From Europe to the Center East and USA, we’ve got loved some terrific showjumping over the previous week, with Longines FEI Nations Cup motion, World Cup and top-class grands prix to savour.
Right here is your weekly round-up of the most recent worldwide showjumping information, plus outcomes from across the globe.
Austria versus Nice Britain in Nations Cup thriller
The opening Longines FEI Nations Cup competitors of 2023 befell in Abu Dhabi, UAE, the place Austria galloped to victory after a jump-off towards Nice Britain. Austrian workforce rider Christoph Obernauer sealed the win with a 33.68sec spherical on the 10-year-old gelding Kleons Renegade (pictured under), whereas Nice Britain’s Joe Whitaker and the sensible Hulahupe JR, with whom he gained the World Cup the week earlier than, simply tapped out the ultimate planks for the runner-up spot. Final 12 months’s winners Eire took third.
“I can’t bear in mind the final time Austria gained a Nations Cup and it would even be the primary time ever that Austrian has gained a five-star Nations Cup – we’re actually pleased with our consequence,” stated Gerfried Puck, the senior member of the Austrian facet.
Nice Britain’s pathfinder William Funnell made his five-star Nations Cup debut with 11-year-old Equine America Billy Picador, recovering from an 18-fault first spherical to leap clear. Tim Gredley and Medoc De Toxandria posted a transparent adopted by 4 faults, earlier than brothers Donald Whitaker (on Millfield Colette) and Joe Whitaker using Hulahupe JR added simply 4 faults every from their two rounds.
“It went right down to the wire – it was a very good one!” Joe instructed H&H. “It was an excellent 1.60m course, as much as top, and Hulahupe appears to be getting higher on a regular basis – I’m very pleased with him, he’s stepping up properly. He’s my finest pal, I’ve had him since he was six and we’ve completed every little thing collectively. But it surely’s all because of the Bullock household, John and Jan and Jess Crane, who owned Hulahupe JR till I purchased him final 12 months. They put him with me when he was six they usually at all times believed he was a very good horse, they usually put their perception in me. So it’s an enormous thanks to them for every little thing. With out them we wouldn’t be right here in any respect.”
‘Distinctive’ triplet filly wins Problem Cup
A horse and rider who’ve loved a 15-year partnership gained the Adequan WEF Problem Cup throughout this week’s Winter Equestrian Competition in Florida. US rider Nicole Shahinian-Simpson and Akuna Mattata headed a jump-off subject of 12 to win the category on the grass Derby subject on Friday (20 January). The teenage Holstein mare, owned by Carol Rosentstein and Silver Raven Farms, was one in all three triplet fillies by embryo switch out of Nicole’s former companion SRF Dragonfly De Joter.
“She is exclusive in some ways, and it takes a little bit of a village to get ready for the category, however as soon as she’s in right here she’s all present horse,” stated Nicole. “Her adrenaline is so excessive that she simply sees crimson. However, after the spherical you possibly can stroll out on a unfastened rein and she or he’s a champion within the prizegiving. She’s very quiet on the barn and a simple horse to maintain. When she will get up right here and she or he is aware of it’s an vital class, she’s all sport.”
Olympic stallion wins on the age of 20
The excellent 20-year-old stallion Tic Tac returned to the winner’s enclosure on the Winter Equestrian Competition (WEF) in Wellington, Florida, with British showjumper Ben Maher. Jane Clark’s Clinton stallion regarded higher than ever within the grass Derby subject at Equestrian Village in week two of WEF to prime Thursday’s (19 January) CSI3* 1.45m pace class.
“Tic Tac is aware of every little thing now, so it’s extra about simply maintaining him match and having fun with every little thing,” stated the Olympic champion, who retains the stallion – his 2016 Rio Olympic companion – in Florida all 12 months spherical.
“We don’t journey him to Europe. We’re very lucky with the workers and workforce at house taking care of him. He is aware of his job and he loves this area.”
Ben went on to complete second within the $50,000 Palm Seaside Equine Clinic grand prix using Enjeu De Grisien, having gained Thursday’s nationwide qualifier with Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright’s nine-year-old Toulon gelding.
Showjumping information: a house win for Gerrit Nieberg
The Leipzig leg of the Longines FEI Leaping World Cup Western European League was gained by house rider Gerrit Nieberg using Blues D’Aveline CH after a 12-way jump-off. He beat team-mate Richard Vogel (Looping Luna) into second with Switzerland’s Pius Schwizer third on Vancouver De Lanlore.
“I had a very good feeling with my horse within the first spherical so I believed I’d strive a bit extra and he did an incredible job!” stated Gerrit.
Farrington’s grand prix double
US rider Kent Farrington loved some nice outcomes throughout this week’s WEF with victory within the $50,000 Palm Seaside Equine Clinic grand prix on rising star Greya, then the CSI3* grand prix with 10-year-old Landon. His nationwide victory on the “opinionated” nine-year-old Colestus mare, Greya, got here from first attract a seven-horse jump-off.
“It’s her first time leaping below the lights,” stated Kent. “So I attempted to simply work out of her regular gallop which is already fairly fast. She’s a really particular horse and I believed she jumped very effectively tonight. She has her personal concepts, however these are my favorite horses as a result of I feel ultimately they’re the very best. When you possibly can practice the horse to work with you and use all of their vitality to go in the correct path it may be nice.”
The world quantity 18 sealed the week with victory within the CSI3* grand prix, beating Eire’s Daniel Coyle on Ariel Grange’s Gisborne VDL into second place.
“Landon is a big-strided horse, however Daniel’s horse can be big-striding, and I believed he had an unbelievable spherical,” stated Kent after his first grand prix win with the gelding. “I in all probability have a bit faster foot pace than him, nevertheless it took lots to beat that spherical in the present day as a result of he was dropping strides in all places on an enormous gallop the entire approach round.
“My programme could be very particular for every horse. He has a really huge stride so we work lots on him making an attempt to regulate his energy via management workouts via poles, quite simple stuff. He has to study to comprise his energy. You may see that now, his rounds are getting a lot smoother and his jump-off in the present day felt nice. It validates our work.
“The final 12 months has been a rebuilding time for my string as a few of my foremost horses are winding down their worldwide careers. It’s time for the younger ones to step up; I’ve a gaggle of horses – the oldest being 10 – which might be beginning to soar within the worldwide scene and I’m excited to see what occurs with every of them.
“I’ve a terrific workforce developing and Landon is one in all that group, so it was an thrilling day for the horse and our workforce.”
Profitable groom Denise Moriarty was offered with the $500 grooms’ award, by Double H Farm.
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