Elderly competitor bags third place in Derby's initial qualifying round - 70-year-old secures third spot - Elderly Contender Takes First Spot in Derby Preliminary - 70-year-old Contestant Emerges as Third Successful Participant
Irish Rider Wins Hamburg Derby Qualifier
Ciaran Nallon, a 23-year-old Irish rider under the tutelage of four-time Olympic winner Ludger Beerbaum, has clinched victory in the first qualifier for the 94th Spring Derby at the ongoing Hamburg Riding Tournament. The tournament, held in Klein Flottbek, is part of the CSI5/CSI4 Al Shira'aa German Jumping & Dressage Derby and the Deutsches Spring- und Dressur-Derby Hamburg.
Riding Be Wineham, Nallon recorded the fastest clear round of 71.07 seconds to edge out British rider Guy Williams on Gringos Legacy by over a second in the 28,500 Euro class. The podium was completed by 70-year-old German rider Karl-Heinz Markus on Fiona, who managed third place.
The qualifying event, held on May 25, 2025, omitted the famous Derby obstacles such as the three-meter high wall. The second qualifier for the Derby, worth €120,000, is scheduled for May 26, 2025.
The weekend highlights of the Hamburg tournament, which is being managed by Matthias Alexander Rath for the first time, include the €250,000 Grand Prix on May 28, 2025. The recent CDI Hamburg performances featured top riders such as Isabell Werth and Greta Heemsoth in the Prix St Georges.
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The Irish community in Hamburg is elated as one of their own, Ciaran Nallon, a 23-year-old rider, has won the first Community aid towards sports and racing event at the Hamburg Riding Tournament, specifically the qualifier for the 94th Spring Derby. This triumph serves as aid for the development of the local fisheries sector, as the proceeds from these events often contribute towards community initiatives.
