Gerrit Nieberg surprises everyone and wins the Grand Prix of Aachen. A success that the show jumper now has ahead of his father Lars. The climax displaces the bad pictures from the previous day.
Gerrit Nieberg succeeded in a sensational way in what his father was never able to do. Completely surprisingly, the 29-year-old won the Grand Prix of Aachen, worth 1.5 million euros, at the end of the CHIO and thus the most important show jumping test in Germany.
When Nieberg and his eleven-year-old gelding Ben stormed through the finish line of the jump-off course in front of 40,000 enthusiastic spectators, the two-time team Olympic champion Lars Nieberg was congratulated from all sides in the stands. “Without him, none of this would have been possible. I am very, very grateful to him, »said the son about the father.
Nieberg: “It’s still unreal”
In addition to the prize of 500,000 euros, Gerrit Nieberg will now be immortalized on the famous winner’s plaque at the entrance to the stadium. “I still can’t believe it. This will take a moment. It’s still unreal,” he said. He was already happy about the zero laps in the first two rounds. “The fact that it was enough to win in the jump-off, all the better.”
Nieberg was the last of the five starters to come to a jump-off and, with the fastest clean ride, caught Briton Scott Brash on Jefferson. “I only concentrated on myself and didn’t even see how the others rode,” said the winner – who is now stepping a little out of his father’s shadow. “It still needs a little more,” said Gerrit Nieberg, who works at the stud farm in Sendenhorst, which his father Lars runs. “At the moment I’m enjoying it all and I’m very proud of my team.”
Last year’s winner Daniel Deusser had reached the jump-off again with Killer Queen, but was only fourth. If he had won again, the Belgian-based Hessian would have received a bonus of 500,000 euros for two consecutive victories in the Grand Slam series with the tournaments in Aachen, Calgary, Geneva and s’Hertogenbosch. Deußer had recently won in s’Hertogenbosch.
He and Nieberg also used their results to advertise themselves in order to get into the German team for the World Championships in August in Herning, Denmark.
Death of world-class horse Allstar B
The climax at the end of the world’s largest equestrian tournament displaced the bad news and pictures from the previous day. Above all, the death of the world-class eventing horse Allstar B of the British double world champion Rosalind Canter could provide new topics for discussion about equestrian sport.
During the cross-country ride, the 17-year-old stallion hit an obstacle with his left front leg, but did not fall. The veterinary clinic couldn’t help him anymore, he was put down. Nothing was announced about the nature of the injury.
The Danish Cathrine Dufour excelled in dressage
In the Grand Prix Special, seven-time Olympic champion Isabell Werth was also rung out in the middle of her ride. A judge discovered blood on the mouth of her stallion Quantaz. According to Werth, the injury is harmless. The stallion is said to have bitten his tongue. According to the rules, Werth was disqualified.
Thus, the 52-year-old from Rheinberg was forced to watch the freestyle in the dressage stadium. There she saw the victory of the outstanding Danish Cathrine Dufour. After her successes in the Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Special, the 30-year-old was once again unbeatable on Vamos Amigos.
In addition, Dufour, who is married to the daughter of former European soccer champion Brian Laudrup, also secured the Nations Cup with her team. After nine wins in a row, the hosts had to settle for second place for the first time. The German ray of hope was Frederic Wandres. With Duke of Britain he finished second in the Freestyle, in the Grand Prix and in the Special.
For Ingrid Klimke, the double start in Aachen in dressage and eventing ended positively. Her stallion Franziskus showed his best performance in the dressage arena in Aachen in the freestyle. The 54-year-old from Munster finished twelfth and can hope to be nominated for the Dressage World Championships in Herning and for the Eventing World Championships in September in Pratoni del Vivaro. At least she is in the provisional dressage squad.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
