(acm/mps) Just how hard competition is for the most coveted titles at the 21st International STUTTGART GERMAN MASTERS Horse Show was made obvious by Lars Nieberg’s unfortunate win in the second qualifying for Friday evening’s MERCEDES GERMAN MASTER.
Riding the 15-year-old Holstein mare Loreana, the 1996 and 2000 Olympic team champion from Germany went clear in 59.79 seconds and left the world’s leading riders trailing behind him. Nieberg is nevertheless not permitted to enter the fray for the Mercedes-Benz B 180 TD awaiting the winner of the MERCEDES GERMAN MASTER. A destiny also suffered by double European Champion Marco Kutscher (Germany). The bronze medal winner at the Athens Olympic Games took second place on Controe (0/61.34) this afternoon but it was still not enough for him to place amongst the top twelve in the final qualifying standings. Just like third placed Robert Smith from Great Britain on Kalusha (0/61.75).
A second place in Thursday’s qualifying competition and fifth spot in the second event on Friday secured the Swede Malin Baryard-Johnson top position in the final standings plus the role as favourite for the MERCEDES GERMAN MASTER. Ludger Beerbaum and Otto Becker (both Germany) follow in the rankings in second and third.
