Sweden’s Tomas Eriksson won the CAI-A Altenfelden for the second time in a row. After last year’s victory, Eriksson did it again and stayed ahead of his compatriotFredrik Persson and Dutch driver Mark Weusthof.
Despite the terrible weather conditions, the 92 competitors from 14 nations showed great performances in Altenfelden.
They had to deal with rain, mud and sunshine. The heavy rain showers had a strong influence on the footing of the marathon and the beautiful panorama driving arena, which was the stage for the dressage and cones competition. The event however took place according to the original plans, thanks to help from everyone.
The heavy conditions asked a lot from the drivers and their horses, and the Organizing Committee had much work to do. The many volunteers worked day and night and without them it would not have been possible to continue the competition in this way.
SWEDEN DOMINATED IN THE FOUR IN HAND
After he let the first prize in the dressage being taken by his compatriot Fredrik Persson, Sweden’s Tomas Eriksson took the lead in the marathon and did not giveaway his pole position anymore. The 2000 World Champion won the marathon and drove a double clear round in the obstacle driving competition, securing his second consecutive win in Altenfelden with over 12 penalty points advantage to Persson and Mark Weusthof from the Netherlands.
Tomas Eriksson: “I am happy that I was again successful here in Altenfelden after myMwin last year. I used two new horses in my team, which have only been in my team for the second time. Last week in Vecsés I used them for the first time at a competition. In the dressage I drove carefully, the footing was so bad after the rain that I could not get the maximum out of my team. It is nice to be able to drive home again as the winner.”
Red and white victory with Austrian horses in the pairs class and victory nr. 7 in Altenfelden foR Georg Moser. The man from Salzburg drove a controlled marathon with Nordwind and Novilliero, which he bred and trained himself. Moser won the dressage and with a nerve wrecking round, also the obstacle driving competition. The number one top driver from Austria herewith secured his victory on home soil.
Winner of last year Reinhard Burggraf from Germany took the second place, ahead of Frenchman François Dutilloy with the Lusitano horses from Monte da Ravasqueira.
The single horse competition in Altenfelden was all about the World Singles Championship in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy, at the end of July. For all drivers in this class it was one of their last chances to qualify or to be recommended for this World Championship. Many nations had appointed Altenfelden as an official qualifier for the World Championship.
Switzerland’s Werner Ulrich won the single horse competition in Altenfelden. The Pair and four in hand World Champion drove the horse Felino from Swiss single driver Lilian Luggen who was injured several months ago and will not be able to compete in Pratoni. Ulrich won the dressage, took the 9th place in the marathon and won the combined competition despite one knock down in the difficult cones course.
With his second place, Isidor Weber with Boris confirmed their strong form in preparation for the Austrian Team for Italy. The third place went to marathon winner Ben Simonsen from Finland.
The pony classes were won by German drivers: Theo Bopp in the single class, Katharina Dam won the pairs class and Dieter Höfs the four-in-hand competition