Equestrian World Applauds Christian Ahlmann As Icon Wins Hat-Trick at Mechelen World Cup

Christian Ahlmann, one-time leader of the FEI world ranking, has enjoyed glorious years in his equestrian career. European Championships to numerous Grand Prix titles have lined up under the 49-year-old’s name. For 2023, the pattern was no different. Following a major win at the LGCT Tour of Paris 2023, Ahlmann ensured a perfect round-up to the year on the 30th of December.

The FEI brought one of its many contests to the arena of  Nekkerhal, Mechelen, for a persisting World Cup series. Jumping, dressage, and driving all filled the grounds over 4 days to present a spectacle. However, among over 40 of Europe’s finest in jumping, Ahlmann stood to carry the spotlight for the final day.

All light on Christian Ahlmann

It was the 9th leg of the Jumping World Cup Western European Leg. The finest of the region’s names gathered to fetch the best of the lot. While the event delivered an expected thrill and nail-biting bid, it was ultimately Christian Ahlmann who rose to the top. “In a nail-biting six-way jump-off, Christian Ahlmann skillfully guided the 11-year-old Mandato van de Neerheide to triumph at the ninth leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup,” FEI TV wrote on Instagram, sharing the winning moment.

Over Bart Vonck’s intricately designed course, very few managed to clear rounds. Complexities and faults pushed out 6 of the 40 riders to embrace a clear in round 1. In what followed to be a nail-biter among the equestrian jumping greats, Christian Ahlmann, with his 11-year-old gelding Mandato van de Neerheide, triumphed over the rest.

34.23 Seconds on the clock and the German equestrian left behind Sweden’s and currently FEI’s No.1, Henrik von Eckermann. Along with his event’s victory, Christian Ahlmann gained the prestige of adorning a similar title thrice in his career.

The equestrian hits a hat-trick

Christian Ahlmann marked his equestrian beginnings, aged 15 at the European Championships in 1989. About 2 decades later, he earned World Number One status for the first time. Several Grand Prix and championships trailed along in the following years. One, however, delivered the icon of his first Mechelen World Cup in 2015 with Taloubet Z. The next one was clinched 3 years later, in 2018, atop Clintrexo Z.

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 “It’s fantastic, no doubt about that! Mandato jumped incredible, we took the last risk and everything worked out like I could wish for. We had the fastest riders of the world behind us and still, we could make it, so this was our day today!”, the equestrian rejoiced.

With his performance, Christian Ahlmann moved up to the 17th spot on the Western European League leaderboard while von Eckermann inched closer to Ben Maher.

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