Marcus Ehning and Sandro Boy on a RIDERS TOUR Point Chase

“I almost overdid it to the last jump. When Sandro Boy had decided to back out at that moment I would have landed in the crowd”, said Marcus Ehning (GER) thanking his 14 yr. old stallion Sandro Boy after his win in the Grand Prix of Hanover. Ehning and Sandro Boy put in a quick, powerful and clear round in 33,03 seconds that secured him the
win, 30,000 Euro and the 20 points in the RIDERS TOUR standings in the winning round of the 10 best competitors. Not much separated his team mate and European Champion Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER) from the win at the GERMAN CLASSICS and the ability to go into the Final at the Munich Indoors as the leader. Her World Cup partner Checkmate was also clear in the winning round but was a tick slower than Ehning´s stallion who can already be proud of his successful offspring, among others ridden by Ehning. “I had to enter the ring as the first starter today since I was not under the best 36 riders from yesterday´s qualifier. As the leader of the world rankings I was allowed to start today in the grand prix, but I had to be at the beginning of the class. It is always more difficult than when you have a few rides to watch to see where the tricky parts are in the course”, explained the 37 yr. old. But Checkmate put himself in the game: high and wide, no problem for Checkmate over the high and wide course designed by Frank Rothenberger today.

Frühmann, Beerbaum and Ahlmann without points – but still in the game

Not everything went as planned for Thomas Fruehmann (AUT), the leader in
the RIDERS TOUR standings, by the GERMAN CLASSICS. Already in the qualifier the Rider of the Year, with his top horse The Sixth Sense, had to settle with four faults and also in the Grand Prix a rail rolled out of the cups. “That was more likely my mistake. The Sixth Sense was fully concentrated and in good form, but the distance wasn´t the best“, judged the Austrian rider somewhat disappointedly. Up until close to the end of the class Fruehmann could hope for a place in the winning round as the fastest four faulter, but a 1 time fault round from Alois Pollmann-Schweckhorst and a clear round from Carsten-Otto Nagel buried his chances to gain a greater lead in the RIDERS TOUR standings at the GERMAN CLASSICS. Although there was still a little bit of luck on Fruehmann´s side as Ludger Beerbaum (GER) and Enorm had to settle with 2 rails down. “He let me down a little bit. I´m going to have to look at the video of my round to analyze exactly what was going on”, explained the three-time RIDERS TOUR winner – also with the Final in Munich in mind, where he wants to come to the lead. Christian Ahlmann also had problems with his championship horse Coester, who hasn´t quite managed to adapt yet from the outdoor to indoor shows. Three rails down and a refusal left the European Championship team silver medalist in 27th place.

The Decision Falls in Munich

It is and will stay exciting in the RIDERS TOUR. With the win in the Grand Prix of Hanover, the highlight of the GERMAN CLASSICS and RIDERS TOUR class, Ehning has catapulted from the 23rd to the 5th place in the overall standings. It shows how close the leaders are this year. Any of the top 6 can win. We know how quickly that can go“, commented Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, one of the head to head runners among the favorites.

Only six points separate Michaels Beerbaum and her brother-in-law Ludger Beerbaum from the leader Thomas Fruehmann. Everything is open for Christian Ahlmann and Marcus Ehning who are in fourth and fifth place respectively. And also the third place finishers in the Grand Prix of Hanover, Gilbert Boeckmann (GER) and Andreas Knippling (GER), can fight for some of the 510,000 Euro prize money to win at the Munich Indoors with their 28 and 23 points respectively. The fighting spirit has also been awaked in Alois Pollmann-Schweckhorst (GER), winner of the qualifier with Candy and fifth place finisher with his upcoming star Lord Luis in the Grand Prix at the GERMAN CLASSICS. “I have managed to improve three places in the standings and am now in 7th place. Even when I don´t have a chance to win the overall title Rider of the Year, I would still like to take home one of the cheques for the top five.” Paul Schockemoehle, his new boss and GERMAN CLASSICS organizer, will like to hear that. After a record 38,600 visitors by the GERMAN CLASSICS, the success of his “jockey” by “his” RIDERS TOUR would be a nice year-end for the managing director of the partners and initiator of the renowned series.

Results (28.10.07)

CSI4* Hanover
Grand Prix – (273.3.3) – 1,55m

1º Marcus Ehning (Ale) / Sandro Boy / 0 / 0 – 33,03
2º Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (Ale) / Checkmate / 0 / 0 – 33,86
=3º Gilbert Böckmann (Ale) / Can Fly / 0 / 0 – 35,63
=3º Andreas Knippling (Ale) / Neolisto van Het Mierenhof / 0 / 0 – 35,63
5º Alois Pollmann-Schweckhorst (Ale) / Lord Luis / 0 / 0 – 36,27
6º Oliver Lazarus (Rsa) / Crocket / 0 / 0 – 36,43
7º Franz-Josef Dahlmann (Ale) / Calanda / 0 / 0 – 37,26
8º Markus Fuchs (Sui) / Nirmette / 0 / 4 – 33,46
9º Anna-Maria Jakobs (Ale) / Lausejunge / 0 / 4 – 34,16
10º Carsten-Otto Nagel (Ale) / Calle Cool / 0 / 8 – 35,52

Point stand after five of the 6 Stages of the RIDERS TOUR
1. Thomas Frühmann (AUT) 47 Points
2. Ludger Beerbaum (GER) 41
3. Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER) 41
4. Christian Ahlmann (GER) 36
5. Marcus Ehning (GER) 29
6. Gilbert Böckmann (GER) 28
7. Anna-Maria Jakobs (GER) , Alois Pollmann-Schweckhorst (GER) 27
9. Andreas Knippling (GER) 23
10. Thomas Voß (GER) 22