This past weekend the 92nd German Jumping Derby was held in Hamburg Klein Flottbeck. As with most derbies, the course stays the same year after year, but this event is considered by some to be the world’s most challenging and longest course. It consists of 17 fences and a mighty 26 efforts that run over 1250m and unusually only has one change of direction!
The single change of direction is not the only unique element of the Hamburg Derby track. Besides the usual open water and dyke, Hamburg also has a very short combination of verticals at 12a and b with only one single rail on each effort, and the infamous Idee Klattee wall/bank – a double bank bounce up to a vertical at the top before sliding down the steep bank with one stride to a massive upright of planks.
This year, of the 32 qualified starters, only two combinations jumped clear: Denmark’s Caroline Rehoff Pederson riding the 12yo gelding Calvin 115 and Marvin Jüngel riding the 14yo mare Balou’s Erbin. Both young riders (only 21 years old) jumped clear in the jump-off, but Caroline picked up a single time-penalty in the jump-off and had to settle for second. Jüngel, who was “at a loss for words” after his victory, is now the second youngest Hamburg Derby winner in history!