Riding Caribis Z at the Leipziger Exhibition Ground the 44-year-old - who served an eight-month doping ban after his horse Cöster tested positive for a banned substance at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing - triumphed by completing the course with zero penalties in 40.70sec.

Ahlmann was one of three riders to finish with no penalties in a strong field, beating Belgium’s Francois Jr Mathy and Italy’s Lorenzo de Luca, who finished second and third respectively.

The duo, who also produced clean runs, finished in 41.49 and 42.19 respectively.

Ahlmann took home a cheque for €40,000 (£35,000/$45,000) for his victory, while Mathy gains €32,000 (£28,000/$36,000) and Luca earns €24,000/£21,000/$27,000).

Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs, who entered the competition as the highest ranked rider in the Western European League, finished down in 11^th.

Riding Chaplin he completed the course with four penalties in 66.22, earning €4,000 (£3,500/$4,500) in the process.

The riders will next head to Amsterdam for the penultimate qualifying event of the season on Sunday (January 27).

The last event will then go ahead in Bordeaux in February, before the global final takes place in Gothenburg in April.