On Saturday night, during the 38th P.S.I. Auction Gala Dinner, a bundle of women’s power was recognized by Ullrich Kasselmann and Paul Schockemöhle with the P.S.I. Award. The Performance Sales International Award – a horse made of valuable Swarovski crystal – was given to individuals in three categories who have shown exceptional work in or around the equestrian sports.
The P.S.I. Award in the category “Shooting Star” went to Laura, "a 23-year-old jumping rider who reflected on a hugely successful show season in 2017. She is however not a newcomer to a jumping saddle, as she collected the first of four medals in different categories for riders of the younger generation when she was just 14 years old. But even now in the Seniors division, things seem to be going well: in 2017 alone Klaphake came fifth in the Global Champions Tour of Hamburg, became German National Jumping Champion in Balve, took action in the Nations Cup in Rotterdam, placed in the Grand Prix in Aachen, and saved the best for last when she was part of the German team at the European Championships in Gothenburg earning fifth place with the German team and placed as the second best woman in the individual ranking" stated Carsten Sostmeier during presentation. Sven Holmberg, sports manager of the “a young Riders Academy” praised the award winner in his laudatory speech. The “a young Riders Academy”, in which program Klaphake was accepted to in 2016, not only requires skill as a rider, but also the ability to play the role of ambassador for the sport. “Laura filled all of the criteria. She is an excellent ride, with a great presence, at the shows as well as in the media – always with a smile.”