Great Britain’s Ben Maher and Dallas Vegas Batilly snatched a sensational victory in the fourth leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2023/2024 Western European League series in Verona, Italy today.

In the eight-horse second-round jump-off it seemed reigning European champion Steve Guerdat from Switzerland had it in the bag after scorching around the twisting new course to set a truly tight target time in 37.60 seconds with Venard de Cerisy. But reigning Olympic champion Maher snatched it from his grasp when, second-last to go, he was 0.15 seconds quicker with his exciting 10-year-old mare.

Italian course designer Uliano Vezzani set them a tough task. 

“It was a very difficult jump-off, you had to ride the right lines to make it smooth and fast and Dallas gave everything to me today, she was really fighting for me and everything went my way - she was incredible!”, Maher said.

Atmosphere

The atmosphere at Jumping Verona is always electric, and that puts plenty of extra pressure on both horses and riders. The action takes place within the context of the world’s biggest horse fair, the Fieracavalli which this year celebrated its 125th anniversary and which attracted over 130,000 visitors from 60 countries around the globe. The Jumping hall was packed to capacity as always today, seating booked out within days of going on sale each year, and the sound level was at the maximum as the competition came to a thrilling climax.

Austria’s Max Kuhner was first out against the clock and set the pace with a great clear round from the nine-year-old gelding EIC Julius Caesar in 39.76 seconds, and then Belgium’s Nicola Philippaerts raised the game when crossing the timers in 39.00 seconds with Katanga van het Dingeshof. 

Next in however, Guerdat set a whole new standard when bringing his 14-year-old gelding home in 37.60, landing and turning to the next fence without ever taking his foot off the accelerator.

Norway’s Johan-Sebastian Gulliksen (Harwich VDL), Sweden’s Peder Fredricson (Hansson WL) and the sole Italian contender and former national champion Franceca Ciriesi (Cape Coral) followed with foot-perfect runs, but none threatened the Swiss star’s lead until Maher set off with absolute conviction to bring his mare home just 0.15 seconds quicker. And when last man in, Guerdat’s compatriot Martin Fuchs had a fence down with Conner Jei it was a done deal. Maher would take the win ahead of Guerdat in second while Philippaerts slotted into third ahead of Sweden’s Fredricson in fourth place.

Wall of sound

Maher was concerned that the wall of sound in the arena and the nearby warm-up ring might un-nerve his talented horse ahead of the jump-off. 

“So I stayed in the quieter warm-up because she’s very sensitive. I warmed up early so I could get to watch Steve, and I picked the right one to watch!”, he said. “My horse - a little bit like Steve’s - she lands, she turns, and everything went my way today but it was so very close!”, he added. 

Guerdat, who suffered a shoulder injury during the first round but said it didn’t affect his second-round performance in any way, was upbeat about his second-place finish.

“I had a very good jump off. Everything went as I planned and there is not much I could have done better day. I was not fast enough and I am happy to be second today. Ben rode a great jump-off and fully deserves his win!”, he said. 

He continued, “I have had a very good year with a very good Nations Cup season and then won the European title which was the goal for my team this year. It has been an amazing year, but I was struggling a bit with 5* Grand Prix classes. I did win a lot of 3 and 4* Grand Prix but was not so good with the 5*, so I am happy today that the luck turned in the right direction again and I am very happy with my horse!” 

Philippaerts was delighted with his third-place finish. “Katanga is an unbelievable mare, she had a break for two months after the European Championship and this is the first time she jumped a 5* Grand Prix again and she jumped fantastic!”, he said. 

Thrilled

Maher, who finished third at round three of the Western European League in Lyon, France last weekend, was thrilled with today’s winning result which has moved him into third place on the Western European League leaderboard.  With a running tally of 35 points he is already within sight of a qualifying spot for the Longines 2024 Final which will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia next April.

“All my horses are in form right now, it’s a credit to my team, my owners and my sponsors, we’ve built this over the last few years and they all deserve this. It’s great when it all comes together!”, he said this evening. 

Despite the challenge it presented, he enjoyed the tension created by the enthusiastic crowd.

“It has been a few years since I was here in Verona last time and it is great for us riders to compete in a venue with so many spectators. They witnessed such good riders and horses today, and this is great for our sport!”, he added.

Over one year

Talking about Dallas Vegas Batilly he explained, “we have her for a little over one year now. I am very fortunate with my owners and sponsors who are very supportive. I had a few upcoming horses, but we felt I needed one more horse ready for the big classes so we got her and it took me some time to get to know her well. She’s great, but she likes to be the boss and for me to be the passenger!”

Asked what he has in mind for the mare after today’s success he said wisely, “I will just enjoy today first! I have learned over the years to enjoy the wins,  because in this sport you lose more than you win!”

Next weekend the Western European League moves to Stuttgart in Germany for round 5 of the 14-leg series so don’t miss a hoofbeat….

