There will be plenty of highlights at the first international three-star dressage tournament in 2023 at Schloss Achleiten (Upper Austria) from 15 to 18 June. Especially for Austria's young dressage talent it is all about qualifying for the European Championships in Pilisjászfalu, Hungary (YR and U25) as well as in Kronberg, Germany (J and Ch).
In and around the idyllic "Schlossparkviereck" there will once again be a whiff of the Olympics. Olympic Champion Elisabeth Max-Theurer, as host, is delighted about the top-class line-up, above all the German Olympic Champions Isabell Werth and Dorothee Schneider. Local hero Victoria Max-Theurer is also planning to present her top horse Abegglen after a successful show comeback at home - the multiple Olympic participant will possibly also saddle Topas at the home tournament - in addition, World Championship and Olympic rider Florian Bacher as well as National Champion Timna Valenta-Zach have announced their participation.
Austria's young dressage talent (U25, Young Rider, Juniors) will also be competing for the European Championship qualifications for Pilisjászfalu near Budapest (HUN, July 11-16, YR and U25) and Kronberg (GER, July 20-23, J and Ch).
"There are great pairs competing, plus a very good panel of judges, so we can look forward to dressage sport at the highest level," Elisabeth Max-Theurer explained. "I am especially looking forward to our youngsters, who have already achieved very good results this year. Among them even an U21 Nations Cup victory. For all of them it is all about qualifying for the European Championships. It will be exciting!"
Victoria Max-Theurer also has the European Championships in Riesenbeck (GER, 4-10 September) on her radar: "For Austria it is still about the chance of an Olympic ticket for the team. We want to go there with our best rider-horse pairs, they all have to be in top condition. That's why it's already important for me to stay in good competition rhythm with my horses, who have already achieved some nice results."
Stefan Lehfellner is also looking forward to the home tournament, even though the Upper Austrian will not be competing at the first tournament in Achleiten himself: "Home tournaments are always something special. It makes many things easier. I will support Vici in the next few days in my usual way. Her two horses are in top shape and we will prepare them together. The routine has already become super smooth and hardly differs from a 'normal' day."
The championship-experienced Florian Bacher, on the other hand, will be competing in Achleiten with the 13-year-old Amonitas and Broadmoars Ulrich. Fidertraum will get more time after Munich to prepare for the important tournament in Achleiten, where the final qualification for the European Championships in Riesenbeck (GER) is at stake at the beginning of August. "Achleiten has been a fixed point for me for years. It is a beautiful tournament with top conditions and top surfaces. The setting is simply perfect. We are very happy that we now have some CDIs in Austria. I will use Amonitas more often in the future and build him up to be a reliable Grand Prix back-up for Fidi. I think very highly of him. The tournament in Achleiten is an important developmental step for him - we want to score well," explained Olympic participant Florian Bacher.
PROGRAM The updated schedule, live score and all results for the CDI3* Achleiten from 15 to 18 June 2023 can be found on horse-events.at.
Provisional timetable 16 to 18 June Friday, 16 June N°7 FEI Young Rider Team Test 08:00 Uhr N°13 FEI Vorbereitungsaufgabe 5-jährige 10:00 Uhr N°1 FEI Grand Prix (CDI3*, Qualifikation für N°4) 10:45 Uhr N°15 FEI Vorbereitungsaufgabe 7-jährige 13:30 Uhr N°2 FEI Grand Prix (CDI3*, Qualifikation für N°3) 14:30 Uhr N°11 FEI Intermediate II 16:00 Uhr Saturday, 17 June N°9 FEI Junior Team Test 8:00 Uhr N°14 FEI Vorbereitungsaufgabe 6-jährige 10:00 Uhr N°8 FEI Young Rider Individual Test 11:00 Uhr N°5 FEI St. Georg 13:30 Uhr N°18 FEI Finalaufgabe 7-jährige 15:00 Uhr N°16 FEI Finalaufgabe 5-jährige 15:15 Uhr N°4 FEI Grand Prix Special (CDI3*) 15:45 Uhr Sunday, 18 June N°10 FEI Junior Individual Test 8:00 Uhr N°6 FEI Intermediate I 10:00 Uhr N°10 FEI Finalaufgabe 6-jährige 11:15 Uhr N°3 FEI Grand Prix Freestyle (CDI3*) 12:15 Uhr N°12 FEI Grand Prix U25 14:45 Uhr