Stuttgart – Friday night is MERCEDES GERMAN MASTER night. At stake when the top 12 saddle up in the Hanns Martin Schleyer Halle after two tough qualifying classes on Thursday and Friday is a Mercedes-Benz and the honour of being a “MASTER champion” in Stuttgart. The anniversary horse show in 2009 saw everything go right for the 44-year-old Frenchman Patrice Delaveau and his 11-year-old mare Katchina Mail.
Going fourth in the jump-off in front of a crowd of 5,900, the two left their rivals trailing in their wake after going clear in a time of 36.41 seconds. His well-earned reward – a Mercedes GLK 350 – is worth 51,780 euro. Delaveau – he first competed in Stuttgart in 1986 and his appearance here in the state capital this year is his third in all – is only the second Frenchman to achieve this coup de main. The first was Roger-Yves Bost, who repeated his MERCEDES GERMAN MASTER win in 1990 with another in 1991.
“Even though I’m not horse rider, I was so impressed by the performances and the atmosphere in the hall,” said a highly pleased Hans-Michael Huber, the managing director of the Mercedes-Benz dealership in Stuttgart, “it was a joy to watch and a wonderful evening.” Horse show director Gotthilf Riexinger congratulated the winner and did not forget to show his appreciation for the second placed oldie, Michael Robert (FRA). Riding Kellemoi de Pepita, another 11-year-old mare, the 61-year-old finished in a time of 36.50 seconds and won 16,000 euro for his efforts. Third was the world No. 1 Marcus Ehning (Germany) who was a MERCEDES GERMAN MASTER in 1999, 2002 and 2004 (0/38.18).