Result

Standings

Daniel Bluman (ISR) has claimed wins on the North American League before, but with the 12-year-old mare Gemma W, he—on three occasions—held the role of the bridesmaid.

He and the remarkably consistent grey were runners-up a year ago in Toronto (CAN) and Washington (USA). A week ago, they were second again in Lexington (USA). 

But on Saturday night in front of a sold-out crowd at Toronto's Royal Horse Show (CAN), Bluman and Gemma W broke through with a most well deserved victory, besting a five-horse jump-off. 

Crossing the timers of Kelvin Bywater's (GBR) short course in 33.28 seconds, Bluman and "Gemma" forged ahead of eventual third-place finisher Kent Farrington (USA) with Greya (34.32 seconds) and held off a final chase from Jessica Mendoza (GBA) and I-Cap CL Z (33.60 seconds), who claimed second.

"I've always wanted to win this grand prix, one of the most traditional ones in North America...[Gemma W] deserves it, and she was magical tonight. I'm so happy."

Daniel Bluman (ISR)

Bywater set a stiff first round challenge for the competitive yet compact field of 20 that came forward, including four of the world's top 15 athletes. The triple combination was left as the final element on course, while five verticals rose above 1.60m, including a 1.63m plank midway through the track. In the jump-off, many of those tests remained.

"The initial plan [for the course], I had a few weeks ago," Bywater said. "You kick [the plan] around a bit, and then you kick it around a bit more, and then you watch these guys and you think, 'Yeah, they're pretty good.' So you kick it around a bit more and you eventually come up with something that you think is a fair test and you think is fair for the sport and what we've got here."

After jumping only clear rounds in Washington and Lexington, Rene Dittmer (GER) and Corsica X had a surprising rail as pathfinders on the short course. Vanessa Mannix (CAN) produced the first double-clear effort of the evening with Carmela Z, but it was Farrington who broke things open with Greya, a most exciting young horse in Farrington's string. That, however gave Bluman a target with Gemma. When the pair met that target, Mendoza could catch them. 

"I don't know how many chances you get to win a grand prix like this one, and when you are given the chance, the minimum you can do is beat the time of the rider that went before you. My goal was to beat [Kent's] time. Hopefully the rails would stay up, and I could then put the pressure on Jess not to beat me tonight."

Daniel Bluman (ISR)

Bluman has produced Gemma W since the mare's five-year-old season, and he used her natural footspeed, along with a most efficient turn back to the penultimate vertical to secure his victory. But Bluman expressed that it was his horse's heart that was the greatest contributing factor.

"Gemma is all heart. She maybe lacks some of the physical ability to jump the big fences, but she will always give you everything," Bluman said. "When I walked the course today, I knew that I was on the limit. The verticals were big, and we had the triple combination to finish. But I had a good feeling that my mare was feeling good. I haven't jumped her too big this year and was trying to pick the right places for her. She felt amazing, and sometimes it just goes your way."

The victory moved Bluman to the top of the North American League standings with 43 points. Halfway through the season, Devin Ryan (USA) sits second with 30 points, ahead of Shane Sweetnam (IRL) with 28 points.

The North American League continues in Las Vegas (USA) on 18 November 2023.

Results

Standings

 

What promised to be the new season’s closest contest lived up to expectation as the two favourites Boyd Exell (AUS) and Bram Chardon (NED) went head to head at Jumping Indoor Maastricht (NED).  And until the final moments, it looked like Bram – after three fast, clear rounds – was going to dominate, but a rare lapse from him in obstacle five helped seal Boyd’s win.

Using two different horses from his winning combination in Lyon (FRA) last week, Boyd seemed to be coming from behind in Maastricht.  A ball at the bridge in his first round and slower times than Bram in both rounds meant that he finished in second place.  As both Boyd and Bram were the wild card entries, they were in the early order on Friday night, with Bram first out and laying an untouchable challenge with his well-judged, clear round in 160.22.  Glenn Geert (BEL) joined them in the drive-off, but the night belonged to Bram with his win in 141.02 ahead of Boyd’s 143.08.  

With the drivers going in reverse order on day two, Bram was last out on Saturday night and replicated his speed and accuracy to finish in front again.  Boyd had knocked the cone number nine in the middle of the arena to add four to his time, and Glenn couldn’t replicate his great first night so instead it was Michael Brauchle (GER) who took the third slot in the drive-off.

For his final round of the event, Michael’s horses found another gear and he flew over the course in a time of 161.37 seconds with one ball to add, totalling 165.37. Boyd was next out as second placed driver, and as usually happens when the pressure is on, took his team’s performance to another level and went clear in a remarkable 152.54.  

All looked very promising for Bram with his bouncing, grey Hungarian horses until the detour in the first marathon obstacle meant an extra loop to make gate ‘C’, which threw him off his gameplan and he ended on 178.01, slipping to third. Although he remained clear, he couldn’t recover his form and make up the seconds on such a tight course in a compact arena where there were few advantages to be found either in speed or cutting corners.

