The first qualifier in the KASK Youngster Cup at CSI5*-W Leipzig was dominated by the 8-year-old horses.

The victory in this 1.40m competition went to Kevin Staut (FRA) and the 8-year-old gelding Vendome d'Anchat (Diamant de Sexily x Allegreto) with a time of 52,23 seconds. Christian Kukuk (GER) on the 8-year-old mare Darc Horse (Douglas x Sydney) came second with a time of 52,37 seconds, and Ludger Beerbaum (GER) on the 8-year-old gelding Cool Down (Catoki x Lefevre) took the third place with a time of 54,56 seconds. 

The opening five-star class, the 1.45m Stern Auto Center Leipzig Prize, saw most of the 62 starters taking the chance to school their horses around the massive arena ahead of the Longines FEI World Cup in the Western European League that will be held here on Sunday. Hence, plenty of riders collected time penalties warming their horses up.

Germany's Tobias Meyer on the 10-year-old gelding Edesa's Chillando Blue (Chacco Blue x Silvio I) took the first place and 2,500 euros with the time of 57,40 seconds. Ireland's Dermott Lennon on the 12-year-old mare Fleur IV (Chatman x Darco) came second with the time of 57,83 seconds, and the third place went to Germany's Heiko Schmidt on the 13-year-old stallion Chap (Celestial x Contender) with the time of 58,67 seconds. 

Text and picture © World of Showjumping by Nanna Nieminen