Stuttgart –Baden-Württemberg’s top show jumpers have been contesting the BW-Bank Indoor Championship ever since 1986. The final took place in the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle for the first time in 1987 and has since become one of the big jumping attractions at the STUTTGART GERMAN MASTERS. This year has been no exception. In front of a 5,800 crowd this evening, the 25-year-old Richard Vogel secured himself his first ever BW-Bank Indoor Championship win. His ten-year-old chestnut gelding Accoton PS (A Pikachu de Muze/Chacco-Blue) was in brilliant form. After going clear in the first round, “Richie” Vogel then went for broke in the jump-off. His time of 36.64 proved unbeatable for his rivals. “Up until now, I’ve not really had much luck in Stuttgart, but everything went to plan today,” said the delighted professional rider who has spent some time under Ludger Beerbaum’s guidance.
The only rider to come close to the winner’s jump-off time was the 2017 and 2018 BW-Bank champion Andy Witzemann. His top horse Cassadero, a Hanoverian, produced a faultless round in 37.23 seconds to hand him second place ahead of the top amateur, Jan Müller on Ciricu in third (38.01 seconds).
The nine riders contesting the jump-off all served up top equestrian sport in the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle. Verena Laich, the head of sponsoring and events at the LBBW bank group, was visibly delighted with the performances of the region’s riders saying: “I’ve still got goose bumps. We’ve seen some great horsemanship. I’ve got great respect for all the riders and their horses.” Talks are currently taking place to decide the future of the BW-Bank Indoor Championship Laich: “We’re looking forward to everything that comes.”
