At the indoor dressage show in Verden, Germany, the 4-year old chestnut stallion Royal Blend has been proclaimed Best Hanoverian Stallion Born in 2001. Royal Blend had to compete against three other stallions in a riding horse class. In making their decision, the judges took saddle class results into consideration as well as the stallion's performance test results. Royal Blend appeared to be the best.

Royal Blend is bred by Reinhard Grothmann and is owned by the Landsgestut Celle. The chestnut is by Rotspon x Lauries Crusador xx and became reserve champion in the Adelheidsdorf Stallion performance Test.

Favorite for the title was actually Rascalino, a Rotspons x Velten Third xx offspring, who used to be called Roydorfer (a much classier name than Rascalino).

The other two stallions, who were selected to compete in this "Best Hanoverian Stallion" class were Locksley (Londonderry x Weltmeyer) and Stand Up (Stakkato x Espri).