The last of the 10 competitors to go into the arena in the Dressurstall Schwarz-Gelb Trophy on Saturday afternoon the Olympic Champion Hubertus Schmidt (Germany) impressively strode past the rest of the opposition on the 10-year-old Westphalian gelding Forest Gump, to take top prize in the Grand Prix free style competition at the 21st International Stuttgart German Masters Horse Show. An average of 79.550% was awarded by the judges for Schmidt’s performance and handed him the prestigious title and prize money totalling 5,000 €. Second place went to the Dane Andreas Helgstrand. The World No 8 on Blue Hors Cavan received 78.225% from the jury. Russian Elena Kalinina finished in third on Royal Black Label (77.770%).
«I´am really pleased, as it´s my first win here in Stuttgart,» said a visibly happy Schmidt. «I’ve been coming here for a few years now and have already been in the placings on a few occasions. But I never did enough to win up to now. It’s enormously pleasing that I was successful this time because Forest Gump was active himself. And it’s something that’s really quite special. Horse show Director Gotthilf Riexinger was highly impressed by the audience in the sold out Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle: «The atmosphere we had here today was unique. I really would like to pay tribute to our spectators.»
Results (19.11.05)
CDI Stuttgart – Kür
1. Hubertus Schmidt (Germany) / Forest Gump: 79,550%
2. Andreas Helgstrand (Denmark) / Blue Hors Cavan: 78,225%
3. Elena Kalinina (Russia) / Royal Black Label: 77,700%
4. Ellen Schulten Baumer (Germany) / Donatha: 75,775%
5. Lone Jorgensen (Denmark) / Ludewig G: 75.400%
6. Martin Schaudt (Germany) / Loesdaus Loriot: 74,375%
7. Nadine Capellmann (Germany) / Zancor: 73,800%
8. Isabell Werth (Germany) / Warum Nicht: 73,650%
9. Marie Line Wettstein (Switzerland) / Le Primeur: 73,525%
10. Carola Koppelmann (Germany) / Le Bo: 72,725%