Stuttgart – “Mistral Hojris was fantastic today,” said a delighted Laura Bechtolsheimer after her win in the Grand Prix Special for the Prize of the Meggle Group in the Hanns Martin Schleyer Halle. After being the 12th and last to go, the 24-year-old Englishwoman and the 14-year-old chestnut gelding’s “wonderful performance” (horse show director, Gotthilf Riexinger) earned them 76.542 per cent. Born in Germany, Laura Bechtholsheimer emigrated with her parents to Great Britain at the age of 1 and she has been a British citizen ever since.
Second last year to Isabell Werth, today’s success was her first Grand Prix Special win in Stuttgart. “My horse had already recorded his best ever Grand Prix score in yesterday’s class,” commented the Grand Prix Special bronze medal winner at the European Championships in Windsor where she also collected a silver medal with the British team. “It was our first competition since the Europeans, and Mistral played his part magnificently.”
Second with 71.667 per cent at the 25th International STUTTGART GERMAN MASTERS horse Show was Germany’s Christoph Koschel on the 10-year-old Donnerhall offspring Donnperignon. Third place went to Monica Theodorescu, also Germany. The multiple Olympic and world team champion was given 70.792 per cent by the judges. Prize money for the class, which is also the qualifying competition for the MEGGLE Champions Trophy 2009/2010, totalled 30,000 Euro. The winner received 7,200 Euro, the runner-up 6,100 euro and there was 4,700 euro for the third placed rider.
