Youngster of the Year – Al Shira’aa Bundeschampionate: New Series Continues in Spectacular Fashion

The “Youngster of the Year” series, initiated by Holger Hetzel last year, was held for the second time at the Al Shira’aa Bundeschampionate in Warendorf. Interestingly, the three age categories for five- to seven-year-old show jumping horses produced no fewer than four winners. The ranking was based on the combined results from the Tiemeyer x Hetzel Young Horse Masters for young horses, held in Goch in the Rhineland in July, and the Al Shira’aa Bundeschampionate.

Two seven-year-olds secured the title of “Youngster of the Year” thanks to their results in Goch and Warendorf. One of them was Clarimero, a Holsteiner by Clarimo, bred by Bettina Friemel and ridden by Alexander Schill, who also guided him to the Bundeschampion title in this age category. Finishing with exactly the same number of points from the two events, Gerald Nothdurft and his mare Angel I Do JM & SH also had every reason to celebrate the “Youngster of the Year” title. The Oldenburg mare by Arezzo was bred by Samuel Hrabowski.

In the six-year-old category, Alexander Schill once again partnered the new “Youngster of the Year”. This time, the title went to Hardy, an Oldenburg by Hickstead White, bred by Susanne Bury.

Among the five-year-olds, the title went to Elton, a Hanoverian by Emerald van het Ruytershof, bred by Jens Löhden. In the saddle was none other than newly crowned team World Champion Sophie Hinners. In the Bundeschampionat final, the pair narrowly missed out on the gold medal with a score of 18.6 points. Hinners, however, achieved an even slightly better result with her second horse Cadoc, scoring 18.8 points.

Thomas Hartwig