By Jean Llewellyn (press release)
Photography: Malina Blunck

If a top-event organizer hopes for anything, it’s that the final day will be festive, diverse, and of the highest standard, so the wishes of Stephan Johannsen, his family, and the entire team of the Springflut (Spring Tide) Festival at the Hörup facility were certainly realized.

Riders and guests who packed the stands raved about the friendly and dynamic atmosphere, while the market square and James Farm were popular and well-frequented gathering places. The focus, however, was the finest level of showjumping, with the VR Bank Nord eG Grand Prix as the highlight and Linn Hamann as the celebrated winner.
The demanding 1m50 Grand Prix course saw 34 riders saddle up their best horses, with each competitor allowed to ride two, and Denmark’s Rikke Heineking recognized for being the only one who brought both her partners to the finish line without faults.
Eleven pairs qualified for the jump-off, and the enthusiastic audience witnessed a thrilling finale with all the drama of a Hollywood blockbuster. Almost every clear ride was faster than the one before but, ultimately, Linn Hamann flew the course with her proven 10-year-old Holsteiner Cool Fox (Colman - De Schwatte x Singulord Joter, bred by Jens Riutters) crossing the finish line in an unbeatable time of 35.27 seconds. The 26-year-old from Hamburg was overjoyed: “The Springflut Festival is one of my favorite shows. We always enjoy coming here and have even taken part in a jump-off. The whole weekend, and especially now in the Grand Prix, has been fantastic for my horses and me. We simply feel at home here, and that’s why I’m all the more pleased that we’ve managed to win the jump-off.” Her first place was also sweetened with a special prize: a prestigious jumping saddle, donated by Reitsport Duus.
And the result continued with more extraordinary results when two riders shared second place: Jörg Naeve from Ehlersdorf with his veteran partner Benur du Romet (Balou du Rouet - Donna x Damour, bred by Andrea Pilger), and team world champion Carsten-Otto Nagel (Clarimo - Udine I x Lerano, bred by Manfred Kummetz) with his grey Holsteiner GK Curacao (both with 0/35.33).
Before the final sporting event, organizer Stephan Johannsen, along with several representatives of his team, expressed his thanks to the many visitors: “I wasn’t the sole host, which is why we’re all here; we were all your hosts. This team deserves a big round of applause. We thank you all for being here and supporting us for six years.”
Johannsen also looked optimistically to the future: “We will continue to develop the sport, just as we will develop the event as a festival, both Springtide and James Farm. And that includes equestrian sports as well as the best entertainment.”...

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