Stuttgart – Hopp Schwyz! He was the 43rd of the 44 riders to go in the Prize WALTER solar, the speed jumping competition and the first of two qualifying classes for Friday’s MERCEDES GERMAN MASTER – but Pius Schwizer left all his rivals trailing in his wake on Verdi. The Swiss, the team bronze medal winner in Hong Kong in 2008, galloped through the finishing line in a time of 67.19 seconds and snatched the win from Dutchman Marc Houtzager, who had held the lead for a long time on Sterrehof’s Uppity (68.51 seconds). Back in third was the two-time European Champion Marco Kutscher. The top German in the competition needed 68.56 seconds to complete the course on Cornet Obolensky.
With the Prize of Firma DIW Instandhaltung Ltd. & Co. KG at stake, the second qualifying class will take place on Friday at 6.00. Only the twelve best riders will go forward to the MERCEDES GERMAN MASTER (10.00 pm).
