Fuchs on Fire as The Sinner Shines at Olympia

Copyright FEI / Liz Gregg
Copyright FEI / Liz Gregg

Swiss star follows in his uncle’s footsteps; now qualified for Las Vegas Final
Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs scooped his second win of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2019/2020 Western European League at the London International Horse Show at Olympia, London (GBR) this afternoon where Austria’s Max Kuhner lined up second ahead of Belgium’s Niels Bruynseels in third. Partnering his top ride, the lightning-fast grey Clooney, Fuchs took the third leg in Lyon (FRA) by storm last month, and in today’s eighth round of the 14-leg series he galloped to victory with a stunning performance from The Sinner. He’s the reigning European champion, and looks set to take over the No. 1 spot on the Longines World Rankings as 2020 gets underway after an incredible run of recent form. He also became the first Swiss winner of the Olympia leg of the FEI World Cup™ series in 29 years. The 27-year-old rider wasn’t even born when his father, Thomas Fuchs, stood top of the podium at the London fixture back in 1990.
Just six horse-and-rider combinations made it through to today’s jump-off, and Fuchs was fulsome in his praise of Irish course designer, Alan Wade. “The first round wasn’t crazy big, but Alan set a great course as he always does - it was another of his masterpieces!” the winning rider said.

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Van der Vleuten Wins Dramatic La Coruña Leg with Beauville Z

Photos Copyright © FEI/Manuel Queimadelos
Photos Copyright © FEI/Manuel Queimadelos

The Netherlands’ Maikel van der Vleuten showed the rest a clean pair of heels in a thrill-a-minute 13-horse jump-off to win the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2019/2020 Western European League qualifier in La Coruña, Spain today. There were 40 riders from 16 different countries chasing down points in the race for a place at the Longines 2020 Final in Las Vegas, USA next April. And this seventh round of the 14-leg qualifying series was a sizzler, with anything possible right to the very end. Van der Vleuten clinched it however with an exhibition of pure partnership with the lovely Beauville Z, a gelding he has been riding since the middle of last year. Ace Spanish course designer, Santiago Varela, set them a jump-off track with multiple twists and turns and a long gallop to the last that tested trust and understanding between horse and rider every step of the way. And it was the double-Olympian who showed them all how it should be done.

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Emanuele Gaudiano Wins the Longines Speed Challenge of Paris
 and Speed Challenge Series Bonus 

©Aléa pour EEM
©Aléa pour EEM

This amazing pair boasts an fabulous totaof sixty plus international wins over the past five years, twelve of which in 2019! Tonight, Emanuele Gaudiano and Carlotta 232 confirmed their status when they won the much acclaimed 2019 Speed Challenge of Paris in a super time of 60’’48 without a single pole down: a repeat for the winners of the same flagship competition during the Longines Masters of Lausanne, Switzerland, this summer. "I'm extremely lucky to ride such an amazing mare. Each round with her is a pleasure - even more so at a show like this one where the stands are packed", he commented.

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 and Speed Challenge Series Bonus 

Longines Grand Prix of Paris: The French Flair

© Cécile Sablayrolles pour EEM
© Cécile Sablayrolles pour EEM

What better present for the organizer and the public of the 11th Longines Masters of Paris than this 100% French podium? In front of their fans, French team stalwarts Simon Delestre, Kevin Staut and Roger-Yves Bost took first, second and third respectively in the Longines Grand Prix of Paris. Believe us, there was noise - a lot of noise! - in the stands while history was made in the arena.

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Extraordinary Ehning Tops Madrid Thriller with Phenomenal Pret a Tout

Photos Copyright © FEI/Thomas Reiner
Photos Copyright © FEI/Thomas Reiner

German compatriot Ahlmann lines up second; Belgium’s Devos is new League leader.
Pret a Tout more than lived up to his name when carrying German ace, Marcus Ehning, to victory in today’s Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2019/2020 Western European League qualifier at Madrid in Spain. Fourth to go in a breathtaking nine-horse jump-off, the pair took the lead with a spectacular run that stopped the clock in 43.30 seconds and couldn’t be caught. Ehning’s compatriot and 2011 series champion. Christian Ahlmann. came a close second with his exciting nine-year-old stallion Dominator 2000 Z, while Belgium’s Pieter Devos and Espoir finished third. The crowd packed into the IFEMA Arena in the Spanish capital city were treated to a fabulous afternoon of sport.

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Longines Equestrian Beijing Masters: Penelope Leprevost Jumps to Victory at the “Bird’s Nest”  

Photo © Stefano Grasso
Photo © Stefano Grasso

The top French show jumper, Penelope Leprevost, won the Longines Grand Prix at the “9th Longines Equestrian Beijing Masters” in the Chinese national stadium, the “Bird’s Nest”. She crossed the finish line in the jump-off ahead of Daniel Deusser (GER) and the Chinese rider, Bin Zhang.

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Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final 2019: Irish take 2019 Longines title and Tokyo qualifying spot!

Photo by FEI / Linnea Rheborg/Getty Images
Photo by FEI / Linnea Rheborg/Getty Images

Defending champions from Belgium have to settle for second, Sweden finish third.
The Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final 2019 came to thrilling climax today, and it was Irish eyes that were smiling when Rodrigo Pessoa’s team of Peter Moloney, Paul O’Shea, Darragh Kenny and Cian O’Connor clinched victory in fine style. Completing with just a single time fault, they pinned the defending champions from Belgium into runner-up spot while Sweden lined up in third. And to put the icing on the Irish cake they also collected the Olympic qualifying spot they have been craving for a very long time.

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If the Belgians Like Chantilly, Then Pieter Devos is in Love With France

Photo by ©S.Rispail
Photo by ©S.Rispail

A Belgian victory in Chantilly is not rare. Nicola Philippaerts, Constant Van Paesschen, Gregory Wathelet and Jérôme Guery have all taken a turn atop the podium. Pieter Devos hadn’t yet, but he’s had no shortage of success in France, already winning twice in Bordeaux. Today, he got to add the Groupama Masters to the list.

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Longines Masters of Lausanne: Women Power

Photos by Sportfot, J.L. Carli pour EEM, A. Anice pour EEM
Photos by Sportfot, J.L. Carli pour EEM, A. Anice pour EEM

Belgian Gudrun Patteet became the third woman to win a Longines Grand Prix in the Longines Masters series following Pénélope Leprévost of France in 2011 and Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander in 2018. Leprévost and Tops-Alexander both took the title in Paris, but Patteet has now secured one for the women in Lausanne. Perhaps it was the brisk mountain air or the magnificent view of Lake Geneva that gave Patteet an extra boost of inspiration, for it was a ride as perfect as the setting. Second place went deservingly to Italian Giulia Martinengo Marquet.

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