Hamburg Championship Secured by Lower Saxony Smolders - Dutch Individual Claims Victory in Hamburg Tournament
Harrie Smolders, a Dutch rider, clinched the victory at the Hamburg Championship in the Klein-Flottbek show jumping tournament, racing to the fastest clear round on his 13-year-old gelding, Mr. Tac, in the €80,000 competition. The Championship serves as a qualifier for the following Saturday's €250,000 Grand Prix and Sunday's 94th German Show Jumping Derby.
Smolders, age 45, began his run as the penultimate rider, acknowledging the advantage of observing some of his competitors beforehand. He acknowledged the need for speed, stating, "I knew I had to go really fast to win." Praising his equine partner, he acknowledged Mr. Tac's affinity for jump-offs, as everything progressed flawlessly on the day.
In the end, Jana Wargers, a German rider residing in Belgium, and her 16-year-old mare Dorette secured second place, though they led for the majority of the jump-off. Despite leading most of the way, Wargers ultimately finished 0.7 seconds behind Smolders. Harm Lahde from Königslutter rounded out the podium on Commander Bond. Seven out of 16 pairs remained clear in the jump-off.
Meanwhile, Ingrid Klimke, a two-time eventing Olympic team champion from Münster, triumphed in the first Five-Star dressage test with her stallion Vayron. Their score of 74.500% was enough to outpace Sweden's Sofie Lexner on Inoraline (72.413%) and eight-time Olympic champion Isabell Werth from Rheinberg on Special Blend (70.870%) to secure the top spot. Matthias Alexander Rath, the new tournament director and successful dressage rider, aims to elevate the dressage tests at this prestigious event, alongside the Derby with horse exchange and high-class Five-Star dressage tests in Hamburg.
The victory at the Hamburg Championship's Klein-Flottbek show jumping tournament was not limited to the €80,000 competition, as Ingrid Klimke, a two-time eventing Olympic team champion, clinched the top spot in the first Five-Star dressage test with her stallion Vayron. This highlights the event's commitment to diverse equestrian disciplines, including both show jumping and dressage, as expressed by the new tournament director, Matthias Alexander Rath.
Interestingly, while sports such as horse-racing and racing might partly revolve around speed, the employment policies of this equestrian event seem to prioritize both a level playing field and the appreciation of strategic analysis, as demonstrated by Harrie Smolders' decisive victory in the jump-off, despite starting as the penultimate rider.
