Finally over – Marcus Ehning wins Stuttgart Grand Prix

(acm/mps) Marcus Ehning (Germany) has left Stuttgart for home on three occasions in a brand new car after winning the MERCEDES GERMAN MASTER – now his name will finally be inscribed for the first time in the list of winners of the MERCEDES-BENZ, ALLIANZ und LANDESBANK BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG Stuttgart Grand Prix. Riding the 13-year-old grey mare Gitania – sired by Capitol in Holstein – the team Olympic Champion in Sydney and three-time team European Champion won the FEI World Cup Jumping title, the World Cup qualifying competition held for the first time in Stuttgart.


(acm/mps) Marcus Ehning (Germany) has left Stuttgart for home on three occasions in a brand new car after winning the MERCEDES GERMAN MASTER – now his name will finally be inscribed for the first time in the list of winners of the MERCEDES-BENZ, ALLIANZ und LANDESBANK BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG Stuttgart Grand Prix. Riding the 13-year-old grey mare Gitania – sired by Capitol in Holstein – the team Olympic Champion in Sydney and three-time team European Champion won the FEI World Cup Jumping title, the World Cup qualifying competition held for the first time in Stuttgart.

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Of the 40 starters in the first round, 15 qualified for the jump-off. Nine of them then went clear in the decider. And the 31-year-old eventually turned out to be the quickest in 37.67 seconds. In addition to a Mercedes-Benz ML 280 CDI worth 55,800 Euro, he also drove off with 20 valuable qualifying points for the World Cup Final in Kuala Lumpur. The success crowned Ehning’s performance over the five days and he was duly acclaimed the most successful show jumper at the 21st International STUTTGART GERMAN MASTERS Horse Show. Second place and 32,000 Euro went to Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (Germany) who crossed the finishing line in a time of 37.98 seconds riding Checkmate. The 17 World Cup points gained in Stuttgart have improved her chances of going to Malaysia and being able to defend the World Cup title she won in Las Vegas. Alois Pollmann-Schweckhorst (Germany) took third after going clear in the jump-off on Candy. His time of 38.37 seconds earned him 24,000 Euro in prize money.

“Winning here in Stuttgart makes me so happy. And it was a World Cup qualifier as well,” said a beaming winner when talking about his victory. “Gitania is great at leaning into the leans and that’s why I won here. I was very pleased with my mare’s form over the weekend,” said Ehning when praising his horse. The German also complimented course designer Conrad Homfeld (USA). “He has built unbelievably fair courses during the show. His style is suits us riders.” Cheekily he added: “I’ve ridden around courses of his twice now. I was a World Cup winner on the first occasion and won the Stuttgart Grand Prix on the second. He could build a few more as far as I’m concerned!”