“It was simply amazing! We had more people in the Derby Park than ever before,” was the conclusion from Derby-boss Volker Wulff as the 93rd German Jumping Derby presented by IDEE KAFFEE came to an end last Sunday.
“The atmosphere was unique all these days. The interaction between the sport and the spectators is increasing. You feel like one and that’s the best thing that can happen to an event,” Wulff said, as the Derby Sunday attracted an incredible 76,500 visitors.
It was the last time that Wulff and the En Garde Marketing team organized and hosted the German Showjumping and Dressage Derby in Klein Flottbek, Hamburg, as the contract with the North German and Flottbeker Riding Club ends on 31 December this year and a new agreement has not been reached. Looking back on the past 25 years, Wulff reflected: “I would describe these 25 years of derby as a book. A book that wrote itself and that we were able to help write. A book full of emotions, love, hope, confidence, activities and of course disappointments – a colourful book that we are now closing after 25 years.”
And with this we look back at Wulff’s last German Jumping Derby-meeting, and some of the 2024-highlights in Klein Flottbek.
All photos © Mackenzie Clark.
Saturday's highlight was the CSI5* 1.60m Longines Grand Prix where Yuri Mansur's Miss Blue-Saint Blue Farm returned with a bang to take the win, just in time ahead of the selection process for the Paris Olympics. The mare had to take a break from competition towards the end of last year, but is now back in super shape.
...and were joined by last year's winners Marvin Jüngel and his 15-year-old mare Balou's Erbin. Here, Jüngel – last out in the jump-off between the two – checks that the wall, which was the final fence in the jump-off, stays intact. And it did... The German rider could celebrate a second consecutive win in the German Jumping Derby presented by IDEE KAFFEE.
“Balou’s Erbin fought so hard, it was an indescribable feeling,” the 22-year-old Jüngel beamed afterwards. “I was lucky that, like last year, I was able to go into the jump-off as the second rider and saw Frederic. I knew I would never have come close to his time. It was clear to me; keep calm and ride without making mistakes.”