Kevin Jochems of the Netherlands won the opening event of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ season at Oslo on Sunday aboard Turbo Z.
The Dutch rider beat out six other horse and rider combos in a thrilling jump off that promised exceptional athleticism in the competitions to come.
Second place went to Pieter Clemens of Belgium and Hulde G, who also went clear in the jump off.
Jens Fredricson of Sweden, brother of Olympic medalist Peder Fredricson, took third place with Markan Cosmopolit, narrowly edging out Allesandra Reich of Austria and her partner Loyd, the only other double clear of the afternoon.
World No.3 Martin Fuchs won Sunday’s second leg of the 2021/2022 Western European League at Lyon in France with a breathtaking jump-off round partnering the 14-year-old stallion Chaplin. This was the Swiss athlete’s third successive victory at the French fixture, having come out on top in both 2018 and 2019 with his great grey gelding Clooney.
Brazil’s Eduardo De Menezes was second with Austria’s Max Kuhner third.
Delestre and his remarkable 16-year-old gelding Hermes Ryan wowed the crowd at Verona, beating out 12 other combos in a huge jump off.
Germany’s Kendra Claricia Brinkop, an up-and-comer on the circuit, finished in second place aboard Kastelle Memo. Third place went to Denis Lynch of Ireland with GC Chopin’s Bushi. Both went double clear in a nail-biting jump off that saw two riders eliminated for parting company with their mounts.
Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™
The Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ is the world’s premiere individual Jumping series.
The very best human and equine athletes from 12 leagues in 36 countries around the world will battle to qualify for the prestigious title and a jackpot of more than €1.3 million at this year’s Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final to be held in Leipzig (GER) 6 - 10 April 2022.
A total of 18 athletes from the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Western European League qualify alongside winners of the 11 other leagues from around the world.
SEASON 2021-2022
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Schulze Topphoff and Concordess NRW of Germany kicked off the day’s action and made light work of the course with an effortless clear and three seconds to spare. But the track – full of twists, tight turns, and tall verticals just waiting to be toppled – was more difficult than the young rider had made it look.
With seven riders in the jump off, Schulze Topphoff was in the unenviable position of going first. He threw down the gauntlet with a fabulous, fast clear in 37.6 seconds. Augustsson-Zanotelli and Gottard both had lovely clears but couldn’t quite beat the time on the gallop to the last fence.
Julien Epaillard of France capped a glorious week of competition at the Madrid Horse Week on Sunday, winning Leg 4 of 11 qualifiers in Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ action.
Together with Billabong du Roumois, a 10-year-old Selle Français gelding, Epaillard beat out five other duos in a thrilling jump off, making it his third major win of the week – an unprecedented string of victories at the event.
Second place went to David Will of Germany and C Vier. Will and his Holsteiner also rode clear in the jump off, finishing less than a second off Epaillard’s time.
London has for years hosted one of the most hotly contested legs of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup series, but thanks to a new venue, the London International Horse Show riders enjoyed a larger arena with more room.
It was a fabulous day for team Great Britain, who sent five riders through to the jump off. Christmas came early for young Harry Charles and his aptly-named mare Stardust, who took the gold medal on home soil.
In second place was Harrie Smolders and Monaco, with fellow Brit John Whitaker in third place aboard Unick du Francport.
WHAT'S NEXT
Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ FINAL in Leipzig
DAY 1 - Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2022 I Final I
DAY 2 - Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2022 I Final II
DAY 4 - Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2022 I Final III