While it was a disappointing end for Bram after such a promising start, his compatriot Koos de Ronde (NED) recovered himself after an off-form round on Friday which saw him finish in sixth place, to narrowly missing the top three and a drive-off slot on Saturday.  Using a new horse this season who he had trialled at home, Koos was only 1.18 behind Michael, but it was enough to deny him another round.

Making a welcome return to the indoor circuit after missing last year’s series to have her baby, Mareike Harm (GER) was fourth on Friday and then dropped two places on Saturday. Her teammate Georg von Stein, who has returned to the series as a qualified driver after several years, was some way off and was seventh on both nights.

As in Lyon, Jeroen Houterman was the course designer and different questions were asked in Maastricht due to the smaller dimensions of the venue.  There was a bridge in the middle of the 13-obstacle course, with the cones placed near to the marathon obstacles to ensure that lines had to stay tight.

In terms of the early ranking points, Michael was the highest placed qualifying driver so took the maximum ten points and now sits in joint first place with Boyd after the two legs.  Glenn has gained points over both weekends and is third, and Koos joins Ijsbrand Chardon (NED) on seven and ties in fourth place.  Of the ten eligible drivers, only Bram has not won points yet and he will be aiming to add his name to the finals rankings on the fourth leg in Stockholm (SWE) in early December.

Next weekend the third leg will be at the Stuttgart German Masters when Boyd, Mareike and Koos are joined by Ijsbrand Chardon (NED) and Jérôme Voutaz (SUI) in the qualifying slots.

FULL RESULTS

The family name ‘de Rham’ is more synonymous with real estate than equestrian sport in Switzerland. But the two-hour long conversation with William de Rham was all about horses.

At 101 years of age, de Rham is the oldest living Swiss Olympian to have participated in the equestrian discipline of Jumping. He admits that reading emails these days is difficult because of his failing eyesight, and that he cannot ride horses anymore because his balance is not quite what it used to be.

Active in equestrian events for over 50 years, de Rham first competed in his teens and won his last event at the age of 71.

“I rode horses every morning and evening from the age of 18 until 85,” de Rham says proudly. “You need to be very flexible to ride a horse. And as any equestrian knows, if you don't ride for three months and then try to get back on a horse, the next day you're full of aches and pains. I’m convinced that riding so late in my life has played a role in maintaining my health.”

The height of his international career came when he competed with the Swiss team at the 1956 Olympics on his horse Va Vite. Although the Olympic Games were awarded to Melbourne that year, the equestrian events were held in Stockholm due to Australia’s quarantine regulations. He placed 19th in the individual event, and ninth in the team event alongside team mates Marc Büchler and Alexander Stoffel.

On the table next to de Rham is a scrap book of newspaper clippings, competition photos, results and brochures from those weeks in Stockholm.

One page displays a picture of a 34-year-old William de Rham looking sharp in his military uniform. A retired member of the Swiss Armed Forces, de Rham held the rank of Major when he competed at the Olympics that year. There’s over 65 years between that photo and the present day, but de Rham’s smile is immediately recognisable. 

There are also some familiar faces in the scrap book photos, including a young Queen Elizabeth and her sister Princess Margaret watching the competition from the side lines.

“There was an incredibly pleasant atmosphere in Stockholm with equestrians from all over the world coming together,” de Rham said. “Equestrians are a particular group of people and we all understood each other. But it was still surprising to see the Queen of Sweden walking among the crowd, and I even got to see the Queen of England with her sister Princess Margaret up close!”

For de Rham, equestrian is not just a sporting activity but a passion – a gift – that runs deep, and that was passed down to him and other members of his extended family from two generations before.

De Rham doesn’t hide his disappointment that his children don’t share his passion for horses. But it is this distance that seems to have given his daughter Gisèle Collomb a profound respect and insight into her father’s love for horses.

“My father never pushed us to ride,” explained Collomb. “He has always believed that a person’s connection with a horse cannot be forced and that it has to come freely. He has always loved nature and the strength of life that it gives, and he has physically benefitted from this through riding horses.

“He has led an absolutely extraordinary rider's life. Many people ride horses because they feel that animals understand them better than humans. But as daily life starts to take over, and they find a job or move into responsible roles, they stop riding. My father never let go of his passion and love for horses even though he had a busy day job in real estate.

When asked the question, “What have you learned from horses?” de Rham’s answer comes without hesitation.

“Horses have taught me patience and perseverance. You cannot expect a horse to work with you overnight. You need develop your relationship with them every single day. You need to develop kindness, respect and trust.

“Animals have a highly developed sense of what's going on around them. If you're upset one day and you try to ride your horse, chances are it won't go well as the horse feels it too. If you're afraid to jump an obstacle, the horse will feel it and be scared too.

“You need to be a calming influence on them and build their confidence. You have to understand that when you have this contact with another being like a horse, how you act and feel plays a significant role in their behaviour.”

