Stuttgart – The penultimate rider to go, Christian Ahlmann’s daring ride in the eight-rider jump-off handed the German the coveted MERCEDES GERMAN MASTER title in front of 6,400 thrilled spectators late on Friday evening. After going on a lap of honour in the saddle on his ten-year-old Westphalia mare Lorena, the overjoyed winner then went off on a “speedy” drive around the arena in his new Mercedes-Benz GLK 350 CDI worth 52,000 Euro.
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Riding first, Marcus Ehning (Germany) set the time to beat on Sabrina, a 13-year-old mare, when going clear in 35.00 seconds. American Laura Kraut on Cedric came close to cracking Ehning’s time after crossing the line clear in 35.08 seconds. Pius Schwizer from Switzerland in the saddle on Coolgirl was then just one hundredth outside the German’s time when stopping the clock at 35.01 seconds. But then Ahlmann proceeded to pulverise Ehning’s time by taking just 32.97 seconds to complete the course. “I’m hugely happy to have won here,” said Ahlmann after the victory ceremony, “A ride with such tight turns doesn’t come off every day. Some of them were on the limit.” Marcus Ehning was pleased with his second place but also knew: “My turns messed it up for me.”
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