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The German duo thus took the victory ahead of Austria’s Victoria Max-Theurer and Birkhof’s Topas FBW, who also conjured up a world-class performance with 74.83 percent in the arena of the Alpine stadium at Schindlhof, which was packed despite the rain.

Olympic champion Dorothee Schneider was impressed by the 12-year-old gelding: “We speak the same language, after all he came to me in training as a 5-year-old. To have such a rough diamond under your rump is a brilliant thing.”

The exceptional rider is equally thrilled by the Manfred & Hilde Swarovski Memorial Tournament: “Riding here at the foot of the mountain is a pleasure! I love coming here to the Schindlhof and thank you very much for the unique hospitality of Evelyn and Klaus Haim-Swarovski!”

Victoria Max-Theurer, who really made her Topas sparkle in the Grand Prix Special, was also grateful: “It is only our third international tournament and it has worked so well between us right from the start. It is such a pleasure to ride with him. I am thrilled with what we were able to show today. Topaz is beautiful, hardworking, smart and clever, the better we get to know each other, the more we can risk in the competitions now.”

The red-white-red top pair is ready for the World Championships in Herning (DEN, August 6-14). Max-Theurer: “We are nominated for the World Championships and are very happy that we can represent Austria again at a big championship. Now we will have a week’s break and then we will work very carefully on the fine-tuning towards Denmark.”

As in the Grand Prix, the two Germans Nicole Wego-Engelmeyer and Evelyn Eger, as well as the Spaniard Teia Hernandez Vila, took third to fifth place – all with scores above the 70 percent mark.
A giant leap forward was made by the Austrian Katharina Haas, who had qualified for the Special of the best 15 on Friday with Let It Be in thirteenth place with a score of 67.848 percent. This time, the 28-year-old from Upper Austria took 6th place with her 12-year-old mare with a very good 70.468 percent.

26th Manfred & Hilde Swarovski Memorial Tournament
Concours de Dressage International, CDI4* Schindlhof

#6 FEI Grand Prix Special
Honorary prizes from the company D. Swarovski KG for the Top-3
Honorary gift of the distillery Rochelt
Cash prizes sponsored by the company Almased
1. Dorothee Schneider (GER), First Romance 2, 76.617 percent
2. Victoria Max-Theurer (AUT), Birkhof’s Topas FBW, 74.83
3. Nicole Wego-Engelmeyer (GER), Saphira Royal 2, 72.936
4. Evelyn Eger (GER), Westminster 71, 72.149
5. Teia Hernandez Vila (ESP), Romero De Trujillo, 70.894
6. Katharina Haas (AUT), Let it Be 11, 70.468
7. Charlotte Lenherr (SUI), Sir Stanley W, 70.149
8. Borja Carrascosa (ESP), Laponia, 69.936
9. Anna Mierzwinska (POL), Dean Martin, 69.234
10. Elias Lara Augusti (ESP), Altaneiro, 69.128

Result in detail HERE