A prize pool of 1.2 million euros - that's the stakes for a new Hamburger Derby! Despite no longer being a stop for the LGCT, the event is flourishing as never before. With no less than forty competitions, six of which are at the 5* level, Germany's Hamburg will once again welcome the world's best in both show jumping and dressage along with their numerous supporters from May 17-21.
And all this without the Longines Global Champions Tour, which has been an integral part of the Hamburg Derby since 2016. Only Sunday, the highlight of this legendary tournament on the great lawn of Hamburg Klein Flottbek for more than 100 years - that remains just always reserved for the fight for the blue ribbon of the Derby winner. When it was over the Great Wall or through Pulvermann's grave over the 1,230 meters of the most difficult course in the world, then there was a folk festival atmosphere, regardless of whether the sun was shining or North German sluggish weather prevailed. Then the Global Tour was always on the outside, which ended on Saturday. "They felt in the shadow of the Derby," tells organizer Volker Wulff now at the Derby Talk at the Elbchaussee in Hamburg. "The best in show jumping," is the Global Tour's self-portrayal - with this self-confidence, its makers also wanted to crack the Hamburg tradition.
"But we are inflexible there," Volker Wulff explained to them. "I can't change anything about this structure." On the other hand, Global Tour maker Jan Tops and his main sponsor Longines brought a lot of prize money. When it came time to renew the partnership last year, "they stalled me until I said I wasn't going to renew the contract." The Global Tour had gambled high - and lost. "Now I'm very happy that it worked out this way," Volker Wulff sums up, looking ahead to this year's Derby, which begins, as always, on Ascension Day. And sponsor Longines apparently didn't have a problem with that either, but is now just the new Derby sponsor. The riders and fans are apparently not bothered by the omission of the Global Tour either: "We will be the only CSI5* tournament in the world this weekend, at the World Cup Final in Omaha quite a lot of top riders have declared their intention to come to Hamburg. So we will perhaps have an even greater density of top riders than usual," Volker Wulff is pleased to say. In terms of advance ticket sales, the Derby team is 15% ahead of last year, "on Saturday and Sunday there are already no more seats - and no one has asked about the Global Tour".
German champion Mario Stevens still remembers "all the rumors" last year after the cancellation for the Global Tour in Hamburg. "We riders are very happy and grateful that Volker is going through with it. It is one of the most important tournaments in the world. Volker, thank you for making this work!" Without the Global Tour, more German riders would have the chance to compete, to see where they stand performance-wise in a direct comparison. He himself will start with his Starissa and at least one youngster. It is a "very important weekend" also for national coach Otto Becker, because after that the first decisions about the Nations Cup entries and the Championships longlist will be made.
Equally important, also with regard to the international top riders, was the design of the prize money: "The prize money in the Longines Grand Prix of Hamburg remains at 300,000 euros. The German Jumping Derby presented by IDEE KAFFEE as well as the second qualification in the Prize of Deutsche Kreditbank AG have seen a significant increase in prize money. There is a total of 230,000 euros to be won in the Derby Tour, which is more than ever before," Derby boss Volker Wulff told the Derby Talk at Landhaus Scherrer.
For the first time, sponsor Theurer will also present the Youngster Tour for seven- and eight-year-olds. And the important topic of sustainability of the event is playing an increasingly important role: "I was amazed at how sustainable we already are," reports Volker Wulff. The number one issue, he says, is "fan mobility. We have the S-Bahn on our doorstep, park-and-ride lots make it unnecessary to pollute the air with exhaust fumes. We'll also offer additional bicycle spaces - and the manure disposal from the stables will go to agriculture." To ensure that the large grass pitch retains its legendary quality, 30,000 to 35,000 euros are invested annually in its maintenance alone.
So everything is in place for a weekend of success. And one who will definitely be competing again is Derby titleholder Cassandra Orschel with her Dacara E. In 2022, she and the mare became only the fifth Amazon to win the Blue Ribbon, which now hangs on the wall in her living room, to great acclaim. She has a "little dream" that a successful Derby weekend will open the door to the European Championships for her: "The fact that I'm competing for Poland might make it a little easier to achieve that."
Source: Spring Reiter