Domestic double victory

Daniel Winkler
Jul 26
2 min read

Austrian double victory at home on the first day of the CDI4* by local hero Victoria Max-Theurer and Bettina Kendlbacher in the Special Tour.

Victoria Max-Theurer with Abegglen FH NRW.

For Austria's team, it's all about assessing their position one month before the European Championships in France, but the World Championships in Aachen in 2026 and even the Olympic Games in LA in 2028 are already casting their long shadows here in the idyllic Achleiten Castle Park.

Victoria Max-Theurer took the Grand Prix victory in the Special Tour on Friday with Abegglen FH NRW with 70.000 percent – despite challenging conditions in her home arena (Max-Theurer: “Everything is different at the tournament, and that naturally distracts Abegglen”).

Second place went to Bettina Kendlbacher (AUT) from Styria with Broadmoars Don Alfredo AWÖ (68.109%). Lisa Müller (GER) on Gut Wettlkamp's Zonik Hit OLD (67.848%) prevented an Austrian triple victory by relegating reigning national champion Peter Gmoser (AUT) with Dante's Daiquiri (67.826%) to fourth place.

Max-Theurer was satisfied after the ride, but self-critical: “A Grand Prix always requires riding skill – especially with Abegglen, who was a little tense today. He was briefly distracted when backing up and glanced at the spectators.” Despite minor lapses in concentration, she shone in the passage, pirouettes, and half-passes: "I could certainly have taken more risks, but under these circumstances, it wasn't so easy. Nevertheless, I am very proud of him."

Max-Theurer also commented on her role as tournament organizer together with her mother Elisabeth: “We strive to create the best conditions for top-level international sport – with good ground, new stables, and a fair sporting environment. It's nice to see that international riders also feel at home with us.”

Bettina Kendlbacher rode a focused and elegant test with Don Alfredo and was very satisfied with second place: “For us, it's all about qualifying for the European Championships, so of course I was nervous. But I was surprised at how focused I remained.” The Graz native is particularly proud of her horse's canter work: "The flying changes, the passage – that's where he always shows his quality. And I had the feeling that he was with me with his whole body today."

Peter Gmoser from Burgenland made his comeback after intensive training. “My mare is only in her first year of international competition. I was really happy with her today.” There were small deductions in the zigzag traverse: “I deliberately rode her a little forward so that she wouldn't collapse too much – that cost points, but it was the right decision at the time.” His goal remains clear: “For the World Championships in Aachen in 2026, I want to bring her up to 72 to 75 percent. She has the potential – she's already done that nationally.”