Global Champions Tour Vienna: First Stage Victory for Sophie Hinners; Hans-Dieter Dreher Finishes Ninth
Sophie Hinners’ First Global Champions Tour Victory in Vienna
from Jan Tönjes 
Winner of the Global Champions Tour event in Vienna: Sophie Hinners and Iron Dames Combella. Photo: LGCT Eight pairs in the jump-off, with Sophie Hinners starting in fifth place. A strong starting position for the team world champion, which she knew how to capitalize on. Riding Iron Dames Combella, she built on the principle that Katrin Eckermann had already demonstrated on Saturday in front of Schönbrunn Palace: German riders simply ride faster than the rest.
In the end, the pair finished just under half a second faster than the competition. Hinners clocked 43.13 seconds with the daughter of Cornet du Lys. This left Sweden’s Peder Fredricson and Alcapone des Carmille in second place. The son of Diamant de Semilly crossed the finish line in 43.6 seconds.
Five pairs rode clear rounds in this jump-off. Belgian rider Olivier Philippaerts also made it onto the podium with Hipster (44.86); fourth place went to Belgian rider Gudrun Patteet with Sea Coast Qarvaljo d’Or, ahead of Yuri Mansur with Alfons Santo Antonio.
Hans-Dieter Dreher and Elysium narrowly missed qualifying for the jump-off. The pair had a time penalty in the first round and finished ninth.
The show jumping didn’t start until after 8 p.m. So it was clear to Sophie Hinner where she would celebrate her first victory in a Global Champions Tour event: “In the truck on the way home.”
