Stuttgart – The local hero came out on top once again. Michael Jung, the 27-year-old horse stable manager from nearby Horb-Altheim, won the Indoor Derby eventing competition for the third time in succession on the opening day of the 25th International STUTTGART GERMAN MASTERS Horse Show. Wednesday’s win was his fourth in all. In front of an enthralled sell-out 8,000 crowd in the Hanns Martin Schleyer Halle, the 2009 European Championships bronze medal winner triumphed, in spite of knocking a fence down, on his eight-year-old gelding Weidezaunprofis River of Joy in a time of 79.07 seconds. The win earned him 2,000 euro in prize money.
Behind Jung in second was the England-based Australian Daniel “James” Jocelyn. The 39-year-old, who competed at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, needed 79.82 seconds on his 19-year-old gelding, Silence. He received 1,500 euro for his efforts. In third place was the 33-year-old British rider Nicola Wilson, a protégée of Germany’s head coach Chris Bartle. Riding Mini Mr. Bigglesworth she took 80.65 seconds to get round the course. Finishing down the field were, for example, the team Olympic champion Frank Ostholt (Germany) in fourth place, the 2006 winner in Stuttgart, Tiziana Realini (SUI/fifth) and the two Australian Olympic team silver medal winners Clayton Fredericks (eight) and Lucinda Fredericks, who was way back in 20th.