In October 2023, de Rham was invited to sign the Olympic Wall at the Olympic House in Lausanne. Alongside his name, he proudly wrote the name of the horse who has clearly left a deep hoof print in his mind – Va Vite.

“I bought Va Vite just after the war from a farmer in France for one thousand Swiss Francs. He was an excellent horse that had the character, generosity, and willingness to work with me. He gave me his all and I knew what I needed to do to get the most out of him during a competition,” said de Rham.

“People were surprised that I put his name on the wall. But to me it was only normal that I did – we were a team after all.”

Photos:

1. Header photo: William de Rham and Va Vite (Photo from de Rham family archive)
2. Photo of William de Rham from the de Rham family archive
3. William de Rham (SUI) proudly adding his signature to the Olympic Wall alongside that of Va Vites, his equine companion during the 1956 Olympic Games, at the International Olympic Committee headquarters in October 2023. (Photo: IOC/Greg Martin)

 

Gregory Wathelet stormed to victory with Bond Jamesbond de Hay at the third leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2023/2024 Western European League in Lyon, France today.

All eyes were on Julien Epaillard and his 10-year-old mare Dubai du Cedre, one of five French partnerships to make the cut into the second-round jump-off, after their win in Friday’s hotly-contested Longines Grand Prix. But they had to yield to the mighty stride of Wathelet’s stallion who snatched it away with a breathtaking run to post Belgium’s first-ever victory in the history of the World Cup class at the hugely popular French fixture.

From a starting field 40 that included six of the top 10 riders in the world a total of 14 found the key to Gregory Bodo’s first-round track, and it was leading U-25 rider, Great Britain’s Harry Charles, who set the pace when clear with Romeo 88 in 35.34 seconds over the new seven-fence jump-off course. Belgium’s Pieter Devos followed with a great round from the young mare Jarina J in 36.76 but reigning Olympic champion Ben Maher shaved almost a second off Charles’ target when fourth to go with Dallas Vegas Batilly who broke the beam in 34.59 to temporarily take the lead.

Home runners

Next in was first of the home runners, Rio 2016 Olympic team gold medallist Penelope Leprevost, who had already left the first element of the turquoise double on the floor before the grey gelding Bingo del Tondou stopped at the last, unshipping both his rider and his bridle. His quick-thinking groom ran into the ring and had him in a head-collar within seconds however, and together they left the arena with nothing more than a look of sheer surprise on Bingo’s face. 

That turn to the last would be the critical one of the day. 

Megane Moissonnier followed with a clear from the 14-year-old Cordial in 38.07 seconds but, two horses later, her compatriot Epaillard set a whole new standard. He was defending the title he won last year at this event, and partnering the horse that carried him to individual bronze at this summer’s FEI Jumping European Championship in Milan (ITA) he looked to have put the competition to bed when scorching through the finish in 33.10 seconds. 

He then had to sit back and watch five more take their turn, world number four Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs hitting that first element of the double with Commissar Pezi and his compatriot Simon Delestre making it all the way to the very last with Dexter Fontenis Z only to leave that on the floor. And then Wathelet set out, galloping well before he even got to the start-line and never taking a pull the whole way around, Bond Jamesbond de Hay crossing the finish fractionally quicker in 32.93 to the sound of the spectators screaming with delight. When the final two Frenchmen faulted, Wathelet’s victory was secured. 

Experience

“My horse doesn’t have much experience with jump offs but I felt I had something to play with today, taking out one stride between (fences) 1 to 2 and at the last fence too. In the end it worked out and I am very happy and proud of him! I am getting to know him more and more, and he is showing so much scope and quality on the fences. I did not think he was that agile when I started riding him, so I am very happy with how things are developing”, added the double Olympian who was a team bronze medallist at the Tokyo 2020 Games. 

Epaillard may have had to settle for runner-up spot but he was still more than pleased with his brilliant 10-year-old mare who earned him that European individual bronze. “She has had an amazing year and is getting more and more reliable. She was already very good in Barcelona (Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ 2023 Final), and it has been a great weekend here”, said the French star.

He has the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final 2023 in Riyadh (KSA) in his sights and has made a clear plan for how he’s going to get there. “Donatello will go to Verona (ITA), next week, then Madrid and La Coruna (ESP) and I will go to London (GBR) with a new horse”, he explained.

Played out

Britain’s Maher and Charles slotted into third and fourth places, and Maher reflected on how his jump-off round played out.

“It would always be nice to have a second go!”, he said. “I planned to do a stride less between the first and second fence but had to change the plan because it didn’t ride as smooth as I wanted. I am very happy and tried my best. I knew Julien is always very fast, but today Gregory rode the perfect round”, he added.

Maher also has his winter season mapped out. “I am going to Verona, and Dallas will then have a break before Geneva (SUI, in December). I had a long break at the beginning of the year so my horses have not been over-jumped, so I am looking forward to doing more indoor shows this winter”, he said. 

