“The extent of the STUTTGART GERMAN MASTERS’ esteem within international riding circles can hardly be made more obvious than by our entry list. Lining up in Stuttgart will be nine of the world’s best ten horse jumpers and 16 of the Top 20. It can hardly be topped,” said a pleased Andreas Kroll, Managing Director of the “in.Stuttgart Veranstaltungsgesellschaft”.
An impressive achievement that wholeheartedly emphasises the horse show’s claim to be the “indoor Aachen”. The ace riders in the saddle and at the reins promise equestrianism of the highest order in the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle. Not only because of the ranking statistics but also as a result of the impressive array of titles. “Four current Olympic champions, 13 world champions from the World Equestrian Games 2006 in Aachen and seven European champions, in addition to the reigning jumping World Cup winner as well as the German dressage, driving and male and female jumping champions plus numerous other medallists all go together to make up an unparalleled line up,” stressed Show Director Gotthilf Riexinger.
To name a favourite for jumping’s highlights, the FEI World Cup JumpingTM Grand Prix of Stuttgart – presented by MERCEDES-BENZ, ALLIANZ and BW-Bank – as well as the MERCEDES GERMAN MASTER is simply impossible. Right at the top of the list of the hottest favourites for the titles are without a doubt the newly crowned World Champion Jos Lansink (Belgium), European Champion Marco Kutscher (Germany), the World Cup winner and world ranked No 1 Marcus Ehning (Germany) as well as Olympic Champion Rodrigo Pessoa (Brazil). But Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (Sweden), Jessica Kürten (Ireland), Ludger Beerbaum (Germany), Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (Germany), team World Champion Gerco Schröder (Netherlands) and Michael Whitaker (Great Britain) – all placed in the Top 10 of the FEI-Rankings – can also reckon to be in with a good chance in the competition for prize money, which totals 254,000 euro and the two Mercedes-Benz cars on offer for the 10 international jumping competitions alone. As can the experienced Markus Fuchs. The Swiss, who has been constantly amongst the world’s top riders for years, is currently placed eighth in the world rankings and will have an important say in the fight for titles and prizes.
Absorbing competitions, high class show jumping and above all lots of “little chances to gain revenge” are on the cards. “Jos Lansink, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and the Australian Ewina Alexander, three of the four riders involved in the memorable individual final in Aachen are in the line up for the STUTTGART GERMAN MASTERS. And three team World Champions, Dutchmen Piet Raymakers, Albert Zoer and Gerco Schröder will face the complete German bronze medal winning team Ludger Beerbaum, Christian Ahlmann, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and Marcus Ehning. It is guaranteed to be interesting to see who will have their nose out in front,” said Riexinger promising suspense in the Stuttgart arena’s show jumping ring.
Though the traditional class for women, the LADIES GERMAN MASTER, will not be held this year, in the past women in the jumping saddles did not need their “very own” competition to present themselves in the top echelons of the sport. An enormously strong – and above all successful – group of women riders count in Stuttgart as being as a part of the accustomed scene, the presentation of which will remain unchanged in 2006. In addition to Kürten, Michaels-Beerbaum and Alexander, others having great prospects are, for example, the two-time European Championship silver medal winner Christina Liebherr (Switzerland), Frenchwoman Eugenie Angot who has in the meantime moved up to 40th position on the FEI rankings, local rider Pia-Luise Aufrecht, the German Champion Janne-Friederike Meyer, the German runner-up Barbara Steurer-Collee as well as the Swede Malin Baryard-Johnsson, the winner of the 2003 Grand Prix of Stuttgart 2003.
The dressage field is this time headed by double World Champion Isabell Werth (Germany). In the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle, Werth, who also won a bronze in the freestyle class in addition to winning the titles in the team and Grand Prix Special events in Aachen, will be up against her world championship winning team mates, the Olympic team champion Hubertus Schmidt (Germany) and Heike Kemmer as well as Nadine Capellmann. Piaffs and passages of a special quality are guaranteed by the fact that all four team world champions will be lining up in the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle on their world championships horses. After the successes in the KAMPMANN GERMAN MASTER in both the previous two years, Martin Schaudt (Germany) will also be doing his utmost to take the title for a third time in a row. Ninth on the FEI World Rankings, the Swiss woman Silvia Iklé is also one of the favourites as is Briton Emma Hindle, who has already showed her class at the Olympic Games and World and European Championships. A successful performance at her premiere at the STUTTGART GERMAN MASTERS is the aim of the Finnish woman Kyra Kyrklund. The 1991 World Cup winner and 1990 World Championships silver medal winner will also be bringing a great deal of Olympic experience to the Neckar. Local colour and international flair are promised by both Lone Jörgensen and Karin Tebar. Whilst the Dane Jörgensen, who lives in nearby Korntal-Münchingen, competes for Denmark, Waiblingen born Karin Tebar rides for France.
