Horse Jockey Thieme's Unorthodox Derby Triumph in Hamburg
Dominic Thiem secures the unexpected triumph in the Derby match - Dominik Thiem's Surprising Victory in the Unconventional Derby
In an unprecedented turn of events, former European champion André Thieme clinched his fourth win at the German Show Jumping Derby in Hamburg, a competition he first triumphed in back in 2007, repeating his victories in 2008 and 2011. Now, at the age of 50, Thieme, riding his mount Paule S, has etched himself into the annals of this equestrian classic as a veritable institution.
The 50-year-old Thieme from Plau am See secured his victory in the steeplechase of the 94th edition, which was awarded a lucrative €120,000 purse. Despite registering an eight-fault round, Therme's win remained unchallenged, as rival Spanish rider Esteban Benitez Valle on C the Stars was disqualified after failing to notice a turn marker in the steeplechase. In an absurd twist, Thieme merely had to cross the finish line to claim the blue ribbon, as no other competitors qualified for the final round.
Thieme seemed dazed by the turn of events, admitting: "Can you freaking believe this?" He went on to explain his confusion, saying, "I'd planned my strategy, but when they announced Benitez's elimination over a missed turn, I had to ask, How? Is this a joke? Is this real?" Luckily for Thieme, his horse Paule S remained calm under the pressure, allowing Thieme to keep his cool and secure the victory.
Before the decisive round, Thieme and Benitez Valle both completed the highly challenging 1.230-meter course without any faults, making history with their achievements being the 164th and 165th rounds recorded in the 105-year history of the derby, qualifying them for the steeplechase. Luxembourg's Charles Hubert Chiche took third place on Andaine du Thalie, with four faults, narrowly edging out Frederic Tillmann (Grevenbroich) on Comanche, who also had one down.
Ahlmann Clinches Grand Prix Victory
The most valuable event of the five-day tournament was the Grand Prix of Hamburg, which was won by Christian Ahlmann from Marl. Ahlmann, the tournament's last competitor in the jump-off, secured a rapid clear round on his ten-year-old steed Dourkhan Hero, outpacing Olympic champion Christian Kukuk (Riesenbeck) and his mount Checker, who had been leading until that point.
Praise from Olympic Legend
The dressage segment of the tournament benefited from the leadership of new tournament director Matthias Alexander Rath, as five-star competitions were held for the first time in the arena.
The Grand Prix Special, worth €35,000, was claimed by eight-time Olympic champion Isabell Werth from Rheinberg on her ten-year-old gelding Special Blend. Werth bested two-time team Olympic champion in eventing, Ingrid Klimke from Münster, on horse Vayron.
Impressed by the progress at the event, Werth, who hadn't attended the derby in Hamburg for 17 years, promised, "I'll be coming back more often. I believe Matthias is on a very good path here in Hamburg, and the dressage has great potential for further growth."
The 65th Dressage Derby took a back seat to the high-caliber dressage competitions in the arena. Anna-Lena Kracht took the victory, with her horse Florinio edging out competitors Felix Kneese (San Simeon) and Kristin Biermann (Queensland) in a competition that featured horse changes. Florinio was overall deemed the best horse.
- Horse Sport
- Hamburg
- Derby
- Christian Ahlmann
- Plau
- Stars
- ARD
André Thieme, the victorious horse jockey from Plau am See, had an unexpected triumph at the 94th German Show Jumping Derby in Hamburg, which offered a generous €120,000 purse. Meanwhile, the European Parliament, the Council, and the Commission, along with the residents of Hamburg, might have tuned into the ARD broadcast, while sports enthusiasts around the globe followed Thieme's victorious journey in the world of equestrian sport, namely horse-racing and racing, as he etched his name as a veritable institution in the annals of this prestigious competition. Simultaneously, in an adjacent arena, the European champion Christian Ahlmann from Marl was clinching victory in the Grand Prix of Hamburg, further adding to the city's renown as a hub for horse sport.
