Doha: Marcus Ehning and Stargold win the Grand Prix

Doha (fn-press). Marcus Ehning (Borken) will not have regretted the trip to Doha. At the CSI5* in the Al Shaqab equestrian center in Qatar's capital, the 47-year-old won the Grand Prix, which is endowed with 410,000 euros, with the Oldenburg stallion Stargold. In an extremely exciting jump-off, which six pairs had achieved, he relegated the Swede Evelina Tovek and the Dutchman Maikel van der Vleuten to second and third place.

Stargold has proven time and time again that he can be fast, but in the ultra-modern equestrian center Al Shaqab the stallion really surpassed himself. After a flawless first round and an equally flawless second round of the best 18 couples, Marcus Ehning and the Oldenburg son of Stakkato Gold reached the jump-off, together with five other couples. The man from Borken steered his partner across the finish line in fantastic style and extremely efficiently. The clock stopped at an error-free 33.98 seconds. The reward for the effort: Ehning was guaranteed the gross prize money of 135,300 euros. It was the first five-star win for 11-year-old Stargold.

The times of the competition made it clear how fast the two were going. The Swede Evelina Tovek and the Zangersheide gelding Winnetou de La Hamente Z also shot clear, but were more than a second and a half slower – second place (0/36.51). Her trainer Henrik von Eckermann and his Belgian Olympic horse King Edward followed in fifth place (4/36.20).

The Dutch showed strong performances. Maikel van der Vleuten achieved the third best result with the Zangersheider Beauville Z (0/36.73), Harrie Smolders and the French gelding Bingo du Parc came fourth (0/38.75). Sixth place also went to the Netherlands: Jur Vrieling and Holsteiner Long John Silver had four penalties in 37.17 seconds.

With the exception of Ehning, the Grand Prix was less successful for the German riders. Second best was Christian Ahlmann (Marl) with the Zangersheide stallion Dominator Z in 13th place. On the other hand, Ahlmann was happy about a success in Thursday's main show jumping test: in the course over 1.55 meters he placed with the Oldenburg stallion Solid Gold Z (by Stakkato Gold) took second place behind Peder Fredricson of Sweden with Hansson. Hans-Dieter Dreher (Eimeldingen) also got his chance, he won a 1.45 meter show jumping test with the French chestnut Vestmalle des Cotis, and Ludger Beerbaum took the Rhenish gelding Cool Feeling by V. Cornado NRW fourth place in the main competition on Saturday (1.60 meters). Most of the riders don't start their journey home immediately, but stay in Doha, because on Thursday next week the Global Champions Tour starts in the new season in the Al Shaqab Equestrian Sports Center. hen