The four-in-hand driving and eventing fields are also top notch. “Mr Driving”, Michael Freund (Germany) will therefore once again travel to the Neckar as the newly crowned team world champion for his final appearance in the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle. But it will not purely be a “Tour d’honneur“ for the three-time World Cup winner. After all the aim for him is to add another success to his unique series of wins. He has won the SCHENKER GERMAN MASTER, which also goes this year towards the FEI World Cup DrivingTM, twelve times in a row and is thus the only Master winner in Stuttgart. However, Freund will have to fend off tough competition for example from his World Championship team mate Christoph Sandmann, as well as the bronze medal winner with the Dutch team, Koos de Ronde.
After the triumph in Aachen, team World Champions Ingrid Klimke and Frank Ostholt (both Germany) must be considered favourites amongst the eventers. With his name already inscribed in the annals of the STUTTGART GERMAN MASTERS as the first winner at the premiere of the Indoor Derby in 2002, Ostholt will now attempt to become the first eventer to chalk up a win for a second time. Whereby he will also have to overcome countrymen Andreas Dibowski and Michael Jung. Dibowski, world ranked No 4, nominally heads the entry list whilst title holder Jung will come to the state capital with his win at the 2005 Indoor Derby as his reference. Providing international competition for Ostholt and Klimk will be Briton Mary King, Karin Donckers from Belgium, the Swiss Champion Tiziana Realini, Ruy Fonseca from Brazil as well as the No 6 on the FEI Rankings, Karim Laghouag, and Arnaud Boiteau (both France).
Equestrianism of the highest order and a magnificent atmosphere in the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle are not only guaranteed by the international stars. The top regional riders also traditionally show themselves to be in top form on the “Day of the Baden-Württember Riders” on Thursday. It’s when the state’s best in dressage saddles seek their unofficial indoor champion in the dressage class sponsored by iWEST. In the evening in the BW-Bank Indoor Championship, Baden-Württemberg’s best 26 show jumpers turn the Stuttgart arena into a real madhouse and they do in a way that’s second to none – not even the international stars. Out and out atmosphere and a fireworks of equestrianism will mark the opening day on Wednesday. With a programme that includes the highly popular MercedesCard Jump&Drive, the eventer’s Indoor Derby and its enormous natural fences plus the magnificent show block with the appearances of the Household Cavalry, the personal guard of Queen Elizabeth II, the Belgian stunt show “Bikes and Horses“ as well as the vaulting World Champion’s, Kai Vorberg, freestyle programme “Mozart“, the gala evening offers a display leaving nothing to be desired.
Along with the protagonists in the saddle and at the reins, also contributing to the unique atmosphere that has turned the STUTTGART GERMAN MASTERS into a absolute highlight in the international horse show calendar for many years, are however, first and foremost, the faithful, knowledgeable and highly enthusiastic spectators. And for the 22nd STUTTGART GERMAN MASTERS, the organisers are again expecting excellent crowds. “We’ve already sold 47,000 tickets,” said an obviously pleased and optimistic Andreas Kroll: “I feel this great result which will definitely guarantee equestrianism of the highest order and it’ll mobilise numerous other equestrian fans over the next few days.” Tickets for the 22nd International STUTTGART GERMAN MASTERS Horse Show cost between 12 and 42 euro, week tickets are priced at 124 and 181 euro, including all charges, plus postage and packing. They can be obtained via the EASY TICKET SERVICE, telephone +49 (0)7 11 2 55 55 55, Fax +49 (0)7 11 2 55 55 66, and at all the usual ticket agencies as well as via the Internet (www.easyticket.de or www.stuttgart-german-masters.de).
