The CHIO Aachen is once again the venue of the Finale of the German U25 Trophy of the Stiftung Deutscher Pferdesport and Holger Hetzel, Prize of Holger Hetzel. And once again the winner of the first round comes from Schleswig-Holstein and is called Hannes Ahlmann.

As the last pair to go, Hannes Ahlmann and his nine-year-old Holstein-bred Toulon daughter, Tokyo, overtook the entire field of the German U25 Trophy from the rear. After jumping clear in 73.64 seconds they relegated Henrike-Sophie Boy with Aquarell Sun (74.12) and Enno Klaphake with NC Verso Red Wine (77.29) into second and third place, respectively.

In the course of four qualifiers, the best five riders respectively won themselves a ticket for the CHIO Aachen. It is the second time that Ahlmann, the rider from Schleswig-Holstein, has competed in this class – and the second time he has won the opening round. “Naturally, it is always something very special to ride here on the Holy Grass!” the 23-year-old emphasised and added: “Of course, it is great that I managed to win the opening class again. But we now also hope to take the victory in the Finale as well!”

Ahlmann was one of the five riders to reach the jump-off last year. In 2023, he had saddled Nerrado and the pair came fourth. His sports partner this year, the mare Tokyo, has already carried him over 1.60 metre courses and jumped to victory in both qualifiers of the U25 trophy in Balve. Ahlmann’s hopes are thus entirely justified.

Holger Hetzel is co-sponsoring the German U25 Trophy for the first time this year. As a father too. Since his daughter, Laura, is also one of the finalists. She finished fourth today with her Westphalian-bred mare, Angel D’or.

The year 2024 not only marks 100 years of show history at the Aachen Soers, but also a decade of the German U25 Trophy. The series for aspiring young riders was staged for the first time in 2014. It was initiated by the national coach of the show-jumpers, Otto Becker, together with the co-trainer at the time, Heinrich-Hermann Engemann. The aim was to make it easier for the Young Riders to get a foothold on the senior-level circuit. It has long since become evident that the idea is working. The championship riders, Laura Klaphake and Maurice Tebbel also competed in the German U25 Trophy in the past, alongside the designated Olympic rider, Richard Vogel. The latter succeeded in winning the Finale in Aachen three times in succession and already rode to victory in the Big Tour at the Soers in 2023 already.