2016 SVAG FEI European Reining Championships for Young Riders and Juniors

Individual Junior Gold for Austria with Celina Bachleitner and Paintball Gun

Gina Schumacher conquers the Individual Young Riders gold for Germany

By Simona Diale

The individual competition filled the day at the CS Ranch in Givrins in front of a full house. The first riders to run for the medals were the Juniors who, as the Young Riders, had had the chance to qualify for the individual during the team competition run the day before.

Taking home the gold for Austria – in a field of 19 contestants - was young Celina Bachleitner who, riding Michaela Bachleitner’s 7-year-old gelding Paintball Gun scored a 215 for the win.  Austria’s team coach, Gerold Dautzenberg, was thrilled with the medal Bachleitner earned her country following the team bronze won by the Seniors in the SVAG FEI World Reining Championships the day before. Dautzenberg, who has been involved in European reining and western riding since the first horses performing these disciplines set foot on the Old Continent, defined Celina as being a ‘true professional’. Just as happy with the result and proud of the hard work of the Young and Juniors teams was chéf d’équipe, Sabine Lisec, a long-time supporter of youth activities in her home country along with her husband, Chuck Klipfel.

Thrilling the crowd in stands, who cheered all the riders regardless of their nationality, the under 18 athletes gave the best they had and, once the last competitor left the arena, it was clear that France’s flag would fly high on both the second and third step of the podium. Taking home the silver medal with a 213.5 was Marie Baralon and her 10-year-old mare, Chicken Sandwich. The pair had contributed in posting the highest score in the team competition and in claiming the team silver medal. Their performance had resulted in a 215, the second highest result, which put them second but last to go in the individual as the working order is determined in reverse order with the lowest scoring combinations riding first. A half a point behind her team mate was Margaux Legrand riding Julien Legrand’s New Doc Peppy Cat. For the Legrand family this is truly an amazing and special result as the 15-year-old stallion was purchased by Julien in 2003 from David Roux and has always been in the family since then! Guy Duponchel, team coach for France, was thrilled with the results earned by the ‘future of our sport’.

Belgian Nimroid Vannietvelt and Im Smart And Wimpy closed in fourth place after scoring a 210.5.

The Individual Young Riders

Proving just how much the sport of reining has grown in the last decade was the level of competition offered in the FEI European Reining Championships for Young Riders. Claiming the gold medal for Germany was Gina Schumacher riding Chanay Sky Management SSA’s Arc Guns M Oaks. Last year, the talented rider had conquered the gold medal in the Juniors individual competition with her Gunners Enterprise between the reins. This year, her determination to step on the highest step of the podium came through in the team competition where her impressive score of 221.5 contributed to winning the team gold medal.

Last to enter the show pen – having earned the highest score in the team competition – Schumacher tried to best or equal the result posted the day before but had to ‘settle’ for a 219 that earned her the individual gold in front of Italy’s Enrico Sciulli and Austria’s Anna Lisec.

Sciulli, who in the team competition closed with a 220, rode his Snips Gotta Bud to a 217.5 thanks to his precise maneuvers. Their run earned Italy the second silver medal at this years’ FEI European Championships after having placed second in the team competition behind Germany on Thursday.

Yet another young lady reiner was seen stepping on the podium, Anna Lisec. Riding Tari Whizin owned by Chuck Klipfel, she closed her performance with a 214.5 adding yet another FEI medal to hers and Austria’s record in Givrins.  

Corninna Schumacher’s beautiful CS Ranch for the third year running provided the venue for the SVAG FEI European Reining Championships for Juniors and Young Riders competition. Once again her motto ‘we love horses’ showed as the CS Ranch team provided the best possible conditions for all the participants.

For complete results please visit the official website http://www.worldreiningchampionships2016.com