He continued, “I don’t really plan to chase the rankings. Being in the top ten gives you some advantages so I look after that a little and I am very lucky at the moment with my horses. It would be nice to get to number one again, but I will not put any pressure on my horses for that, it’s not my main objective”.

Confirmed

Meanwhile today’s winner Wathelet confirmed that London (GBR) in December will be his next stop in the Western European League. “I was not able to get a spot there before, so will go to London and then Mechelen (BEL). I hope to get as many points as possible before the end of the year. I have two or three horses who can jump the World Cup, so the goal is clearly to try to qualify for the Final”, he explained.

And he acknowledged the contribution of the spectators in Lyon who always create an incredible buzz no matter who wins.

“The public in Lyon are amazing and they make a fantastic atmosphere! We do our sport for moments like this!”, he said.

With Ireland’s Richard Howley still heading the Western European League leaderboard after his back-to-back successes in Oslo (NOR) and Helsinki (FIN) the series now moves on to Verona (ITA) next weekend.

So don’t miss a hoofbeat….. 

Result 

Standings

It was a strategic masterclass from reigning champion Boyd Exell (AUS) as the FEI Driving World Cup™ 2023-24 Series got underway in Lyon (FRA).  Throughout the competition, Boyd had such prowess in the large arena at Equita Lyon that even when a ball rolled in his final drive-off, he could stick to his gameplan and still win.

“In the short time that Driving has been here in Lyon, the public have really got behind it.  They remembered it from last year and the year before, and even yesterday, I felt the support. They love the smooth driving, and they reward it – and they love speed!

I had an early ball when one of the leaders nudged it with his nose, but I turned him short and tight – it’s one of those things in indoor driving.  Then we really put the accelerator down and I said, ‘Come on boys – you need to help me now.  I looked after you yesterday so dig deep,’ and they were brilliant.” – Boyd Exell (AUS)  

Boyd was talking about his first round early on Saturday morning when he seemed to be taking it easy, his horses moving at a leisurely pace (by his standards).  As he passed through the finish gates, the clock tallied and his time was the slowest of the seven competitors at 209.37.  But no one watching was fooled by this gentle approach as by the next round, the Australian’s customary speed was back. Ending on top of the leader board with a clear round and a time only score of 162.49, Boyd was ahead of second placed Ijsbrand Chardon (NED) by 7.25.

Taking the third slot on day one was Belgian Dries Degrieck.  Now in his third FEI Driving World Cup™ season, he is more assured and has honed his performance under Boyd’s training. Although he had a costly first round with three balls to add, the board was wiped clean for the drive-off and everyone started from zero, so it was a new competition. With a clear round, Dries finished on his time of 174.31.

Sunday saw the drivers starting in reverse order after the previous day’s placings, so French wild card Anthony Horde opened to the delight of the 7,000 strong home crowd. Still finessing his indoor circuit skills, he shaved time off between his rounds, although the balls rolled, and he had twelve to add to give him a total of 202.35.  

"We really put the accelerator down and I said, ‘Come on boys – you need to help me now.  I looked after you yesterday so dig deep!"

Boyd Exell (AUS) 

Next in was seasoned World Cup campaigner Benjamin Aillaud (FRA), also a wild card.  He improved on his first day’s rounds and produced a smooth clear in a time of 181.78, using the same Lusitano horses that he drives at outdoor events.  

Clearly crestfallen after knocking a ball in the marathon obstacle three, Jérôme Voutaz (SUI) didn’t make day two’s drive-off.  Ending on 179.23, he was 0.06 seconds faster than Belgium’s Glenn Geerts, but the four to add put him into fifth, although both had ended day one in the middle of the leader board with identical scores (175.53).  Watching Glenn’s long limbed Dutch Warmbloods – whose strides appear to cover so much ground – against Jerome’s compact Swiss horses, can be deceptive as they seem to move so differently over the course, yet were neck and neck on time.  

The same top three from day one held their places after the first round on day two, and because only the fastest three went in the drive-off, it was Boyd, Dries and Ijsbrand who entered the arena for a fourth time.  Ijsbrand was first in as they ran in reverse order but went on to produce his most organised run of the event. 

With his stalwart Casper in front, alongside three Lipizzaners, the former World Cup champion kept all the balls in place and although it wasn’t his quickest round, it did secure a second place on the final leaderboard with 168.62.
Next in, Dries was ahead on time by 1.03 seconds but where he gained against the clock he lost on accuracy and knocked two balls to add eight and finish on 175.59. 

But to be on the podium in such a strong field of contenders so early in the series bodes well for the events to come.
Building to a crescendo, the rock music pumping, last to go Boyd and his slick, dark horses made an entrance.  They set out at such speed so that even with the early ball in number three, they had a margin of nearly ten seconds in hand. 

Mistakes are often fuel for Boyd who is at his best when challenged and if there’s a blip, his horses have enough power so that when he asks for more pace, they willingly give it without compromising precision.  

