Holger Wulschner victorious in the Grand Prix in Neumunster (VIDEO)

For a second time, following on from a victory in 2010, show-jumper Holger Wulschner (Germany) has won the top test at the VR Classics in Neumünster – the Volksbanken and Raiffeisenbanken Grand Prix, worth an impressive 40,000 Euros. “I was seriously sweating, that was tougher than the first time,” admitted Wulschner. The first time was in 2010, when he achieved victory with Cefalo, without a jump-off. This time Hanoverian mare Fine Lady helped him to a 31.68 second round, completely free of errors.

“Carsten-Otto laid down a top round,“ admitted the 50 year-old show-jumper from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Carsten-Otto Nagel from Wedel really took a risk with Holiday by Solitour. “Although it's not really my style to risk too much,” conceded the team world champion with a smile, pretty pleased with having secured second place: “The horse really performed well.”

Wulschner had to quickly change his plans: “In the jump-off I ended up doing everything differently to how I had planned it, making fewer gallop strides on a long line” admitted the winner.

Wulschner won the Grand Prix with his gutsy jump-off round, and with it the 10,000 euros prize money. He received hearty applause for his efforts, but the “phone vote” – if there had been one – would have gone to Carsten-Otto Nagel. He brought the house down. Worth the effort: Second place ahead of Patrick Stühlmeyer from Osnabrück with Chasmo, and 8000 euros prize money.

The show-jumper from Schleswig-Holstein was promptly given a silver bowl by organisation director Bettina Schockemöhle. She and husband Paul, and co-organiser Ullrich Kasselmann were delighted with spectator numbers of around 36,500. And Carsten-Otto Nagel was highly satisfied with his result. Almost a year ago he discussed the idea of future collaboration with the owner of Holiday by Solitour: “Yesterday evening I just took a punt on today. Sometimes I do that kind of thing – and sometimes it pays off…”

sh:z Youngster Final goes to Maurice Tebbel

One of the youngest show-jumpers in the international field at the VR Classics, 21 year-old Maurice Tebbel from Emsbüren, together with Chacco's Son, won the final of the young horse tour, presented by Schleswig-Holstein news publisher sh:z. The young rider from Lower Saxony piloted the seven-year old stallion by Paul Schockemöhle's former top sire Chacco Blue through the final in 29.02 seconds with no mistakes. There were standing ovations from the audience for the young victors. Incidentally, two years earlier Maurice's father Rene had shown him how it was done – he won the sh:z Youngster Final with Que Sera. Tebbel: “It's great that this tour continues to happen. It's important for the young horses.” Second place went to Christian Ahlmann (Marl) with Barco, and Carsten-Otto Nagel (Wedel) came third with Queen Windsor.