The CSI3* Grand Prix of Frankfurt went to a home hero, as Gerrit Nieberg (GER) was the only rider to produce a double clear round in the 1.55m competition.
Riding the 13-year-old stallion Contagio (Colman x Lordanos), the German rider was one of only five to manage to jump a clear round in the Grand Prix of Hessen presented by Deutschen Vermögensberatung AG to take home a brand new Mercedes.
Three riders had a rail down in the jump-off: Felix Haßmann on Cayenne WZ (Claudio x Ramirado) who was almost ten seconds faster than Nieberg but on the expense of a pole down to finish as runner-up, Gert Jan Bruggink on Vampire (Marome NW x Voltaire) who ended third and Martin Dinesen Neergaard (DEN) who took fourth on Cannary (Caretino x Lavall I). With eight faults, Holger Hetzel (GER) ended fifth on Legioner 2 (Limbus x Calido I).
"We have had him since he was a 2-year-old, my brother Max rode him, then I took him over and it worked right away," said the happy young winner. Then Contagio was sold, but later on returned to the Nieberg-family. "Today, my father told me 'Main-focus: Stay clear'," smiled Gerrit Nieberg after his win when talking about his plan for the jump-off. "And, afterwards he said 'That was good!'" Nieberg laughed about how it all worked out.