DM Balve: Katrin Eckermann is German champion

"I've never been German champion. I've always wished for that and also planned to do so to some extent, but so far I've always lacked a bit of luck. That's why I'm really happy that it's worked out now. Such a championship simply has a special meaning,” said the new champion, Katrin Eckermann, who lives near Warendorf. In 2009 and 2011 she had already won gold in the young riders category, and now she has also succeeded in doing so in the seniors category. Three clear rounds and a quick jump-off earned her the win.

Her partner in the course was the nine-year-old Rhinelander Cascadello-Boy RM (by Cascadello - Balou du Rouet), with whom she had already won the silver medal at the German Championships in 2021. Since then he has developed great: "He is a bit special and rather a shy horse, but is developing very well and has done a great job here."

Strong competition for the two were Tina Deuerer from Bretten and her 13-year-old Hanoverian stallion Clueso (by Canstakko - El Bundy). The two are contesting their ninth season together, because Clueso has been in the stable of Tina Deuerer since he was four years old, who accompanied him from his first show jumping ability test to the final of the German Championships. A drop at the last obstacle of the jump-off prevented the gold medal, but the runner-up saw it sportily in the press conference of the three medal winners: “Anyone who is not satisfied after such great sport is out of place here. I know that Katrin rides fast and had to risk everything. I think I can say for all of us that our horses have done their best over the days here. Of course, that applies in particular to my Clueso, who presented himself as ambitious and cautious. We are a well-rehearsed team.”

Angelique Rüsen (Marl) and Calvino are not quite as well attuned. Her boss, Christian Ahlmann, had won a frame competition in Hamburg two weeks ago with the ten-year-old Holsteiner (by Castelan II - Literat) and made him available to Angelique Rüsen for the German Championships. "I'm afraid I'll have to give it back," she regretted. In 2016 and 2017 she was already Vice Champion, in 2018 German Champion. Marcus Döring, co-trainer of the national show jumping team, praised the women on the podium and the exciting finale: “It was really top sport that we saw here. The course was challenging, the cliff in the course was the triple combination. Tina Deuerer and Katrin Eckermann secured a medal in the jump-off and therefore had nothing to lose, they rode superbly.” lau