Kirchhellener Classics — Equestrian Tournament at Hof Dieckmann

Top Equestrian Sport at Hof Dieckmann

The Kirchhellener Classics is the premier equestrian event in the northwest of the Ruhr area. Organized by the Ländliche Reit- und Fahrverein Kirchhellen e.V. (LRFV), which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2025. For years, the venue has been Hof Dieckmann in Bottrop-Kirchhellen, district of Feldhausen – a classic equestrian estate transitioning from the Münsterland region to the Ruhr area.

Format: Two Weekends, One Tour Program

In 2026, the tournament will be extended to two weekends: June 4th to 7th and June 12th to 14th, 2026. This provides athletes, horses, and spectators with ample time for a packed program of competitions, show formats, and accompanying events. Around 300 riders from Germany and abroad will compete, including numerous national squad members.

Show Jumping up to S**: Five Top-Class Events

The sporting core consists of five S** show jumping competitions, meaning top-level events with two stars. In addition, there will be qualifiers for the Provinzial Series for juniors and for the Bundeschampionat, as well as championships for five- and six-year-old horses. This makes the tournament not just a spectacle, but a serious career platform. The highlight is the 'Großer Preis von Kirchhellen' on Sunday, June 14th, 2026 – with a winner's prize of €7,500.

Mare and Foal Show, Jump & Wurf

A special element of Kirchhellen tradition is the Mare and Foal Show on Saturday, June 6th, 2026, at 10 AM: here, Westphalian and Hanoverian bloodlines will be presented. New to the 2026 program is the 'Jump & Wurf' show on Saturday evening, June 6th, starting at 6 PM: 15 teams of riders and members of the 'Kirchhellener Brezelbrüder' will compete in a tongue-in-cheek skill course – an example of the fusion of sport, Volksfest (folk festival), and local club traditions.

Kirchhellen in the Recklinghausen District – A Village in Northern Bottrop

Bottrop is an independent city in the western Ruhr area (state of North Rhine-Westphalia); the district of Kirchhellen, with its fields, forests, and Movie Park, forms the northernmost tip, transitioning into the Münsterland. It is precisely this rural character that makes Hof Dieckmann the ideal location: meadows, stables, and sand arenas directly at the venue, complemented by catering and a family program. Anyone looking to combine equestrian sport with the atmosphere of a summer Volksfest will find it here.