I can’t put it any other way: Leipzig was an incredibly beautiful tournament, and the spectators were phenomenal.
It was already an amazing feeling that not only Maurice but also Justine were able to ride in the Grand Prix there. But when they both went clear in the Leipzig Championship – that was unbelievable! It doesn’t happen very often: both children competing together at a five-star tournament, both in the same class, and both clear – sensational!
Don Diarado was simply in fantastic form in Leipzig overall. A magnificent clear round in the Championship and then another clear in the jump-off – brilliant! In the end, they finished fifth. In the World Cup jumping competition on Sunday, Don Diarado jumped superbly again. Unfortunately, they didn’t quite get the triple combination right and had a rail down at the middle fence, but otherwise, they were simply fantastic.
Besides Don Diarado, Maurice also had Copin’s Boy with him. For the seven-year-old, it was his first tournament since the World Championships in Lanaken, his first indoor tournament of this size and with this kind of atmosphere – he’d never seen anything like it before and did very well for it.
Justine placed three times, and both horses jumped exceptionally well. Light Star was already safe and clear in the opening jumping class on Thursday, and then on Saturday in the championship, he had this top round: very safe and clear, and the course was definitely challenging. Twelfth place in a top-class field! On Saturday evening, Justine secured another nice placing in the speed class with Flight of Ikarus. Overall, Leipzig couldn’t have gone much better for us!
And now we’re all preparing for our stallion show on February 16th in Vechta.
