The team competitions at the European Championships in Gothenburg/Sweden were pretty exciting. What quartet would be the best? The Irish team triumphed and finally won the desired title in the long history of this contest. The Hanoverian All Star was a safe bank for all four riders from the green isle. The 14-year old stallion and his rider Denis Lynch have long been among the top worldwide. Three years ago, he finished ninth at the World Equestrian Games in Normandy and was already member of the Irish team in Aachen two years ago. All Star obviously loves the Swedish port city, he came in fifth in the World Cup Final last year.

„We’ve made it“ – gold for Ireland – gold for Denis Lynch. The rider who is not known for his outbursts of temper and who has been living in Germany for many years, became European Team Champion. The duo rode for medals in the last round in the individual test. An annoying fault at the first jump marked the end of the dream, and both achieved an excellent sixth place.

All Star is a safe bank if it matters. He accomplished all rounds with his tremendous scope. Even though he is normally not known for fast rounds according to his rider. When being asked with which car he would compare his horse, he once answered: “Landrover!” – something to overcome all obstacles. Simply impressive performances.

All Star was bred by committed breeders and combines Hanover’s most extraordinary bloodlines. The bay horse was born with Horst Zöllmer in Südergellersen in the heart of the Lüneburg Heath. His granddam is the legendary Ramiro/Winnetou-daughter Rinnetou Z, one of the most successful jumpers worldwide with Piet Raymakers. His sire Argentinus was already a Hanoverian trademark stallion in life with an influence on almost all European show jumping breeds. All Star’s career started at the Verden foal auction in 2003 where he was one of the top foals, sold to an international show stable. He matured into a powerful jumper and was carefully started under saddle by Florian Meyer zu Hartum. He became Hanoverian Vice Champion of five-year-old jumpers in 2008 before he competed at the Federal Championships in Warendorf one year later. He celebrated his first international advanced level placement in 2010 and changed in the same year to the stable of Denis Lynch.

All Star and Denis Lynch – this is the youngstest success story of a Hanoverian horse whose career started at one of the Verden auctions to be then continued at the international sports level. There will be another opportunity to create new success stories on October 13 and 14 at the 134^th Elite Auction.

It will be the first time that the Verden Foal Gala Presentation on Friday evening will introduce the auction event. Top-class riding horses will be put up for auction on Saturday and – also for the first time in the long history of the Verden auctions – two-and-a-half year old stallions in-hand.