12 things you didn't know about showjumper Marcus Ehning

Germany’s showjumping legend Marcus Ehning landed the €100,000 (£78,741) prize in the Longines Global Champions Tour (GCT) grand prix of Vienna this weekend (19-21 September), on the 17-year-old Plot Blue.

His wife Nadia was a champion vaulter
He has three children, Yula, Davy and Nael
He is from a non-horsey family. His mother was a teacher and his father a livestock dealer
He has one brother and three sisters
His favourite food is steak and chips
His favourite film is Forest Gump, starring his favourite actor Tom Hanks
His favourite show is Aachen
His first pony was called Narmit
He won two pony European gold medals on Starlight
He loves to play football
He has a British groom, Kay Neatham
His idol as a young rider was John Whitaker

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Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her role as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the world reporting from shows and interviewing riders, connections and those involved behind the scenes. Since joining H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on every subject across the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to stable management — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She also has first-hand experience of working in the equestrian industry as a riding instructor and yard manager.