So, it’s an opening ten points for the reigning champion in Lyon as he heads to the next leg in Maastricht (NED) next weekend.  There won’t be the same pressure now that he is firmly on target for another title.  He and Bram Chardon (NED) are the wild cards so although they will go head-to-head, it will be a theoretical clash of the titans as neither will gain points from their places.  But they will gain psychological advantages and be watching each other like hawks to see if there are any chinks in the armour.  

Yet as we saw today, even if things don’t go according to plan, there is so much depth of talent and experience from the whole Exell team that trying to catch - let alone match - them is going be the biggest challenge for the remaining competitors in this exciting series. 

Tune into FEI TV for Leg 2 of the FEI Driving World Cup™ in Maastricht on 10 & 11 November, both competitions at 9.45 pm CET. 

Shane Sweetnam (IRL) may have been born in Cork (IRL), but for more than a decade, he's held a summer residence in Lexington (USA), directly adjacent to the Kentucky Horse Park. That made a win in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Lexington, held in the venue's Alltech Arena, especially meaningful. 

Besting an 11-horse jump-off with his family in attendance, Sweetnam recorded a long-awaited win in the class, which also marked his first World Cup victory. His winning partner was the sensational 10-year-old James Kann Cruz, who crossed the timers of fellow Irishman Alan Wade's short course in an uncatchable 33.41 seconds. 

Defending champion Daniel Bluman (ISR) finished second with Gemma W, marking Bluman's third consecutive year on the podium in the National Horse Show's feature class. Devin Ryan (USA) finished third with Eddie Blue, after the pair held the same position a week ago in Washington (USA).

"To win this class is a big deal. For me, it was always one of the ones I wanted to win."

Shane Sweetnam (IRL)

Sweetnam caught plenty of air in the first round, as James Kann Cruz showed off his brilliant power and scope. In the jump-off, that could have cost valuable time on the clock, but it also allowed Sweetnam to take more risks in his track. The pair returned fourth in an 11-horse jump-off and set themselves apart with a pair of left-out strides and a bold turn back to the combination toward the end of the course. When James Kann Cruz slipped, it left the horse not even a stride to judge the fence. Still, he cleared it with ease.

"I felt that there were a lot of fast riders, good riders behind me. Honestly, when I came out of the ring, I was thinking I still might not have done enough," Sweetnam said. "I definitely wasn't sure I had the win, but I really did as much as I could in the ring.

"We slipped a little bit going into the double, and [James Kann Cruz] had to show how amazing he was. That wasn't planned, but it just shows how talented he is."

Shane Sweetnam (IRL)

James Kann Cruz has always had the makings of a championship mount, and he contributed to a silver medal-winning effort for Ireland at the 2023 European Championships (ITA). Navigating jump-offs at speed has been the next part of the gelding's development.

"Practice makes perfect. I'd say if you watch my rounds now compared to what they were this time last year, the jump-offs are a lot faster," Sweetnam said. "Yes, he does spend a lot of time in the air, but obviously, that's a help. He's a very smart horse. The more he does it, the smarter he gets...He's looking for the next jump, which he hadn't really this time last year. It's still a work in progress.

"I still think there's more room there for us to go to another level," he added.

Sweetnam walked the course with his son Collin, and his wife Ali and daughters Olivia and Lucy were in attendance at the event. All are involved in the sport as athletes or coaches.

"All of us are very keen," Sweetnam said. "It's great to have that, because we have that together. When there's success or when there's ups and downs, we're there together, and we learn from them, and we keep moving forward."

Ryan's consistency moved him to the top of the NAL standings with 30 points, while Sweetnam slotted into second with 28 points. Alise Oken (USA) sits third with 25 points.

The NAL continues in Toronto (CAN) on 11 November 2023.

Results

Standings

Brazil’s Stephan de Freitas Barcha came into today’s Individual Jumping medal-decider at the Pan American Games 2023 in Quillota, Chile in third place and climbed up to the top step of the podium with a stunning performance from his mare Chevaux Primavera Imperio Egipcio.

 

On a day when only four clear rounds were posted from the field of 28 starters, and when so many of the medal favourites would falter over Marina Azevedo’s uncompromising courses, the 34-year-old rider held his nerve to take the gold.

“To win this kind of Championship in South America is a dream come true!”,“I he said after standing on the top step of the podium flanked by the USA’s Kent Farrington who clinched silver and McLain Ward who took the bronze.

Key

When, eleventh to go over the 12-fence first-round course, Chile’s Agustin Covamubias and Nelson du Petit Vivier were foot-perfect the crowd went wild, and then Argentina’s Jose Maria Larocca and Finn Lente followed suit so it seemed the key to success had been discovered at last.

But one-by-one the top ten also struggled, the Easter Island triple combination proving the undoing of many along with the final Chilean Games oxer which also took a big toll.

