Kickoff: First day of the European Championship of American Quarter Horses 2015

Press Release

Today was the first day of the European Championship. Participants from Italy, Germany and Belgium, competed in the Green Trail, Novice Amateur Trail, Novice Youth Trail, and Green Reining.

Bill Enk, Clark Parker, Karen McCuistion, Ricky Bordignon, and Sandy Jirkovsky were judging the classes.

The Green Trail was won by Flyin Step ridden by Dr. André Haase, Germany. Franca Bartke, Germany, and Annie Award placed second and Cedric Leroux, Belgium, and Faszination, owned by André Haase, got third.

Cindy Hessels, Netherlands, and Ima Cool Personality placed first in the Novice Amateur Trail, while Lena Boegl, Germany, aboard Bar Sunset Didit was second. Third place was won by Ruth Linder, Austria, and Cee Ma Princess.

Ingrid Solheim, Netherlands, and Flyin Step, owned by André Haase, won the youth trail. Nina Lil, Germany,  and SL Custom Rooster, owned by Katrin Stankeit, got first in the Green Reining, followed by René Opitz, Germany, and Who Whiz Senetta, owned by Gina Opitz, on the second and Markus Dünser, Austria, and LMD Millhouse Jac, on the third place.

Lori Bucholz, chairman of the AQHA International Committee, is visiting Kreuth for the first time. “It is my honor to attend the European Championship Show. The horses being shown are the best in the world and the exhibitors are all prepared for competition. The facility is beautiful and immaculate. So those who are showing, thank you for attending and making the 2015 European Championship Show a great success!“

The European Championship of American Quarter Horses is taking place from Friday, 7^th until Sunday, 16^th of August, in the Ostbayernhalle in Rieden-Kreuth, Bavaria. Find more information, livestream, interviews and all results on www.ecqh.org.