Show jumper Kendra Claricia Brinkop wins the Leipzig Championships

Jumping rider Kendra Claricia Brinkop has secured the home victory she had hoped for and first place in the Leipzig Championships. In the main show jumping competition on Saturday, the 30-year-old surprisingly won in the saddle on her horse Do It Easy with the fastest round of the jump-off. Jana Wargers followed in second place with Rockwell ahead of Daniel Deußer with Gangster.

The success was "great", commented the winner in an interview with MDR. "The horse is incredibly talented," said Brinkop, who comes from Neumünster and now lives in Belgium: "He fought really well for me." Curious: the Germans in second and third place have also been living and working in Belgium for several years.

Six German pairs reached the jump-off with nine starters. Among them was Deußer, who was the most successful German rider in Leipzig to date with two victories in smaller jumping competitions - but the 42-year-old was too slow in the championships.

Christian Ahlmann, the most successful rider in the history of the Leipzig show, had even less luck. The rider from Marl collected eleven penalty points with Mandato and only finished in 33rd place. Last year's winner Richard Vogel was not at the start. The currently best German show jumper is competing in a tournament series in Florida.

The highlight of the tournament is the Grand Prix on Sunday. In the most important competition of the tournament, the show jumpers can collect points for the World Cup Final. World champion Henrik von Eckermann (Sweden) is currently leading the Western European League rankings ahead of Great Britain's Ben Maher. The best German is Hans-Dieter Dreher from Eimeldingen in ninth place ahead of René Dittmer from Stade in tenth place.