(acm/mps) Whilst the world’s elite show jumpers are at the moment battling for lucrative sums of prize money and valuable points for both the world rankings and World Cup at the 22nd International STUTTGART GERMAN MASTERS Horse Show, the next major show jumping event is already making itself felt. Medals are again at stake from 14th to 19th August 2007 at the FEI European Show Jumping Championships in Mannheim.
During the course of the STUTTGART GERMAN MASTERS Peter Hofmann, President of the Mannheim Equestrian Club and the European Championships Organising Committee revealed a well-kept secret: “Next year in Mannheim, Europe’s top show jumpers will gallop around courses set by Christa Jung,” said Hofmann when disclosing the name of the course designer for the continental championships. “We discussed the subject in some depth and we’ve decided in favour of Christa Jung. We want to make people aware that quality and competence exists in Baden-Württemberg,” commented Hofmann when pronouncing his confidence in the experienced chief course designer at the Mannheim May Market Horse Show. “I’m very proud that, on “my” showground where I’ve been building courses for the past 21 years, I will now be the first woman in Germany to build European Championships courses,” said the school teacher expressing her joy at being selected.
“Addtionally,” explained Hofmann, “all the important figures in international course design will be gathered together for the FEI European Championships in Mannheim.” Renowned course designers such as Olaf Petersen, a member of the Ground Jury, Dr Arno Gego a founding member of the Aachen School of Course Designers (ASCD), who will hold a seminar in Mannheim, Linda Allen (USA) a member of the jury and Frank Rothenberger, who advises show organisers on course design, will all be playing their part in the German city. There ‘s also the three “Stuttgart experts”: Leopoldo Palacios (Venezuela), who created the jumping courses in 2003 and 2004 in the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle will also represent the ASCD, the current STUTTGART GERMAN MASTERS course builder Conrad Homfeld (USA) is the Technical Delegate and the Technical Director in the state capital Hauke Schmidt will sit on the jury in Mannheim. But Hofmann is certain: “Christa Jung won’t let herself be put any pressure.” Quite the contrary as Jung immediately confirmed: “I’ve already worked with them all – except with Conrad Homfeld – and I’ve already met up with him and held initial talks. Two of these big names in international course design were highly influential in my career, namely Arno Gego and Hauke Schmidt.“
