In the absence of the top duo Isabell Werth and Wendy, Sönke Rothenberger secured the third German championship title of his career.
With his stallion Fendi, the Rio team Olympic champion won the Grand Prix Kreis at the German Dressage Rider Championships in Balve on Sunday (June 15, 2025). Most recently, in 2018 he had won the double victory with his successful horse Cosmo.
With 81.600 percent, Rothenberger prevailed significantly ahead of Matthias Alexander Rath and Destacado (80.250) with more than one percentage point. Record Olympic champion Werth (55), who won the day before in special championship number 18, refrained from starting with her top horse Wendy, but won bronze (79.850) surprisingly in her freestyle debut with young star Special Blend.
Hemmer slips out Medal ranks
Favorite Katharina Hemmer – On Saturday third behind Werth and Frederic Wandres, who did not start with Bluetooth – fell back to fourth place as the last starter. Double Olympic champion Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, after saying goodbye to her successful mute Dalera in the outsider role, her young horse Diallo ranked seventh.
For Germany’s dressage tip, there is now only a short break, the next climax is not long in coming: at the Chio in Aachen, the prestigious world festival of equestrian sport (June 27th to July 6th) is back against the international top.
