What a finale: In the jump-off for the Grand Prix of Münster, presented by AGRAVIS at the indoor riding tournament AGRAVIS Cup, the lead changed until the last rider on Sunday. After the inspiring clear rounds of Markus Renzel/Canmore and Mario Maintz/Oak Grove's Clown, Marie Ligges with Corcovado L set the much acclaimed final point behind the S**** jumping competition in the sold-out Halle Münsterland. As the last rider in the jump-off, she set the pace again, also jumping clear and snatching the victory from the two men with a time of 34.39 seconds.
Six pairs made it into the jump-off of this tournament highlight at the AGRAVIS Cup. Four of them jumped clear. Angelique Rüsen/Arac du Seigneur (Länd. ZRFV Marl) needed 36.31 seconds for their round. Her club colleague Markus Renzel was already cheering high up in the stands after his clear round on Canmore in 35.55 seconds - but he was too happy, as the next rider immediately put a spoke in his wheel. Mario Maintz/Oak Grove's Clown (RV Laer) made the audience go wild with the big canter jumps and a flawless round in 34.59 seconds. Was there more? Yes - Marie Ligges (RFV v. Nagel Herbern) and her eleven-year-old Westphalian gelding Corcovado L also pushed the envelope. Zero faults, 34.39 seconds - that was first place in the Grand Prix of Münster.
"Actually, we didn't ride that fast," the 23-year-old confessed at the award ceremony. She simply wanted to ride her round well - and that worked out fantastically. Father Kai Ligges, master of horse management and Nations Cup rider, was moved to tears after his daughter's victory. Because neither he nor his own father Fritz Ligges had been able to win the Grand Prix in Münster. "This means a lot to me."
Second-placed Mario Maintz is delighted with the development of his nine-year-old Hanoverian stallion: "I built him up slowly via the Youngster Tour, even with setbacks. Now we have developed a wonderful relationship, we trust each other. It makes me very happy and proud when I ride with him in this arena and setting and feel that he is totally with me."
Markus Renzel in third place was also very happy with his eleven-year-old Holsteiner gelding, "When you ride in here and then you are in the front in the placings - that makes me super happy. Canmore jumped outstandingly well here and gave me a good feeling."
Hermann Hesseler, CFO of the main sponsor AGRAVIS Raiffeisen AG, and Oliver Schulze Brüning, Chairman of the organiser Reiterverband Münster, looked back on the AGRAVIS Cup 2023 with more than satisfaction. "We have been offered great equestrian sport, the audience is very close. We have seen everything from top sport to the promotion of young riders. My big thanks go to the voluntary performance of the equestrian association," Hesseler explained. Oliver Schulze Brüning added: "We are happy that the tournament was so well received again. We relied on our best audience and that convinced us. A two-year break was not without its problems, and then to take off again like this makes me and our team very proud. We had about 30,000 spectators again. The new beginning has been a success.
