Hamburg: Cassandra Orschel wins the German Spring Derby

None of the 28 couples managed a clear round over the 1,200 meter long, traditional course of the German Show Jumping Derby in Hamburg. As has happened several times in the past, a jump-off for the riders with four penalties had to decide the victory. With the first starters, the penalties had added up, up to 32. It was Cassandra Orschel's turn as seventh: In the saddle of the eleven-year-old Holsteiner mare Dacara E by. Cancara she mastered the cliffs like the Great Wall, the Irish Walls and Pulverman's Tomb with seemingly no effort, only the plank of the first obstacle behind the Wall, an always error-prone jump, fell to the ground. The 30-year-old, who lives in the Rendsburg area, had to wait more than an hour for the second four-fault ride, but towards the end of the derby three more errors were added.

Cassandra Orschel presented in the jump-off with a clear round in 55.31 seconds. It should remain the only one. Sandra Auffarth, the eventing world champion, who has twice been placed high in the derby, and her derby-experienced Hanoverian Nupafeeds La Vista (by Lordanos) lost two obstacles. Frederic Tillmann and his Brandenburg gelding Comanche by Cellestial finished the jump-off with four penalties and second place, and final rider André Thieme and his Oldenburg show jumper Contadur by. Conteros finished the derby with eight penalties. It was third place ahead of Sandra Auffarth.

Cassandra Orschel, as a substitute, had only been given permission to start in the Derby the day before because some riders had decided not to start. She describes her mare, which she bought from the Holsteiner Verband when she was four, as a “difficult horse”, “but I still fell in love with her. And she gives everything at the tournament.” But she never expected to win the derby. The Brit Caroline Bradley was the last to do that – 47 years ago!

André Thieme had been traded as a big favourite. After all, the 47-year-old from Mecklenburg had already won the classic three times (2007, 2008 and 2011). But his 14-year-old stallion Contadur has problems with Busch-Oxers. A few years ago, horse and rider fell into such an obstacle at the CHIO. "Although I've trained a lot, this situation has probably stuck in his head." In any case, after a picture-perfect round, the horse stumbled again at this jump.

Second-placed Frederic Tillmann, whose brother Gilbert won the Derby in 2013 with the gelding Hello Max, said: “It was certainly daring to ride this test with a horse that was only eight years old. I had also planned with another horse but that was injured. So Commanche was sort of a stopgap, but he has a great attitude and did a great job.” Hen