Dream home win for Eckermann against world's best at Global Champions Tour of Hamburg

Katrin Eckermann and her beautiful chestnut Firth of Lorne  (Photo: Stefano Grasso/LGCT)

The electrifying Longines Global Champions Tour of Hamburg Grand Prix was won by young German star Katrin Eckermann and her beautiful chestnut Firth of Lorne in front of tens of thousands of cheering home fans at the stunning Derby Park, Hamburg. Eckermann had to give everything she had to better World No2 Ben Maher (GBR) and Cella, and World No1 Scott Brash (GBR) and Hello Sanctos, into 2nd and 3rd place.

The 2014 LGCT Championship race is already on fire with the latest Grand Prix cliff-hanger propelling Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS) to the top of the Championship Leaderboard - the only rider so far to win points and be placed at each of the first three events.

A respectful hush came over the packed arena as the first horse of the Grand Prix entered. Frank Rothenburger’s first round proved to be a truly testing track for the all-star 47-strong line-up. Many world-class riders collected four faults down the tricky last line and a few unlucky riders collected an excruciating single time fault in otherwise faultless rounds. But the nine riders who finished the course with a zero score really showed their class, making a difficult course look easy.

The second round was an easier test for the 18 riders that progressed. Despite looking like he wouldn’t touch a pole in the first round, last year’s winners Christian Ahlmann and Codex One were one of six four-fault rounds around the second track that produced ten clears in total. Hotly-tipped 2014 LGCT Championship favourite Marcus Ehning (GER) and Plot Blue also lowered a rail - the final fence - eliciting disappointed groans from the crowd.

Five went through to the jump-off, which was fast and furious. Scott Brash set the pace with a treble clear in 37.52s only to be immediately bettered by Eckermann, who stopped the clock at 36.16 with a blistering round. Ludger Beerbaum (GER) and Chaman did their best to catch Brash and Eckermann, ending up fourth with 37.57s. Ben Maher, last to go, came within 0.5s of the winner’s time but had to settle for 2nd place.

The young German leapt in the air with joy as the World No2 stopped the clock just short of her time. As one of the biggest wins of her career and on home soil, this will be a moment to remember for Katrin Eckermann as she stepped to the top of the podium in front of a roaring home crowd to be presented with her first LGCT Grand Prix Gold medal.

The result put 2011 and 2012 LGCT Champion Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS) at the top of the LGCT Ranking after three events, with 77 points. The lady-rider recently announced the retirement of her famous gelding Itot du Chateau, her partner for a record five LGCT Grand Prix wins. Itot will say goodbye to international competition at a ceremony during the LGCT Paris event in July. Ben Maher lies in 2nd just 10 points behind Tops-Alexander, while Marcus Ehning sits in 3rd 15 points behind the leader.

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