Hannes Ahlmann competed in the qualifier for the Final of the German U25 Trophy of the Stiftung Deutscher Pferdesport and Holger Hetzel, Prize of Holger Hetzel, at the CHIO Aachen for the third time this year. And he has also won it for the third time. But he hasn’t been able to claim the victory in the Final yet. But Ahlmann has a plan.

As the last pair to go in the qualifier for the German U25 Trophy, Hannes Ahlmann and his nine-year-old Holstein-bred stallion, Coquetto, demonstrated how aesthetic show jumping can be with a stylistic and fast round over the 1.45-metre course. The clock stopped at 68.77 seconds. That meant the victory, ahead of Charlotte Grave and her grey mare, Hella, who reached the finish line in a time of 71.40 seconds in an equally stylish fashion. Johanna Beckmann secured third place with Emelie van de Mirania Stam – a pair that have also already been placed in 1.55-metre classes.

That is the third time that Hannes Ahlmann has won the qualifier for the Final of the German U25 Trophy. He has also reached the jump-off of the Final each time, which is on the agenda tomorrow. However, he picked up four faults here each time so far. “Up until now winning on the first day wasn’t the best omen, but then again what you have got, you’ve got!” His strategy for tomorrow? Stay cool. “We’ll see what happens tomorrow. The horse is in good form and hopeful it will go well,” was the professional comment of the rider from Schleswig-Holstein, who after completing an apprenticeship in business administration now works at his parent’s yard in Reher full-time. And as is common knowledge all good things come in threes.