(mps) Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum managed the lap of honour behind the wheel of – her - Mercedes-Benz ML 280 D in the Stuttgart Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle very relaxed. Before that, the 37-year old from Thedinghausen, riding Shutterfly, had had to work really hard in the round and the jump-off of the ROLEX FEI World Cup JumpingTM, until she could win the Großer Preis von Stuttgart – presented by Mercedes-Benz, Allianz und BW-Bank – one of the most renowned title in the show-jumping sport as well as the SUV model from Mercedes-Benz (net value 53.915 Euro) and worthy 20 World Cup points.
Furthermore, with this triumph, the European champion from Mannheim wrote history at the international STUTTGART GERMAN MASTERS show. Being the first rider ever in the 23-year old history of the show, she could defend her title at the Neckar river.
The task, which Ulliano Vezzani, the course designer, had put up in front of the athletes, consisted of twelve fences, amongst each a double and triple combination in the course. And another eight jumps in the jump-off. Challenges, which no one of the 40 pairs mastered like the first of the world ranking list and her 14-year old gelding. After a clear first round, not a single bar fell in the decisive round for which 13 more pairs had qualified, apart from the native American. And when the clock had stopped after 33.34 seconds, the historic triumph was perfect. Jessica Kürten had also shown a splendid ride in the jump-off beforehand. Her clear round with 33.74 seconds, which she performed with Castle Forbes Libertina, had been the mark for quite a long time – until Michaels-Beerbaum was a little bit better. With the second place and a prize-money of 32.000 Euro, the fifth of the world ranking list should be more than happy about her show week in Stuttgart. The female victories were completed by Eugenie Arogt, the Frenchwoman, riding Ilostra Dark, who managed the course in a clear round and 35.67 seconds and received 24.000 Euro for her third place.
