Sweden's world number one, Henrik von Eckermann, who now holds all the world titles, is a true star of show jumping... but he's not a diva. He is still down-to-earth, approachable and cheerful. He is first and foremost a professional rider focused on his goals. For Bordeaux he set himself only just one: the World Cup.
Team Sweden made history by adding European Team gold to their accolades which include the Olympic and World titles — a mission accomplished in two years only.
Israel and Poland set themselves apart from a large field of Olympic hopefuls Friday in Prague (CZE), topping the Group C Designated Olympic Qualifier at the CSIO4* CET Prague Cup.
The amazing gelding King Edward and Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann made history in Omaha winning the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final by taking the 2023 title — a first for Sweden. With an unpredictable turnout until the very end, the duo who has collected both the Olympic and World Championships jumped to the highest step of the podium leaving Harrie Smolders of The Netherlands riding Monaco N.O.P. in second place and wonderful American Hunter Holloway and Pepita Con Spita in third. Missing the podium by a very narrow margin was Brazil’s Yuri Mansur and Vitiki.
For the accomplished pair of Andre Thieme (GER) and DSP Chakaria, the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Ocala (USA) title had been elusive.
The 2021 individual European Champions, who base in Ocala each winter, finished second in Ocala in 2020 and third in 2022. Sunday at Live Oak Stud, they secured their long-awaited and much-deserved victory, besting an 11-horse jump-off.
Spain’s Marco Fuste, known for his bountiful charisma and extensive experience in the equestrian sporting sphere, including his tenure as FEI Jumping Director since 1 February 2021, passed away on 5 January 2023 from heart complications. He was 60 years of age.
The Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Grand Prix qualifier put an end to the CSI A Coruña 2022 with a German triumph starred by the rider Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann aboard "Messi van't Ruytershof”.
Madrid is a happy hunting ground for Julien Epaillard. The French rider came out on top in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Western European League qualifier twelve months ago with Billabong du Roumois, and today he did it all over again with another 10-year-old, the extraordinary mare Caracole de la Roque.
At the 2021 Spanish fixture he was on a roll throughout the week before recording that victory and this year he was on flying form once more, winning Friday’s qualifying competition and then trampling the opposition into submission this afternoon. He only had six opponents to fend off last time around, today there were 15 through to the jump-off. But none of the rest could match the turn of foot and accuracy of his classy mare who might have been even quicker but for a momentary safety-check halfway around the jump-off course.
It had been seven months since Lillie Keenan (USA) had jumped internationally in the United States when she met her stallion Agana van het Gerendal Z for the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Las Vegas (USA). She received a warm homecoming when she recorded her first career World Cup victory, besting a six-horse jump-off before a packed crowd Saturday night at the South Point Hotel.
Heading into the jump-off for the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Lexington (USA), Daniel Bluman (ISR) did not want to take a big risk to the third fence in the short track, a spooky wall. But then his competitive spirit took over. Bluman's bold turn to the fence put him on track to victory over a seven-horse jump-off with his longtime partner, Ladriano Z.
He has long had a reputation as a super-fast rider, and today Julien Epaillard set the home crowd alight when scorching to victory with the great mare Caracole de la Roque at the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2022/2023 Western European League qualifier on home ground in Lyon (FRA).
The 45-year-old Frenchman was in flying form all week, with three big wins already under his belt including Friday night’s Longines Grand Prix in which he steered Caracole to pip Germany’s Jana Wargers and Limbridge. Today it was Brazil’s Marlon Zanotelli and VDL Edgar M who had to settle for runner-up spot while The Netherlands’ Jur Vrieling and Long John Silver finished third.
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