The Germans dominated on home soil in the CSI4* 1.55m Hessischen Ministerpräsidenten Prize in Wiesbaden on Sunday. The competition was a qualification for the DKB-Riders Tour Grand Prix that will take place on Monday.
Fourteen riders cleared the first round, and nine of them were clear once again over the shortened track build by Frank Rothenberger and Christian Wiegand. The jump-off gave the riders both short turns and long lines to canter.
German rider Felix Hassmann, always quick against the clock, was unbeatable in the jump-off when crossing the finish line in 44,45 seconds riding Quali Quanti (Quidam de Revel x Non Stop). Three other German riders followed him on the result list with Guido Klatte Jr. on Corisanto (Cornet’s Prinz x Couleur-Rubin) as no. two in 45,24 seconds, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum on Samurai 501 (Stalypso x For Keeps) as no. three in 45,92 seconds and Olympic- and World Champion in eventing Michael Jung on FischerSolution (Carthino Z x unknown) as no. four in 46,06 seconds.
Italian rider Emanuele Gaudiano with Corbanus (Corrado I x Balou du Rouet) was the only non-German rider to make it into the top five. One rider was way faster than the rest in the jump-off, and it was Hans-Dieter Dreher (GER) with the experienced Embassy II (Escudo I x Silvio I) that ended the his round in 43,30 seconds – however with four faults he had to settle for 10th place.
Earlier in the day Michael Jung (GER) won the 1.45m class in two phases, riding the 9-year-old FischerChelsea (Check In x Argent). Lillie Keenan (USA) with Be Gentle (Ticallux Verte x Gentleman) ended second ahead of Gert Jan Bruggink (NED) with Umeunig (Untouchable Z x Chellano Z), Hans-Dieter Dreher (GER) with Berlinda (Berlin x Gento) and Adrian Schmid (SUI) with Camilla IX (Cornet Obolensky x Pilot).
Text © World of Showjumping / Picture © Carolin Wortmann / CJW Photography