As last to go, Marcus Ehning (GER) and the 12-year-old stallion Comme Il Faut (Cornet Obolensky x Ramiro) repeated their 2016-win in Paderborn today when they took the top honours in the CSI3* DKB-Riders Tour Grand Prix. 

Clocking the winning time of 41.83 in the second round, the German legend topped the field of 47 horse and rider combinations in this 1.55m Grand Prix – just like last year. The hosts were on top of their game; out of the 12 combinations that made their way to the jump-off, ten were Germans – occupying the top eight placings in the end.

Hans-Dieter Dreher on the 9-year-old mare Berlinda (Berlin x Cento) took the second place with a time of 42.57 against the clock, while Toni Hassmann on the 11-year-old gelding Bien-Aimee De La Lionne (Balou du Rouet x Pit I) placed third with a time of 43.13 seconds. Heiko Schmidt on the 13-year-old stallion Chap (Cellestial x Contender) took the fourth place with a time of 44.77 seconds and Ludger Beerbaum on the 11-year-old gelding Chacon (Chacco-Blue x Aventyno) placed fifth with a time of 45.73.

"It feels like it looks with Comme il Faut – easy," said Ehning after the victory. "But, it is not easy to go when Hansi was before you in the ring. You know already that he is always very fast, and does everything that is possible."

For his victory, Ehning collected a total of 20 points for the overall DKB-Riders Tour ranking. Currently, Christian Rhomberg leads the series with 30 points overall.

Text © World of Showjumping // Picture © Stefan Lafrentz