Lying eighth, Farrington’s 10-year-old gelding Landon put a toe in the open water at fence eight, while Mexico’s Eugenio Garza Perez made it all the way to that heartbreaking last fence before kicking out the back pole with Contago. With three left to run de Freitas Barcha kept a clean sheet however and then it was down to the leading pair of American stars. 

There was a gasp of disbelief when, second-last to go, Laura Kraut’s Dorado 212 clipped the first element of the penultimate double of verticals and an even greater gasp when last man in, McLain Ward with Contagious, left both the previous triple bar and that influential final oxer on the floor. 

Places

As round two began however Kraut was still sitting second with de Freitas Barcha now in the lead, Mexico’s Garza Perez was in third and Farrington was in fourth while Ward, Brazil’s Pedro Veniss (Nimrod de Muze Z) and Larocca filled the next three places. Carrying 4.06 penalties into the second round Barcha had no wriggle-room because Kraut was on 7.39 and only 8.2 points separated the top six so there was still plenty of work to be done.

The second round triple combination at fence eight and the final two fences broke plenty of hearts, Larocca, Veniss and Ward all falling victim to the penultimate liverpool oxer. But Farrington was crystal clear this time out - the only clear of the second round - and, with just three left to go, he loomed large in the final stages with his score now standing at 9.64. 

Adrift

Ward still seemed well adrift on 15.34, but when Garza Perez had three down and Kraut had two down then the landscape changed dramatically. De Freitas Barcha’s running scoreline of 4.06 penalties left him with a fence, and a single time penalty, in hand as he set off with a sizzle of electricity in the air along with the big dream of gold.

His 12-year-old mare is a quirky character who makes a fuss about going into the arena, but when she gets in there she gets the business done. And it looked very much like the Brazilian pair were about to complete the only double-clear of the day as they approached the final line. Soaring over the penultimate oxer they headed down to the final planks, but even when they hit them the crowd exploded with a roar of approval because they knew their final tally of 8.06 would leave them ahead of Farrington while Ward would take third place and the bronze.

Brazilian course designer Azevedo has certainly tested the best this week but it seems the new golden boy of Brazil has an interesting history with her. “At every championship I won in Brazil, Marina was building - in Children’s, Juniors, Young Riders and Seniors!”, he pointed out this evening.

Brilliant

Bronze medallist Ward described her courses as “brilliant, I thought top level, very big, very hard, everything a championship should be”. He has only competed at three Pan American Games during his long and super-successful career, and today’s bronze brings his total number of PanAm medals to seven.

Farrington was delighted to have moved up from eighth to silver medal spot today. “It was a great result at the end, we had to battle from the back of the pack today but with a very inexperienced horse jumping at this level. I thought he got better as the week went on and I’m thrilled with the result! 

He described today’s competition as “real jumping, I think it shows what the PanAm Games has become in our sport. It’s different now to PanAms in the past, a whole new dimension, and in the final round they can build it to that because of the level of riders they had here today”, he pointed out.

He was delighted with his horse, Landon. “I got him at the end of his seven-year-old year and he’s 10 now and really coming into his own. He won two 5* Grand Prix classes already. He showed a bit of his green-ness there in the final round when he spooked at the island but he’s an incredible athlete and you can see that - when we get into trouble he battles his way out and I thought he finished really strong. This was great experience for him and he’ll grow from it”, he said.

Means

Meanwhile the new champion reflected on what today’s gold medal means, to him and to many others.

“Since I started this journey 25 years ago in Rio de Janeiro I worked every day for a day like this, and I want to just say thank you to everybody that has helped me during this journey. I have a good team now, good people behind me, but this victory is for two people who are no longer here”, de Freitas Barcha said.

“It is for a teacher I had since I was 15, and also my friend who I lost at the beginning of the year. I know he was with me in every round supporting me this week and this victory is for Vava, my good friend who was like a brother to me”, he added in a voice filled with emotion.

He intends to celebrate tonight, but he is already planning ahead. “Tomorrow we start the focus for our next goal which is Paris (2024 Olympic Games) because I want to be part of this strong team we have in Brazil who will be going for medals!”

Result here

 

Germany’s Frederic Wandres steered Bluetooth OLD to victory in today’s second leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2022/2023 Western European League in Lyon, France where Denmark’s Nanna Skodborg Merrald and Blue Hors St Schufro finished second head of Pauline Basquin and Sertorius de Rima Z IFCE from France in third.

In yesterday’s Grand Prix, Wandres also pipped Skodborg Merrald by almost a full three percentage-point margin. Today however it was a closer contest with the judges panel of Mariette Sanders-van Gansewinkel (NED), Christof Umbach (LUX), Raphael Saleh (FRA), Jacques van Daele (BEL) and Henning Lehrmann (GER) awarding a score of 83.415 to the winning pair while the runners-up posted 82.995.

