German Jumping Derby 2026: Frederic Tillman wins ahead of Simon Heineke and André Thieme

Frederic Tillmann has won the 2026 German Show Jumping Derby. 13 years after his brother Gilbert won with Hello Max in 2013, the Rhinelander defeated local hero Simon Heineke with DSP Comanche VL in the jump-off. Heineke had saddled the 18-year-old Holstein Cordillo, the oldest horse in the starting field. Under Nisse Lüneburg, the Corrido son won the 2019 show jumping derby.

Zero fault ride number 166

Frederic Tillmann laid the foundation for his victory and the prize money of 30,000 euros with the 166th clear round in the history of the German Show Jumping Derby in Hamburg. In 2024, Tillmann and the then ten-year-old son of Cellestial came second, last year they finished in fourth place.

Simon Heineke makes a jump-off possible

Up until the last rider, it looked as if Tillmann’s clear round would be enough to win. But then Simon Heineke and Cordillo entered the stadium, where the crowds euphorically supported every ride despite the cool weather. The 18-year-old Holsteiner caused a few poles to tremble in the arena, but rattled his way clear to his 167th clear round and into the jump-off. “It got a bit stressful there,” Frederic Tillmann said afterwards.

There he had to step on the gas, as Frederic Tillmann and Comanche had set a fast and faultless pace. The Holstein combination, who are at home in Wedel on Hamburg’s western city limits, conceded two faults to take second place. It was the third jump-off for Tillmann and his gelding. “Twice before we hadn’t finished quite so well,” recalls the new Derby winner. The rail barriers had been the pair’s undoing several times in recent years. That’s why Frederic Tillmann took the gelding back significantly before the two poles. I didn’t want to make that “riding mistake again”.

Thieme is doomed by the lowest jump

André Thieme would have liked to win. But right at the start of the course in the 95th German Show Jumping Derby, Paule jumped hesitantly on the Irish walls. “We stumbled once and got out of rhythm, but I had a good feeling again after the moat and palisade,” said a somewhat dejected-looking Thieme afterwards. But after the wobble, things went well.

Up to the jump to the wall, the lowest jump in the entire course in terms of height.

Here Thieme found no distance, “too much inside track”, so that the gelding “more or less stumbled through the jump-off”. Thieme is self-critical: “I rode there like Santa Claus”.

First Santa Claus, then Stilritt

But after that, the pair was like a new pair: The mega cliffs Wall and Planke: textbook. As were the other classics such as the railroad barriers, Pulvermann’s grave, Holsteiner Wegesprünge, wall, Birkenoxer and co. In fact, if someone wanted to make an instructional video on how to ride the German Show Jumping Derby, all they had to do was point the camera at this ride. Great cinema – third place after winning the Grand Prix on Saturday with DSP Chakaria.

Another really annoying mistake

Stephan Dubsky, the Irishman from Lower Saxony, had perhaps the most annoying mistake of all 32 contenders with C the Stars. The second jump, a bay Naturoxer, rarely falls. But C the stars by Contendro picked up a pole here of all places. The only one in the entire course.

Clara Blau finished eighth behind Great Britain’s Guy Williams/Gringos Legacy (4/167.1) and William Whitaker/Flamboyant III (4/170.59) and Ireland’s Commandant Geoff Curran/Hawthornhill (4/173.74). With Paul, the German U25 champion of 2024 was the best-placed woman in the field. The ride was a feast for the eyes. Two who outdid themselves in mutual trust. But the Trakehner after wall and plank and the second rail barrier thwarted an “even” better placing. The consolation: she won the style prize.

Marvin Jüngel and Balou’s Erbin had already taken the option of derby win number three at jump four. The Oldenburg mare stepped into the water ditch – later there was another down. Ninth place for the Saxon.

Results of the 95th German Show Jumping Derby 2026