German rides off with both golds in a sparkling night at Sha Tin
Floodlights were superfluous as dental surgeon Hinrich Romeike's bright smile lit up the night sky at Sha Tin last night. The German, riding grey gelding Marius, finished with twin gold medals as the three-day eventing competition came to an end.
Romeike not only spearheaded Germany to a team gold, but he then returned an hour later and capped it by winning the individual event to give his country a clean sweep of the first two of the six equestrian medals on offer.
'I just want to enjoy this moment now. I don't have any plans to celebrate, as yet,' said the overjoyed Romeike after he nailed down the gold with a clear round to finish on 54.20 penalty points.
'It is afternoon in Germany now. My patients are sitting in front of a big flat screen and watching what's happening and probably having champagne . . .while I'm having water here.
'This horse means everything to me,' he said.