The 1.55m main class in Leipzig was competed directly on time. Together with the 13-year-old SF-gelding, Blood Diamond du Pont (breeder: Mathieu Le Connetable), France's Julien Anquetin set the record time. "In between two jumps I actually lost my stirrups, but could stay in balance. In the end this little 'accident' caused me to ride one stride less in between. I think this is where I made up for the time," laughs Anquetin.
Anquetin and his son by Diamant de Semilly were almost two seconds faster as home-rider, Hans-Dieter Dreher! "I'm actually happy with my runner-up position," Dreher says. "My horse might have been a bit too fresh. Although I'm happy with my result, I hope it will be better on Sunday."
Dreher and the 15-year-old Vestmalle des Cotis (Baloubet du Rouet, breeder: Rudy Cock) were succeeded by Peder Fredricson riding the 10-year-old Zangersheide stallion, SV Vroom de la Pomme (Vigo d'Arsouilles, breeder: Geert Baertsoen).
The duo was exactly three-tenths of a second faster than Jana Wargers riding the 15-year-old mare, Dorette (Dollar du Murier). Kevin Staut and his Belgian-bred Beau de Laubry (Bisquet Balou C vd Mispelaere) completed the top five.