At the 73rd edition of CHIO Rotterdam, the Germans showed great form ahead of Friday's Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup when Hans-Dieter Dreher and Katrin Eckermann tied for the win in the CSIO5* 1.50m CHIO Rotterdam Prize.
Fifteen out of the 32 starters in this 1.50m class counting for the Longines Ranking (Group D) cleared the first-round track, qualifying for the deciding jump-off. In the jump-off, the clock stopped on 34.67 seconds for both Hans-Dieter Dreher (GER) on Vestmalle des Cotis (Baloubet du Rouet x Landor S) and Katrin Eckermann (GER) on Cascadello Boy RM (Cascadello x Balou du Rouet).
"I think we did a super job, with two Germans in the front," Hans-Dieter Dreher told World of Showjumping with a smile afterwards. "The course for the jump-off was a little bit strange, as there were not too many options where you could leave strides out, so in the end I think we were lucky."
"I am really happy with all my young horses, they are only nine and I have a good feeling for this weekend," Katrin Eckermann commented. "Cascadello Boy RM won the German Championship with me and now wins at a five-star show, it is really fun."
Jos Verlooy (BEL) and FTS Killossery Konfusion (SIEC Livello x Cruising) gave it a good shot and got closest to the German duo, taking the third place with a time of 34.86 seconds, while the fourth place went to Harrie Smolders (NED) on Escape Z (Emerald x Heartbreaker) and fifth to Lars Kersten (NED) on Quatinka (FRH Quaid x Perigueux).
The Friday in Rotterdam started with the CSIO5* 1.45m Kalfsbeek Prize, a competition in two phases, where Michael Greeve (NED) and Jacksonville Eurohill (Emerald x Carambole) took the top honours with a time of 33.95 seconds in the second phase. Trevor Breen (IRL) and Jicarla T (Caretino Gold x Numero Uno) took the runner-up position, while Jodie Hall McAteer (GBR) on Mademoiselle-A (Corland x Cardento) placed third, Angelica Augustsson-Zanotelli (SWE) on Nintender Star (Nintender x Star Kingdom) fourth and Gerrit Nieberg (GER) on Amigo (A Conto Son x For Pleasure) fifth.