Hans Emslander from Germany on Passat achieved his best result when he gained a second place in the Hamburg Derby in 1968 after Nelson Pessoa on Gran Geste.
Hans Emslander (GER) on Passat – Hamburger Derby 1968
History of the classic Derby in Hamburg. The course, the fences, legendary riders and horses in vintage video clips.
Nelson Pessoa in Aachen 1961. Today he celebrates his 75th birthday.
Today, December 16th, we wish Nelson Pessoa a Happy Birthday!
Nelson Pessoa (* December 16, 1935 in Rio de Janeiro), nicknamed Neco, was among the first Brazilian civilians to do well in the sport, as the military had dominated it in the Brazil of that era. He moved to Europe in 1961 and became a legend in show jumping.
Nelson Pessoa participated in five Olympic Games and nine World Championships. His first Olympic start was in Stockholm 1956, when he was 21 years old.
He won the Hamburg Derby a record seven times (1962 on Espartaco, 1963, 1965 and 1968 on Gran Geste, 1992, 1993 and 1994 on Vivaldi). On Vivaldi he was the first to win the Hamburg Derby three years in a row on the same horse.
He took three victories in the Hickstead Derby (1963 and 1965 on Gran Geste and 1996 on Vivaldi). In Aachen he won the Grand Prix twice (1964 on Gran Geste and 1972 on Nagir).
He won the European Championships in 1966 in Lucerne on Gran Geste. He is the only non-European rider to have done so. He was also second in the Euros the year before in Aachen. Pessoa never won the World Cup Final, but he came second on Larramy in Gothenburg 1984, and in Gothenburg 1991 he was again second, riding Special Envoy.
Today he owns a famous equestrian school at Haras du Ligny in Fleurus, Belgium. His son is the Olympic gold medallist and World Champion Rodrigo Pessoa.
Nelson Pessoa on the fantastic Gran Geste - pure elegance!
Nelson Pessoa and Gran Geste winning the Grand Prix in Dortmund 1964. After Pessoa are Hermann Schridde, Hans Günter Winkler, Raimondo d'Inzeo and Kurt Jarasinski.
