German Pairs Championships: Gold for Lars Schwitte and Tobias Fiefhaus

The German Championships for pairs (horses) and pairs (ponies) took place in Emlichheim, in Lower Saxony near the Dutch border. At the same time, a Nations Cup for four-in-hand drivers was held in Windsor. Anna Mareike Meier, Anna Sandmann and Christoph Sandmann represented the German team there and secured the silver medal.

“Hoping for a medal”

In the German Championship for pairs (horses), Lars Schwitte ultimately stood on top of the podium. Schwitte has been successfully competing in pairs for many years, has represented Germany at multiple World Championships, and was also part of the German team that finished fourth at the 2025 World Championship in Beekbergen. He had already won several silver and bronze medals at German Championships, but gold had so far eluded him.

“Of course, we travelled to Emlichheim hoping for a medal. But in carriage driving, everything depends on the form of the day, the horses, and the driver. This weekend, everything simply came together perfectly,” said Lars Schwitte about his championship title. With Le Fasco, Kapelaan and Limber RSH, he not only won the dressage phase but was also the best in cones with just 6.49 penalty points. He finished fourth in the marathon, which allowed him to maintain the overall lead after the first two phases and enter the cones course as the final competitor. Everything went according to plan, and with a total score of 123.30 points, he secured a convincing victory.

“The horses are now ten years old and have been in excellent form since the beginning of the season,” said the new German champion. Earlier this year, he had already demonstrated that form with victories at the international competitions in Exloo and Kladruby. “In addition, I’ve had an incredibly strong team behind me over the past few years. Together with my wife Nadine, who rides as groom in all phases, as well as Bogusia Pyka and Nico Büschor, we’ve worked very professionally both in training and at competitions. That strong teamwork and daily cooperation definitely contributed to this success.”

Lars Schwitte - Photo: Wilco van Driessen

Silver went to the 2025 German champion and defending title holder Carola Slater-Diener from Stadtroda, who finished on 133.02 points. She placed fifth in dressage and was the fastest driver in the marathon. In cones, she finished second with 7.16 penalty points. The bronze medal went to Heinrich Kemper from Wettringen with 136.53 points.

“Not expected”

The past two years had been quieter for Tobias Fiefhaus. The 29-year-old suffered a shoulder injury in a skiing accident and was unable to compete for quite some time. However, during the competition in Greven at the beginning of May, he and his ponies Gustav, Alvarino and Nobelino already showed they were back in top form — and he confirmed that again in Emlichheim.

With a strong dressage test, Fiefhaus immediately won the dressage phase in a field of 29 competitors. “I did not expect to become German champion here. I hoped to finish in the top five, but winning gold straight away! Winning the dressage was already unbelievable,” he said afterwards.

After finishing third in the marathon, he entered the final cones phase as the overall leader. There, he could even afford 10.10 penalty points (placing tenth in the phase) and still secure the German title. Silver went to Birgit Kohlweiss from Weil der Stadt. Bronze went to Steffen Brauchle. The driver from Baden-Württemberg is a fourteen-time German champion in four-in-hand pony driving, but also regularly competes successfully in the pony pairs division — including now in Emlichheim.

The weather conditions were far from ideal, with heavy rain throughout the event. “The organisers were really unlucky with the weather, but they made the best of it and always kept the horses, ponies, and drivers in mind. Everything was organised extremely well,” concluded Tobias Fiefhaus.

Klik hier voor alle resultaten

Klik hier voor het fotoalbum van de marathon

Klik hier voor het fotoalbum van de vaardigheid

Tobias Fiefhaus - Photo: Wilco van Driessen

Source: Pferdesport Deutschland
Photos: Wilco van Driessen