Text © World of Showjumping

Reigning Olympic champion Christian Kukuk (GER) and the 10-year-old Chageorge (Chacco-Blue x Sanvaro) took a home win in Sunday's CSI4* 1.60m Grand Prix Deutschen Kreditbank AG at the DKB Pferdewoche 2025 in Hohen Wieschendorf, Germany. 

Kukuk topped an all-German podium after a jump-off of nine, where he stopped the clock on 37.04 seconds – only 0.07 seconds faster than Jens Wawrauscheck (GER) and Mava S (Messenger x Sandro). Clocking in on 37.35 seconds, Markus Renzel (GER) placed third riding Pikeur Lemar NRW (Los Angeles x Baloubet du Rouet). Ales Opatrny (CZE) finished fourth with a time of 37.77 aboard Kapsones W (Cornet Obolensky x Carambole), followed by Laura Klaphake (GER) in fifth riding Quizano VDL (Diamant de Semilly x Kannan) to the fastest time in the jump-off – 35.86 seconds – but on the expense of a rail. 

"We had a very demanding course in this Grand Prix," Kukuk summarized in a press release from the DKB Pferdewoche 2025. "We also had a few special jumps – the wall, the bicycle fence and the water jump. But nine clear rounds into the jump-off, that's a super result. The course designer did everything right. And the jump-off was absolutely exciting enough." 

For the win, Kukuk credited his boss Ludger Beerbaum who has kept Chageorge in shape over the winter while Kukuk was competing in the U.S. "He prepared everything brilliantly, so now I'm reaping some of the rewards he has sown," Kukuk said of Beerbaum's work. 

“Chageorge is incredibly intelligent, he has incredible athleticism and he is fast – showjumping is in his blood," Kukuk said of the talented chestnut, who looks to have a bright future ahead of him.