Despite hot competition at ‘the Wembley of the equestrian world’, the Deutsche Bank Stadium in Aachen, Germany, Michael Eilberg enjoyed great success at this major competition, particularly in the CDI4* with two resounding wins on Woodlander Farouche.
The stunning chestnut mare by Furst Heinrich, owned by Ferdi Eilberg and Alison Walton, has had a perfect international season picking up wins across the continent at Small Tour level. In the Prix St Georges, the combination won with a score of 76.37% beating strong German contenders such as Dorothee Schneider, Isabell Werth, Helen Langehanenberg to name a few – you’d struggle to find a stronger PSG line up anywhere in the world. However Farouche impressed both the judges and the crowds, who were undoubtedly enthralled with her outstanding performance.
Similarly, in Saturday’s Inter I, Farouche, who was bred by the Woodlander Stud in 2006, excelled to take another win and was placed first across the board by the panel of international judges once again amongst a barrage of talented home-German riders. The exciting British combination scored 76.63%, over three percent ahead of second placed Hubertus Schmidt, a previous Olympic champion with the German team at Athens 2004.
The CDIO was dominated by the home side with what turned out to be their selected Olympic quartet in the mix. The British finished sixth overall with notable individual performances from Emile Faurie with Ulli and Bianca Kasselman’t Weekend Fun who finished ninth in the Grand Prix with 72.8%. In the climatic Grand Prix Freestyle, a highlight of the packed dressage programme at the legendary venue, Michael was riding Ferdi Eilberg’s Marakov who put in a stylish performance to gain 77.00%, only 0.22% off their personal best at this level. Proving they are on great form, the pair finished seventh within an impressive line-up. The class was notably won by Rio medal-hopeful, Germany’s Kristina Bröring-Sprehe on the black stallion Desperados FRH with an exciting score of 88.83% - definitely one to watch at the Olympics where a head-to-head with Valegro is on the cards!
In the under-25 classes, Alex Hardwick was best of the Brits placing fourth in the Grand Prix with 69.02% and seventh in the Grand Prix freestyle with 71.10% following a ‘hot test’ on her parents’ Hanoverian gelding Donauwein.
Results of the British riders who competed at Aachen CDIO CDI4* CDIU25 are as follows, for full results, click here.
CDI4*
PSG
1st – Michael Eilberg with Woodlander Farouche (pictured), 76.368%
Inter I
1st – Michael Eilberg with Woodlander Farouche, 76.632
CDIU25
U25 Grand Prix
4th – Alex Hardwick with Donauwein, 69.023%
12th – Ryan Todd with Charlex Eskebjerg, 67.047%
15th – Bobby Hayler with Valentino, 64.442%
U25 Grand Prix Freestyle
7th – Alex Hardwick with Donauwein, 71.100%
9th – Ryan Todd with Charlex Eskebjerg, 69.525%
15th – Bobby Hayler with Valentino, 68.025%
CDIO
Team
1st – Team Germany, 492.598
2nd – Team USA, 437.139
3rd – Team Denmark, 430.418
6th – Team Great Britain, 420.419
Grand Prix
9th – Emile Faurie with Weekend Fun, 72.886%
14 – Michael Eilberg with Marakov, 72.000%
31st – Dan Watson with Amadeus, 66.886%
38th – Sarah Millis with Hofjuwel, 64.229%
Grand Prix Special
12th – Michael Eilberg with Marakov, 72.216%
20th – Emile Faurie with Weekend Fun, 69.843%
26th – Dan Watson with Amadeus, 66.588%
27th – Sarah Millis with Hofjuwel, 65.784%
Grand Prix Freestyle
7th – Michael Eilberg with Marakov, 77.000%
14th – Emile Faurie with Weekend Fun, 73.175%