Hubertus Schmidt and his lovely Hannoverian mare Wansuela Suerte got the FEI World Cup Western European League off to a great start with a convincing victory in the opening Berlin qualifier.

A fluent and harmonious freestyle from the German partnership gained a score of just under 80 per cent to beat compatriot Heike Kemmer and her seasoned Grand Prix mount Albano. Schmidt, a professional trainer who has ridden the ten-year-old mare for most of her career under saddle, was delighted with her performance. He said: "Wansuela Suerte looked around a little at the beginning of our test, but in this, her second season atGrand
Prix level, she gives me a really good feeling and just gets better and better." Schmidt is determined to reach the final in Dusseldorf (April 1-4 2004) and is now aiming to win further points at the Maastricht, Amsterdam and Neumunster qualifiers.

Heike Kemmer, a native of Berlin who began her international career here as a young rider, felt Albano benefited from the big atmosphere. " With a lot of spectators watching, even at the warm up arena, he shows himself off better." She is also aiming to qualify Albano to the final, while her European team gold medal horse Bonaparte will be reserved for the outdoor season.

Kemmer and British rider Emma Hindle, who placed third on her impressive stallion Wie Weltmeyer, now jointly head the European league standings on 37 points. Both ladies had a head start having won points at Central European league shows. Hindle, the highest placed British rider and team bronze medallist at the European championships last August, secured a brilliant and emotional victory in Saturday's Hotel Intercontinental Berlin Grand Prix class.

After the Freestyle, the 28 year-old who is based in Germany and runs Brookhouse Stud, blamed the small mistakes on herself, lavishing all her praise on her horse. "Wie Weltmeyer was so difficult when I first got him in

'99, but now he gives me a superb feeling and really wants to work, " she said. Having been a spectator at several World Cup finals, Hindle promised herself some years ago that one day she would take part herself. With that aim in mind, the next class on her calendar is the Stockholm qualifier on November 30th.

Ground jury chairman Volker Moritz had high praise for the standard - all fifteen riders scored over 69 percent - and for the improved conditions at CHI Berlin. He added: " We saw excellent sport and it was very good to see some new faces and new young horses on the World Cup scene."

FEI World Cup Dressage CHI Berlin
Grand Prix Kur to Music Results
1.Wansuela Suerte (Hubertus Schmidt GER) 79.0
2. Albano (Heike Kemmer GER) 78.03
3. Wie Weltmeyer (Emma Hindle GBR) 76.82
4. Apache (Isabell Werth GER) 75.14
5. Wahajama-Unicef (Ann Katrin Linsenhoff GER) 75.14
6. Barclay (Sveb Rothenberger NED) 74.7
7. Loesdau's Loriot (Martin Schaudt GER) 74.7
8. Esprit (Nicole Ahlefedt Laurvig-Lehn DEN) 74.47
9. Lesotho (Ellen Schulten-Baumer GER) 73.51
10. Artax-Condor (Elena Sidneva RUS) 73.03
11. Capuccino 16 (Karin Rehbein GER) 72.62
12. Guinness (Louise Nathhorst SWE) 72.11
13. Rosemount Wallstreet (Kristy Oatley-Nist AUS) 71.82
14. Fantast S (Nathalie zu Sayn Wittgenstein DEN) 69.99
15. Agrigento (Victoria Max-Theurer AUT) 69.62

Western European League

Standings after 1 of 7 competitions (following end of Central European
league and CDI-W Berlin)

1= Emma Hindle (GBR) and Heike Kemmer (GER) 37
3.Patricia Callaghan (NED) 21
4. Hubertus Schmidt (GER)
Nicole Ahlefeldt Laurvig-Lehn DEN) 20
6. Johann Zagers (BEL) 17
7= Isabella Willibald (AUT)
Jeanette Haazen (NED)
Sylvia Ilke (SUI)
Victoria Max-Theurer (AUT) 15
11. Isabell Werth (GER)
Michael Sogaard (DEN)
Peter Gmoser (AUT) 13
14. Ann Katrin Linsenhoff (GER)
Carl Hester (GBR) 12

For further information:

www.chi-berlin.de
www.horsesport.org

Bernadette Faurie 0044 7836 564 076