A full house, excellent summer weather and spectators who enthusiastically joined in the last M** jumping competition of the HKM Bundeschampionat for show jumpers, traditionally the decision for the six-year-olds, Sunday was once again a real day of celebration at the Burandtwiese in Warendorf. Also in this competition, course director Peter Schumacher played a major role in making the show jumping an exciting affair. Of the 39 starting pairs, eleven remained without penalty points, which was perfectly timed. But even those horses that did not reach the jump-off showed no signs of being tired or overstrained after the exhausting qualifications.
The final jump-off was dominated by the team from Dagobertshausen, all three medals went to the duo Richard Vogel/ Sophie Hinners. Dax, the Holstein stallion with Richard Vogel in the saddle, completed the jump-off course the fastest, the son of Dinken - Corrado, bred by Dirk Jessen and owned by Robin Will, took 39.3 seconds. With this, Dax received the winner's blanket and sash as the new Bundeschampion and an Exra lap of honour.
With his second horse Cornet XL, the Hanoverian son of Cornet Obolensky - Lex Lugar, Richard Vogel tried to be even faster and almost succeeded. 39.57 seconds were on the clock when the two crossed the finish line, silver for Cornet XL from the horse breeding Dr. Rowold, owner Ursula Rechle.
Sophie Hinners made sure that the bronze medal was also in her luggage on the way back to Hesse, with Viva Las Vegas the 24-year-old, who was the most successful Championship rider in the show-jumping arena this year, took third place. Not that she didn't try to beat her training partner and life partner Richard Vogel, but in the end she had to let him take precedence with both horses at the same time. She was also really fast with the Holsteiner daughter of Vagabond de la Pomme - Cancare in 39.98 seconds, but will surely easily get over the fact that she "only" came third. Breeder and owner Matthias Wittke will also be so proud of his breeding product.
All the other competitors did not manage the fast time under 40 seconds. Coquetto under Hannes Ahlmann made powerful movements and jumped effortlessly, but could not yet accelerate that much for the victory, (0/4.27 sec). Leonard Runge and Lopetzki had set a good standard as the first starters with a penalty-free round in 40.81 seconds, only in the course of the jump-off did it become apparent how good the young rider's performance was, for which he was expressly praised by the stadium announcer. In the end, he took fifth place. Carolin Zell took it easy with Chardonnay, rode without any penalties and finished the Championships in sixth place (5.93 sec.).
