26th “Marchfelder Schlösserritt”

Castle ride in the footsteps of the Marchfelder Habsburg dynasty under the patronage of BM a.D. Dr. Werner Fasslabend and under the seal “Sub Auspiciis” Karl von Habsburg.

The 26th Marchfelder Schlösserritt took place from May 30 to June 2, 2019, in cooperation with Mag. Klaus Panholzer, Managing Director of Schloss Schönbrunn Betriebs- und Kulturges.mbH, the division managers of Schloss Hof Mrs. Mag. Katharina Tschann and her deputy Lukas Svoboda, the communities, the federal forests and the regional hunters.

The opening again took place on Thursday in the Orangerie in Schlosshof. Numerous participants, helpers and guests of honor were welcomed by the organiser H. G. Ebetshuber. Mayor Josef Reiter from Engelhartstetten as well as the president of the Austrian Cavalry Association Colonel Franz Prandstätter honored the long-term commitment of the tradition Dragoon Regiment No. 3 in their speeches. After that, Elke Schwarz was awarded the Silver St. George’s Order for her tireless work and many years of dedication to the castle ride.

Before the commander of the Dragoon Regiment No. 3 Colonel of Cavalry Hans Günter Ebetshuber opened the castle ride, a prominent participant, the cabaret artist Lydia Prenner-Kasper, was warmly welcomed to the event. After the champagne reception, all those present were invited to an extremely interesting tour of the castle.

Due to the flooding of the March, the route had to be constantly changed by the organisation team. This year the competitions were again held in two categories. The A-competition total distance for both days about 80 km, with special tests that were carried out on the way or directly in Schlosshof, or the lunchtime rest in Schloss Eckartsau and Schloss Marchegg. Inter alia the shooting range Haringsee held the shooting competition. Riding through, hand horse riding, coping with natural obstacles in the group, individual jumping over natural obstacles the next day, distance estimation, plan reading, etc. were among the special tasks in which you could earn points.

33 participants (A) had a positive result in the special stages and completed the entire distance of approx. 80 km without a mistake. 19 participants were proud to receive the Kav performance badge for orienteering and trekking in bronze. Event-B about 50 km total on both days appealed to the 30 participants and was extra scored.

During the individual jumping over the natural obstacles, the 26th Marchfelder Schlösserritt received a high attendance: the president of the Lower Austrian Equestrian Federation KR Ing. Gerold Dautzenberg. He was welcomed by the organiser and with a passing carriage was brought in the castle to another competition.

Afterwards there was a special guided tour through the castle, to the regimental command DR 3 and to the festively decorated baroque stable for the gala dinner before the award ceremony. Mag. Ines Bejdl – an internationally recognized judge – also visited surprisingly the event because in Lassee there was a jumping tournament on the same day. The cozy castle restaurant garden was then a place of shoptalk and discussion about the support and promotion of equestrian popular sports.

After the gala dinner – this year in the baroque stable – badges, bows, certificates and placement prizes were handed over by the mayor from Eckartsau Ing. Rudolf Makoschitz, Dr. med. Hans Reinisch of Magna Racino and the organiser.

In appreciation of his services to the Tradition Dragoons Regiment No. 3, the commander-in-chief, Mr. Thomas Tschann (DR 4), is awarded the Regimental Order of the Dragoon Regiment No. 3 in bronze. Because of exemplary long-term service fulfillment for our common history and tradition Mr. Zgsf. Walter Bründl Pohl (DR3) has been promoted to sergeant. The golden medal of the Austrian Cavalry Association was given to Gundi Schmid and the Regimental Trumpeter of the DR 3, Zgsf. Günter Ringhofer.

The honorary challenge cup donated by Archduke Georg Habsburg was given to a uniformed participant, for the Cavalry highest military rating to Ptf. Christian Guss (Dragoon Regiment No.5), who also met the entire course (80km) without error for his regiment.

A-competition

  • 1st place, Dragonerregiment Nr. 5
    Olt. Dr Anton Wankhammer, Ptf. Dr. Carina Wankhammer
    Olt. Ivor Schiller, Ptf. Christian Guss, Ptf. Silke Schmerlaib
  • 2nd place
    Caroline Geiger, Finian Geiger, Sophie Mikula, Lara Johann, Michaela Res
  • 3rd place
    Alois Hauptmann, Tzt. Rudolf Hauptmann, Sabine FRITZ, Christoph Allgäuer

B-competition

  • 1st place
    Susanne Payr, Gabriela Payr, Lisa Würzl, Stefanie Dörnhöfer
  • 2nd place
    Gerhard Lackner, Michaela Bischof, Markus Goldfuss, Irene Unger
  • 3rd place
    Kpr.  Markus Potzmann, Mag. Doris Potzmann, Michaela Pinisch, Cornelia Oberguggenberger