Germany’s Jörne Sprehe could not be beaten in today’s Grand Prix of Hessen at CSI3* Internationales Festhallen Reitturnier Frankfurt. Even world-class riders like Rolf-Göran Bengtsson, Denis Lynch, Christian Ahlmann and Constant Van Paesschen could not match Sprehe and her mare Luna’s time in the 1.55 m jump-off.

Jörne Sprehe has had a very successful 2015, winning over 20 international competitions and being victorious in the CSI3* Grand Prix of Pforzheim in June. With the only 9-year-old mare Luna (L’Avian x Leader), Sprehe beat the 18 other competitors over Frank Rothenberger’s jump-off track.

As the 4th competitor in the jump-off, Belgium’s Constant Van Paesschen and his relatively new horse Calore van de Helle (Casall x Lord) were the first to go clear. Their time was immediately excellent, finishing on 41.28 seconds.

After Van Paesschen’s compatriot Cindy van der Straten jumped a clear round with Balance (Baloubet du Rouet x Lancer III) in 43.29 seconds, it took a while before anyone could do anything about Constant’s time. Germany’s top-rider Philipp Weishaupt was on the right track to beat Van Paesschen, but the well-jumping Liberty Son (Clooney x Lord Z) had a rail at the 6th fence of the jump-off, 9a. Weishaupt finished on 4/40.65 – a faster time than Van Paesschen. Philipp Weishaupt’s colleague at Ludger Beerbaum Stables, Christian Kukuk, did not take any risk with Carilot (Carinue x Quilot) finishing on 0/47.69 – the 6th position in the end. Germany’s Carsten-Otto Nagel gave it a go in front of his home-crowd with the experienced 14-year-old Holiday by Solitour (Contendro I x Cascavelle), finishing just behind Cindy van der Straten on 0/43.47.

Finally, it was the 32-year-old German rider Jörne Sprehe who would beat Van Paesschen’s time. With the 9-year-old mare Luna, jumping with amazing reflexes, Sprehe gave it a try from start to finish. Her time turned out unbeatable: 40.43 seconds. The only 26-year-old Alexander Hinz came close with the impressive Campitello (Concetto x Come On), but crossed the finish line on 41.53 seconds – just behind Constant Van Paesschen.

Jörne Sprehe, ranked 167th at the FEI Longines World Rankings, got some competition from the world’s best riders. After the Netherlands’ successful rider Gert-Jan Bruggink got two fences down with his Grand Prix-winner Vampire (Marome NW x Voltaire), Germany’ ace Christian Ahlmann gave it a try. With the impressing Zangersheide-approved stallion Cornado II (Cornet Obolensky x Acobat I, full brother to Marcus Ehning’s Cornado NRW) Christian Ahlmann beat Sprehe’s time by 0.02 seconds. But Christian got an unfortunate rail on fence six with his grey stallion. Even Ireland’s Denis Lynch and the experienced Abbervail van het Dingeshof (Nonstop x Jus de Pomme) could not get the result of Sprehe, finishing on 4/41.71. As last rider to go Rolf-Göran Bengtsson had a great shot with the competitive 11-year-old mare Unita Ask (Corrado I x Caretino), but the Swedish rider already got a rail on fence four, finishing as the fastest with four faults on the 7th spot: 4/39.77.

Germany’s Jörne Sprehe took home the victory in the Grand Prix of Hessen, earning 23.000 euro in the form of a brand new Mercedes. Belgium’s Constant Van Paesschen became runner-up, winning 14.000 euro. The 26-year-old Alexander Hinz got the third position, worth 10.5000 euro.

Text © World of Showjumping by Peter van der Waaij// Picture © Stefan Lafrentz