. That is spot on. Allegra Schmitz-Morkramer rode to victory in the Wotax Prize care-free and with sovereignty. On a score of 78.875 percent, together with her partner Libertad, the 16-year-old, who competes for the Hof Barkholz Riding Club, left her fellow competitors trailing behind. The multiple European and German Champion headed the field ahead of Lena Merkt with Sarotti Mocca-Sahne (77.942) in second place and Lana-Pinou Baumgürtel (77.125) who finished third with ZINQ Founder FH. Prior to the Aachen Youngstars, Allegra’s plan was to “ride three nice tests”. The plan certainly succeeded, two first places, one second, which meant she also secured herself the victory in the Prize of the Klaus Peters Family and the title of Indoor Champion 2021.
Children: Lennea Höfler wins the final class, Lara Lattermann newly-crowned Indoor Champion
Admittedly: The Children, i.e. the up to 14-year-old participants on horses, still have a little time before they are actually allowed to compete in the Deutsche Bank Prize at the CHIO Aachen one day perhaps. However, Lennea Höfler, who clearly secured herself the victory in the Children’s class on Sunday with her Dorian Gray, is already thinking about tomorrow today: “I took a really good look around the Deutsche Bank Stadium and took some photos, competing there is a goal I’d like to achieve one day,” she laughed overjoyed after her victory at the Aachen Dressage Youngstars. Finishing first in the concluding competition – a fantastic feeling: “I am elated, I had only hoped that we would manage it somehow, but the fact that we actually pulled it off, is a dream come true.” Lennea won with a score of 79.653 percent, which gave her a clear lead ahead of Lara Lattermann, whose end result with Soleil de la Coeur was 77.065 percent. Hence, after her victory on Saturday, Lara Lattermann also claimed the title of Indoor Champion of the Children.
Pony: Convincing victory for Rose Oatley
Three-time German Champion, three-time European Champion, number one in the world ranking list and now two-time winner in Aachen: As in 2019, Rose Oatley won the Prize of the BFT Cognos GmbH outright. As such the 14-year-old, who competes for PS Granderheide, also won the Prize of the Peters Family and now carries the title Indoor Champion 2021. On Sunday, she rode to victory with her gelding Daddy Moon on a score of 84.942 percent, ahead of Julie Sofie Schmitz-Heinen (Carleo Go 3/80.850) and Mia Allegra Lohe with Tovdal`s Golden Future Imperial (80.417). Rose is the daughter of Kristy Oatley – a dressage rider who has already represented Australia at four Olympic Games. The mother and daughter are a good team, even if Rose gave a diplomatic answer when asked if her mum’s comments are sometimes too critical: “She has something to say about everything,” she grinned.
Aachen Youngstars Quadrille Championships: Wesel District Association Team 2 wins the Prize of Grundstück- & Gebäude-Service GmbH
Not only the riders glittered festively, the horses entered the ring decorated with stars as well. The overall appearance was extremely consistent. What’s more, Sarah Julie Behrens, Kiara Szymkowiak, Viola Elisabeth Pierkes, Franziska Spix and their team leader, Kristin Maiwald, also convinced the spectators and the judges in terms of the choreography, harmony and timing. The fitting and swinging Christmas music added the final ingredients to the winning team. The riders from Wesel District Association Team 1 (Leni-Sophie Gosmann, Emma Buschheuer, Lina Elisabeth Lenkajtis, Jonah Reiter) came second, ahead of the Mettmann District Association Team 1 comprising of Johanna Grebler, Julie Berse, Niwine Berse and Mira Mankel.
Press Office CHIO Aachen | Photo: High-class sport in a festive atmosphere – here demonstrated by Lana-Pinou Baumgürtel (c) Jil Haak