Alois Pollmann-Schweckhorst wins the MERCEDES GERMAN MASTER for the first time

(mps) In two qualifications, the complete world’s top show-jumpers had fought against each other, but only the twelve bests of this elitist elimination contest were allowed to participate in the MERCEDES GERMAN MASTER, the second main class of the international STUTTGART GERMAN MASTERS show. And finally, Alois Pollmann-Schweckhorst (Mühlen) was the “best of the best” and was richly rewarded with a Mercedes-Benz C 200, which is worth more than 33.000 Euro (net value).

In a clear round, the 43-year old and Candy, the 15-year old bay mare from Holstein mastered the eleven fences – amongst them a double and triple combination – which Ulliano Vezzani, the course designer had placed in the arena of the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle. In the jump-off, he was also in best form and went again clear in a time of 30.07 seconds. Behind Pollmann-Schweckhorst, Carsten-Otto Nagel from Wedel became second, riding Carradina Rang in a clear round and 30.41 seconds, and received a prize-money of 16.000 Euro. Very close – only 5 hundreds of a second slower, Steve Guerdat, the young Swiss man, with Kador du Valon ended up on the third place: However, he still won 12.000 Euro.

“I am still a little bit speechless“, said the beaming winner directly after the prize-giving ceremony, but quickly found the right words to express his joy. “In 1988, I saw John Whitaker here, who won the MERCEDES GERMAN MASTER with Milton. This impressed me very much, and since then, I have always had the wish to also win here,”Pollmann-Schweckhorst looked back. Before the jump-off, I was quite calm. I knew, it would be “Pass or Fail”. And in such a situation, you need a horse like Candy. When she enters the course, when she can still hear the applause of the former rider, she gives 20 per cent more,” the sixth of the World Cup final from Las Vegas praised his mare, which can now relax for two weeks. Pollmann-Schweckhorst added that the success in the MERCEDES GERMAN MASTER „is actually one of my most important victories and probably the most important for Candy.”

Hans-Michael Huber, the director of the Mercedes-Benz branch Stuttgart was also thrilled by the class which could not have been more exciting: “For us, it is a joy and an honour to participate here.” And he commented the winner’s lap of honour in the new Mercedes-Benz with the words: „Alois Pollmann-Schweckhorst drives like he rides.” – which was obviously a big compliment in view of the success of the 43-year old.