For a second year in a row Denis Lynch won the Grand Prix 'The Golden Whip' at the CSI3* show in Nörten-Hardenberg, Germany, riding Abbervail van het Dingeshof (Nonstop x Jus de Pomme).

It was a difficult course build by Frank Rothenberger and the crowds had to wait all the way to the 22nd rider to see a clear round. In the end seven riders managed to clear the track and qualify for the jump-off.

Mario Stevens was first to go with in-form Brooklyn (Balou du Rouet x Arpeggio) and he delivered a clear and fast round in 39,41 seconds, with some really short turns. The 10 year old Arc de Triomphe (Triomphe De Muze x Calvados), ridden by Frank Schuttert, entered the ring next but had to leave with four faults on the second fence.

Marlon Zanotelli on Zerlin M (Berlin x Concorde) did as expected; the Brazilian rider went for it and managed to take over the lead with 38,48 seconds. Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum's Comanche (Coupe de Coeur x Baloubet du Rouet) did a first round out of this world, but in the jump-off the very first fence fell and then Meredith did a quiet round taking the control back on the extremely well jumping gelding.

Denis Lynch won the Golden Whip last year, and if a rider manages to win the class two times in a row, or three times in total they can take the Golden Whip home with them. It has been a long time since any rider did that, and Denis sure wanted to so the Irish rider gave his all in the jump-off. Abbervail van het Dingeshof jumped his heart out to help him and they took over the lead in 37,59 seconds.

When Hans-Dieter Dreher with Colore (Contender x Lord) ended on four faults and last rider Felix Hassmann with Horse Gym's Quali Quanti (Quidam de Revel x Non Stop) got eight faults, it was clear that Denis would be the second rider in the history to take the Golden Whip away from Nörten-Hardenberg.