With outstanding performances and genuine fighting spirit, Holstein horses galloped to several medals and top placings at the European Eventing Championships at Haras du Pin (FRA): The victorious British team included London, a son of Landos out of a Quinar dam, line 3200, ridden by Laura Collett. The gelding was bred by Ocke Riewerts (Föhr) and is the reigning Olympic champion. The pressure on the German team was high after Michael Jung fell during the cross-country and was consequently eliminated, but the other members of the squad kept their nerve. Carjatan S by Clearway-Galant vert xx (Carl-Friedrich Söhrmann, Groß Buchwald), line 6788, and Christoph Wahler made the most of their experience – among other achievements, they were team world champions last year.
Malin Hansen-Hotopp finished her first senior championship with Carlito’s Quidditch K in 19th place in the individual standings.
Carlito’s Quidditch K by Quiwi Dream-Cassini I (Miriam Kühl, Steinfeld), stock number 6082, and Malin Hansen-Hotopp rounded off the German team’s performance, enabling the team to claim the silver medal. “I’m delighted that he performed so well here in all three disciplines,” said Hansen-Hotopp, for whom this was her first senior championship. “The course was really tough and the ground was slippery, but he was in really good form,” said the satisfied rider. Carjatan S and Christoph Wahler finished fourth in the individual standings, in addition to the team result. “The way Carjatan jumped today was a brilliant way to round things off,” said the head of Klosterhof Medingen after the clear round. “He had to work very hard on the cross-country, and seeing how he gave it his all today – how effortlessly he tackles a course like this – is great fun. I think that’s what sets him apart, and what sets us apart as a pair,” the rider said with confidence.
Christoph Wahler was impressed and grateful for the ease with which Carjatan S still performed in the show jumping arena after a demanding cross-country course.
Also in France, though in Deauville and on the show jumping course, the Contact Me-Cambridge son Confu (Kai Gerken, Lasbek), line 4705, achieved a top placing this weekend: The grey and Laura Kraut took silver in the 1.55-metre Grand Prix. Third place also went to a Holsteiner, namely Caspaccio by Cassini I out of Carpaccio (Hans Peter Petersen, Tating), line 1298. Alexandr Imschenetzky (CHI) was in the saddle.
In the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix in London (GBR), Harrie Smolders rode his tried-and-tested Monaco by Cassini II-Contender (Ralf Lütje, Haseldorf), line 429, and was rewarded with third place. In doing so, he once again picked up vital points for the Longines Overall Ranking, just as he did most recently with his victory in the Riesenbeck Grand Prix, where he rode Uricas v/d Kattevennen by Uriko.
Further results for Holsteiners from around the world can be found here:
Photos: Stefan Lafrentz
