Tillmann, von Helldorff, Kohoutek, Klaus Win 2025 German Youth Riders Championships

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2025 German Youth Riders Championships

Pony rider Madlin Tillmann, children rider Lilli von Helldorff, junior rider Clara Kohoutek and young rider Nele Klaus became the winners of the 2025 German Youth Riders Championships, which were held in Aachen this year.

The event took place on 21 - 24 August 2025.

Pony Riders: Madlin Tillmann

The first German champion of the weekend came forward in the pony division, local heroine Madlin Tillmann from Grevenbroich. She secured the pony champion's title on her buckskin Mister Prime Time with three wins out of three starts. She posted 75.051%, 76.537% and 77.325% for a winning total of 228.913 percent.

"At first, I didn't really realise it; to be honest, I didn't expect it. Now I'm just happy and incredibly proud of my pony," said Madlin.

The 15-year-old Tillmann, who won team gold and placed sixth at the Europeans earlier this summer with her number one pony, Chilly Morning, edged out European silver medal winning Leni-Sophie Gosmann who also got silver at the German Championships. Gosmann totalled 227.065 percentage points, while Hannah Charlotte Isbruch and Dabia Dior NRW landed bronze with 223.408 points. Isbruch also competed at the Europeans where she was 9th in the individual test.

Children: Lilli von Helldorff

The children's podium: Engelmeyer, von Helldorff, Rodloff

The German Children Championship does not follow the traditional format of three rounds. Instead two qualification rounds are ridden and the top three gets invited to a final with horse change.

Lilli von Helldorff from Hanover prevailed with an impressive total score of 26.1 and was celebrated as the national children champion. She not only impressed with her own horse Fürst Rico, but also demonstrated great riding skill on the horses of her competitors – Ferguston and Da Rubio.

Von Helldorff was overjoyed. "I am delighted with this great success, it is really something very special for me," she said.

Second place went to Marielle Engelmeyer, who scored 24.4 points, closely followed by Ava Lia Rodloff with 24.0 points.

Junior Riders: Clara Kohoutek

The junior podium: Schmitz-Heinen, Kohoutek, Bartels

In the junior rider division two combinations that represented Germany at the European Junior Riders Championships showed up for the Nationals in Aachen (Pohl on Diaton and Von Braunmuhl on First Class). This left ample room for other German juniors to shine.

Clara Kohoutek (Baden-Württemberg) and Dark Dancer impressed as she moved to the highest step of the podium by placing second in the team test (71.595%) and winning the individual ( 73.789%) and the Kur ( 76.550%).

"I didn't expect it at all and haven't really realised it yet. It's just an incredibly great feeling. I'm so proud of Dark Dancer. We've known each other for so long and have such a close bond. That makes it even more wonderful," beamed the newly crowned German junior champion.

Silver went to European Junior Riders Champion Julie Sofie Schmitz-Heinen who did not saddle her Euro ride Attractive, but brought along First Date OLD. They won the team test (73.054%), were fourth in the individual ( 71.737%), and third in the Kur (74.675%%) to place second overall. The bronze was for Eve Catherine Bartels on Villeneuve.

European silver medal winning Maria Teresa Pohl and Diaton landed 7th place at the nationals. Von Braunmühl was sixth.

Young Riders: Nele Klaus

A total new face climbed the highest step of the podium in the young riders division: Nele Klaus. In the absence of the European Young Riders Champion Lana Pinou Baumgurtel and her team mate and sister Lucie Anouk, and with also European team rider Rose Oatley and Don Domingo missing, the field in Aachen lay open. Fourth team rider Kindler showed up and placed 9th.

The 18-year old Klaus has only twice competed at CDI show in her life, twice on home turf in Hagen. At national level she seems a force to be reckoned with as she and her 11-year old Oldenburg gelding Bonfire (by Belissimo M x Diamond Hit) won all three rounds: the team test with 72.079%, the individual test with 72.079%, and the kur with 75.000%. Klaus is from Berlin-Brandenburg and trains with Jochen Vetters. She has been riding Bonfore since he was a 6-year old.

"I still can't quite believe it. We came to Aachen with a few expectations, but I didn't necessarily expect to win," said Klaus, who was overwhelmed with happiness and pride after her triumph.

Josephine Ruppert and DSP Bella Donna finished in silver medal position, while Capri-Marie Raum and Blickfang HC got bronze.

Scores: 2025 German Youth Riders Championships