“I saw that Richie was amazingly quick and just knew, I had no other chance but to take even more risks,” said the Frenchman when talking about his daring ride that handed him the win.
In the lead for a long time after posting a clear round in 32.96 seconds, German Richard Vogel in the saddle on his Holstein stallion Cloudio eventually had to settle for second place after being pipped by the Frenchman. The ride however still earned “Richie” 21,100 euro. Bas Moerings from the Netherlands and Kivinia, a KWPN-mare, came third after stopping the clock at 34.05 seconds (15,825 euro) followed by Peder Fredricson (Sweden) on the 11-year-old gelding SV Vroom de la Pomme Z with a time of 34.27 seconds. His ride was rewarded with 10,550 Euro.
Vogel’s partner Sophie Hinners topped up the household kitty to the tune of 6,330 euro after placing fifth (34.62 seconds) in the saddle on the KWPN stallion Lommers. The sixth jump-off contestant Daniel Deußer suffered 12 penalties on the mare Pepita van T Meulenhof BR but still came away with 4,747.50 euro.
Further down the field were Kevin Staut (FRA), Martin Fuchs (SUI), Philipp Schulze Topphoff (GER), Roger Yves Bost (FRA), Max Kühner (AUT) and Rik Hemeryck (BEL).
During the day, a 3,000 crowd watched the freestyle tour dressage Grand Prix, the Prize of Raumpflege for the show jumpers and the warm-up class for the FEI Pony Trophy for the Prize of Ensinger Mineral-Heilquellen.
