Felix Hassmann celebrates with Horse Gym's Balzac in Balve. Photo (c) Holger Schupp/Dietmar Reke.
The Championat von Balve – a 1.45 m class – took place on Saturday evening with Felix Hassmann as winner. Riding Horse Gym's Balzaci (Balou du Rouet x Ex Libris), Hassmann went double clear crossing the finish line in 37.84 seconds. As many as eight riders produced double clear rounds in the class, and it was a clear German domination which might not be any surprise with the German Championship taking place on the same show. But, nevertheless Sweden's Henrik von Eckermann with Chacanno (Chacco-Blue x Kannan) ended as runner-up with a time of 38.37 seconds.
Von Eckermann was followed by four German riders – Johannes Ehning with Contino 57 (Colmander), Elisabeth Kruse with Conloubet (Contender x Baloubet du Rouet), Laura Jane Hackbarth with Tequila Sunrise 43 (Chalan x Acobat II) and Jörg Naeve with Carena 11 (Corrado I x Alcatraz).
Angelica Augustsson-Zanotelli is already in top form again after giving birth to baby girl Melissa earlier this year. This time the Swedish rider won the CSI2* Grand Prix in Opglabbeek riding Baloucento 2 (Baloubet du Rouet x Cento). As many as eight riders went double clear, and Belgium's Vincent Lambrecht with Bogota (Balou du Rouet x Landgold) took the runner-up position ahead of Maria Victoria Chiappero with Grama Solitario and Celine Schoonbroodt-De Azevedo with Zamora (Quasimodo Z x Nimmerdor).
Text © World of Showjumping // Picture © Holger Schupp/Dietmar Reke
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