(Donaueschingen Immenhöfe) ) “Really?” the new leading man of the BEMER Riders Tour was amazed when he heard that he was now in first place in the overall ranking with his victory in the 4th stage at the Horse Festival in the RZ-Frese in Donaueschingen Immenhöfe. Thanks to his first place, 29-year-old Michael Viehweg from Schrobenhausen was able to add another 20 points to his Riders Tour account and catapult himself to the top position with a total of 26 points. Second and third place in the Princely Fürstenberg Brewery Prize went to Switzerland: Evelyne Bussmann and Virtuoso Semilly ranked ahead of Adrian Schmid on Chicharito.
It was a hell of a difficult course that course designer Phil Schmauder had built today in the Grand Prix of the Immenhöfe. A total of 40 couples competed in the special stage and the winner of the day before was unlucky: Hans-Dieter Dreher and Cous Cous missed the second round with four penalties. According to the regulations, the best 25 percent go into the second round and 10 combinations started in the second round. Exciting second round Rebecca Hotz from Schopfheim opened the second round and immediately put in a strong, clear round on the Holstein mare Akatie. Dominik Fuhrer from Switzerland and Ghost showed that it could be even faster, but conceded a knockdown. His compatriot Evelyne Bussmann on Virtuoso Semilly immediately took the lead with a new best time. Adrian Schmid from Upper Swabia, who started for Switzerland, and Chicharito also cleared, but couldn't match Bussmann's time. The young Swiss talent Edouard Schmitz in the saddle of the gray Karel Doorman had no trouble beating this best time, but a knockdown prevented a better placement than fifth place. Michael Viehweg and Contario entered the course as the penultimate pair and pulled off a terrific lap, 43.11 seconds meant victory! Winged Contario “It's a great end to the weekend that I've now been able to win the Grand Prix here. I asked a fellow rider what else I could do in combination with the seven strides and that's what I did,” laughed a happy Viehweg and explained that his Contario had just been able to enjoy a five-week summer break. The Festival of Horses was his first tournament. A break that obviously gave the Austrian Warmblood stallion by Contendro I wings. “You can ride Contario fast. He also doesn't mind if you come a little closer out of the turn, he does very well with that." The young professional with his own riding facility in Schrobenhausen, pupil of Markus Merschformann and former Bavarian junior champion, is now looking forward to the next stage of the BEMER Riders Tour at the tournament of the winners in Münster: "I've always wanted to ride there!" The fifth stage of the BEMER Riders Tour takes place from August 24th to 27th.
