Hamburg, Germany – May 10, 2024 – Emeric George (FRA) is 35 years old, comes from France and has one goal: He wants to win the 93rd German Jumping Derby presented by Idee Kaffee. No Frenchman has ever won this traditional derby. “That’s why I’m here,” he smiled in the NDR interview immediately after his ride.
He laid the first foundation for Derby success on Friday in the €40,000 Deutsche Kreditbank AG Prize CSI 4*, the second qualification for the German Jumping Derby, and won with his eleven-year-old mare Dune du Ru by a whopping nine seconds. “That was exactly my plan,” said George happily. “My mare needs this fast basic speed, she has no problems with the Derby obstacles and can turn very quickly. I was fourth in the first qualifying here on Wednesday – I knew then that I had to ride faster.”
Emeric George (FRA) is in Hamburg for the first time. Last year, he won the Derby in Dinard with his derby specialist, and this year he really wanted to go to the German Jumping Derby in Hamburg. “Winning it would be a dream,” admits the former engineer, “but first and foremost it’s about the honor of having successfully taken part in this world-famous derby.”
In the first qualification she came third, in the second qualification she came second, in the derby on Sunday… “No, no, I’m not stressing myself out,” explained 22-year-old Elisa Marlene von Hacht (GER), completely calm. She is competing at Derby Park for the third time with her 15-year-old Lacoon and is looking towards Sunday ‘differently’ than her colleagues. For 99 percent of the riders, the wall with the plank is the biggest challenge. Elisa sees it this way: “We’ve already gotten over the wall with the plank without making any mistakes, but I don’t like Pulvermann’s Grave at all. It’s somehow incredibly difficult for me to get started properly.”
Last year’s derby winner, Marvin Jüngel (GER), came third in this second qualification. Balou’s Erbin OLD felt really comfortable in Klein Flottbek, she was even more energetic than at other tournaments and felt great. And he also has a plan: “The derby victory is of course a big title that we would like to defend. If I manage to do that this year, I would try it for the third time next year. If it doesn’t work out this year, then the goal would definitely be to do it again and then send Balou’s Erbin into retirement.”
Ten of the 46 starters remained flawless in the 1.50m challenge – to the great delight of Derby boss Volker Wulff: “I am very satisfied. I assume that we will have just under 30 starters on Sunday. The couples we saw today were, for the most part, very, very safe. That looked very good.”
He stood on the course with Paul Schockemöhle and said to him: “Do you remember what it was like on Friday when we started? We sold 460 tickets.” Today there were 23,500 spectators in the Klein Flottbek Derby Park and celebrated the riders and horses.
Final Results – €40,000 Deutsche Kreditbank AG Prize CSI 4*
1) Emeric George (FRA) & Dune de Ru – 0 – 91.14
2) Elisa Marlon von Hacht (GER) & Lancoon – 0 – 100.16
3) Marvin Jüngel (GER) & Balou’s Erbin OLD – 0 – 102.59
Source: Press Release from En Garde Marketing (translated & edited) for the Hamburg Jumping & Dressage Derby
Photos: © EnGarde Markerting / Pferdefotografie Stefan LaFrentz @ https://www.sportfotos-lafrentz.de/
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Categories: CSI 4*, English, Jumper News France
