Stuttgart – Stuttgart – The Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle resembled a seething cauldron on Friday evening. An incredible atmosphere had been generated by the 7,400 crowd. The top 13 riders after the two qualifying classes showed their gratitude by serving up world class show jumping when competing for the German Master title. Six top international combos completed the first round penalty-free to book a place in the decisive jump-off. Philipp Weishaupt, who has been riding for Ludger Beerbaum’s stables for many years now, was the last to go. Riding the nine-year-old Krokant, the 2020 German champion pulled off a brilliant round when stopping the clock in 34.91 seconds, a full 1.5 seconds better than the runner-up. The top 13 riders after the two qualifying classes showed their gratitude by serving up world class show jumping when competing for the German Master title. Six top international combos completed the first round penalty-free to book a place in the decisive jump-off. Philipp Weishaupt, who has been riding for Ludger Beerbaum’s stables for many years now, was the last to go. Riding the nine-year-old Krokant, the 2020 German champion pulled off a brilliant round when stopping the clock in 34.91 seconds, a full 1.5 seconds faster than the runner-up.
Up until then, it had seemed as if the only lady rider in the German Master would cause an upset as Sophie Hinners, whose partner Richard Vogel was also one of the 13 riders in the mix, also produced a faultless round on FBW Graphik, a horse that was bred at the region’s renowned Marbach stud. The stylish rider duly enjoyed her biggest success to date. One place behind the two Germans was Harrie Smolders on Uricas v.d.Kattevennen. The Dutchman had opened the jump-off, but his ride was only good enough for third place on the podium. “Both the atmosphere and the performances were exceptional,” said Andreas Krieg, one of the three STUTTGART GERMAN MASTERS directors together with Kai Huttrop-Hage and Carsten Rotermund, when summing up at the press conference afterwards. He added, “The evening will never be forgotten.”
