Klaphake? German U25 Trophy? That rings a bell! That’s right, before Laura Klaphake won the bronze medal for Germany at the World Championships in 2018, she successfully participated in the series of the German U25 Trophy of the Stiftung Deutscher Pferdesport and Holger Hetzel, Prize of Holger Hetzel. Now her brother Enno is following in her footsteps.

This year’s German U25 Trophy was nail-biting through to the very end! Eight pairs reached the jump-off, Enno Klaphake and NC Verso Red Wine were in the lead on a time of 38.17 seconds when the winners of yesterday’s opening competition, Hannes Ahlmann and Tokyo, entered the ring. Ahlmann already won the opening round last year and made it through to the jump-off of the Final, where he unfortunately picked up four faults. Yesterday, he announced that he wanted to do better this year. He was on the road to success up until the last obstacle, clear and faster than Klaphake. But then the pole fell and dashed Ahlmann’s dream of claiming the victory on the Holy Grass in Aachen. The pair ultimately finished sixth.

One man’s joy is another man’s sorrow. Enno Klaphake: “I really didn’t think I’d win because Hannes Ahlmann was still to go, but then luckily for me he knocked a pole at the last fence.” All the greater his joy: “Winning here in Aachen – yes, exceptional! An awesome feeling!” As well as to his sponsors, who enabled him to take part in the Final in Aachen, his thanks above all went to us OS gelding, NC Verso Red Wine, a twelve-year-old Vigo d’Arsouilles son, who Enno knows inside and out. “I have had him since he was six. He is a very special horse – but that what makes him so good, because he is careful and has such a good attitude. When I fight, he fights with me!”

The German Champion of the U25 Show-jumpers and the German Ladies Champion in 2025, Mylen Kruse, finished second. She had brought the Holstein-bred stallion, Lovelight by Lord Z, to Aachen with her. The pair have not being competing together for long. It was their first ever jump-off together today. So, Kruse was delighted with the result: A clear round in a time of 40.60 seconds in the jump-off. But even if she hadn’t have won a rosette, she would have benefited from the experience in Aachen. Questioned as to what importance the German U25 Trophy had for her in comparison to her German Champion title, she replied: “Of course that was fantastic in Balve, because I was competing against the seniors there. But Aachen as an event venue compensates for that in itself. The fact that one can watch so many other riders here, is extremely valuable!” She reported that she likes learning something from everyone, “at the end of the day you can’t copy anyone, but you can pick up a few tips.”

On the other hand, Marvin Jüngel (0/41.23), who came third, had a specific role model: “Richard Vogel!”, he said as quick as a shot. Vogel won the German U25 Trophy three times in the past and ranking tenth place, he is the best German show-jumper in the world rankings. Jüngel spent several months at Vogel’s yard during the winter. Whereby he himself notched up great achievements before travelling to the Soers. In May he won the German Derby in Hamburg for the second time in succession where he had saddled his long-time partner, Balou’s Erbin. For his performance in Aachen he had opted for his nine-year-old mare, who he is setting his hopes for the future in, DSP Kontendra by Contendro. He too was overjoyed at coming third: “I am super, super proud! The mare is just growing into all of this at the moment and that was an incredibly fast jump-off. I am definitely over happy!”

Antonia Locker with Cristobal (0/41.68) and Beeke Carstensen, the sister of last year’s winner Teike Carstensen, with Carbas (0/44.94) ranked fourth and fifth respectively.