Holstein claimed the European title in the team event and the individual event, and also secured bronze in the individual – what a superb performance by Holstein horses and their riders at the European Eventing Championships in Blenheim (GBR).
The German team delivered top performances right from the start and, following setbacks for the British favourites in the cross-country stage and numerous moments of brilliance from the Germans, secured the gold medal. The team included Carlitos Quidditch K by Quiwi Dream-Cassini I (Miriam Kühl, Steinfeld), line 6082, and Malin Hansen-Hotopp. The farmer and her grey horse excelled in the challenging cross-country course, incurring only a few time penalties – finishing eleventh in the individual classification. National coach Peter Thomsen was delighted after the team won their first gold medal at a European Championship since 2019: “That was a very cohesive team performance. We knew the outcome would be decided on the cross-country course – and the riders showed great composure there. The fact that we’re heading home from Blenheim with this result is a fantastic moment for our team.”
Carlitos Quidditch K and Malin Hansen-Hotopp on the Blenheim cross-country course
And in the individual competition, too, a Holsteiner – one whom everyone is likely to recognise – was once again right at the top: London by Landos-Quinar (Ocke Riewerts, Föhr), line 3200, and Laura Collett (GBR) added another medal to their gold medal collection. “When he won the five-star event in Pau in 2020, I said: ‘Even if he never wins anything again, he’s still achieved more than I ever dared to dream of.’ What he has gone on to achieve over the past five years is simply incredible,” said Laura Collett, moved to tears.
Likewise, the second of the two British pairs to complete the cross-country course immediately secured an individual medal: The former Holsteiner auction horse JL Dublin
by Diarado-Canto (Volker Göttsche-Götze, Groß Buchwald), line 1907, won bronze with Tom McEwen (GBR).
German individual rider Nico Aldinger also put in a top performance, making a huge leap forward. He was riding his successful partner Timmo by Timolino xx-Carlos D (Ole Lehmann, Grästen), line 6042. They were just one second short of a clear round in the final show jumping, which saw them move up from 23rd place after the dressage and 15th place after the cross-country to 13th place in the European Championship standings.
Further results for Holsteiners from around the world can be found here:
Photos: Stefan Lafrentz
