The British based German Grand Prix rider Nikolas Kröncke has officially declared for Great Britain at the start of 2024. He is now riding with the union jack on his saddle pad.
The 41-year old Kröncke lives with his wife, German Grand Prix rider and 2022 British Grand Prix test Champion Kathleen Keller-Kröncke, in the U.K.. He commutes between London city and the Cotswolds. The pair train with Spencer Wilton.
"Unfortunately sports make you still choose a nationality," Nikolas told Eurodressage. "My heart beats for both the UK and Germany but we live and intend to stay in the UK. We love it here in the Cotswolds, so ultimately it’s makes more sense to ride for Great Britain." Wife Kathleen is still declared for Germany.
Nikolas was the 1997 European Pony Champion on Konrad, a title he achieved in Hartpury (GBR). He became the 1998 German Junior Champion on Mont Royal and with Larso he claimed medals at the 1999 European Junior Riders Championships and 2000 European Junior Rider Championships. He rode Cherokee to team gold at the 2003 European Young Riders Championships.
In 2003 Kröncke quit riding to study at Stanford University in the U.S.A.. After an internship at McKinsey he began working for UBS Investment bank as an analyst. For the past 14 years Nikolas has been working for the London branch of Elliot Advisors as a commodities analyst and portfolio manager.
In 2021 Nikolas returned to the arena after a 17-year break with Helga Stotmeister's Hanoverian Flanell (by Fidertanz x De Niro), which the Krönckes bought from Stotmeister that year. The pair competed at the CDI's in Wellington Heckfield and Hartpury that year.
A long break from international showing followed, but in February 2024 Nikolas came back with Flanell at the CDI Le Mans, riding for Great Britain for the first time. This weekend, he's competing the chestnut at the CDI Addington. They placed 8th in the Grand Prix with 67.696%
Photo © Kevin Sparrow
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