It was also close between third and fourth, with Basquin’s 80.815 giving her the edge over Sweden’s Patrik Kittel on 80.610. The Netherlands’ Emmelie Scholtens and Indian Rock finished fifth on 79.830 and Morgan Barbançon from France posted 78.320 with Habana Libre A for sixth place.

Overtook

Wandres overtook Skodborg Merrald when second-last to go and was delighted to find himself with maximum points. 

“I always had Lyon in my schedule and was looking forward to coming here. Yesterday in the Grand Prix he was already very good, and I feel we improved a few things in our Freestyle so he was even better today. I could not be more happy with two wins this weekend. I am delighted with my horse - today and the whole season”, he said.

Talking about where the improvements came today he explained, “I wanted to show a little more the piaffe after my test yesterday. I watched the video and could really see, I know the horse could do better and I tried today. It is very important for me to show consistency through my test and I am really happy”, he explained. 

Bluetooth’s consistency is undeniable. Together the pair won the Grand Prix and Freestyle at Hagen (GER) in April, were on the winning Nations Cup team at Aachen, Germany in July and competed at the FEI Dressage European Championship 2023 in Riesenbeck, Germany in September where they finished sixth in the Grand Prix, seventh in the Grand Prix Special and ninth in the Freestyle. This weekend’s double at Lyon has been the icing on the cake in a very strong season.

Asked about his plans for Bluetooth over the coming months, Wandres said that he has discussed that with his team “and we decided that this was the last show for him this year. He will come with us to Florida (USA) at the end of December and will enjoy some time off and do one show over there to get him ready for the outdoor spring shows. I don’t want to ask him too much…. the goal for us next year is Paris (2024 Olympic Games).” 

New

Skodborg Merrald performed a brand new Freestyle for the very first time today.

“I really enjoyed riding it! I think it fits my horse very well and shows his qualities”, she said.

The 12-year-old black stallion Blue Hors St Schufro has had time out of competition due to a busy breeding season, but he was in fine form in early spring when posting a series of wins and second placings at Herning in Denmark and Hagen, Germany and he has clearly found form again.

“My focus was on Zepter for the European Championship”, said the Danish rider who steered Blue Hors Zepter into second place at the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2023 Final in Omaha, USA in April and then went on to multiple placings at the FEI Dressage European Championship including team bronze and second place in the Freestyle finale.

“I’m really enjoying having him (Blue Hors St Schufro) back in top shape, and he felt very good both days”, she added.

She intends to compete both Zepter and St Schufro throughout the Western European League series and has the third leg in Stuttgart, Germany in two weeks time already in her sights.

Progression

Pauline Basquin said she has seen “a very nice progression” in the performance of her third-placed gelding Sertorius. “Everything we put in place is paying off now, and the horse has progressed very well. It is not only about the technical things, but the whole team and the work we have done in the past year. My horse is in a really good mindset and I am very grateful for my team…..I feel very emotional tonight!”, said the Frenchwoman.

Of course she had the support of the spectators on her home ground today. “I felt the public behind me, and their encouragement. I was feeling very special and this will be a great memory for me and my horse! I am very proud, not only proud of me but proud of my horse and the French team. I was proud to wear the colour of my country and proud for everyone who supported us”, she added.

Show Director Sylvie Robert said this evening, “we are very thankful to the FEI for their trust, and very happy to host the FEI Dressage World Cup™ year after year here in Lyon. And we are happy to see our French riders performing so well in front of their home crowd! We are looking forward to following them all along their journey to Paris…..”

Standings 

Results:

Tomorrow, Friday 3 November, brings two weeks of spectacular equestrian sport to a close at the Pan American Games 2023 in Quillota, Chile where, following today’s second Horse Inspection, 28 Jumping riders will battle it out for individual gold in the much-anticipated two-round final showdown.

At the head of affairs going into the final day are two American legends. 

McLain Ward is a five-time Olympian whose record at the PanAms includes team gold at Guadalajara (MEX) in 2011 and the individual title along with team bronze in Toronto (CAN) in 2015. He holds a fractional lead over compatriot Laura Kraut who stood beside him on the top step of the eam podium yesterday. 

With results converted to points Ward carries a score of 3.34 into tomorrow’s competition with his 14-year-old gelding Contagious while triple Olympian Kraut and her 10-year-old gelding Dorado 212 are on 3.39 so there is only a hair’s breadth between them.

Brazil’s Stephan de Freitas Barcha (Chevaus Primavera Imperio Egipcio) is lying third on 4.06 ahead of bronze-medal-winning team-mate Pedro Veniss (Nimrod de Muze Z) in fourth on 4.26 and Canada’s Tiffany Foster (Figor) is in fifth on 4.40.

Mexican team-mates Nicolas Pizarro (Pia Contra) and Eugenio Garza Perez (Contago) hold the next two placings while USA’s Kent Farrington (Landon) is in eighth, Canada’s Amy Millar (Truman) lies ninth and Venezuela’s Luis Fernando Larrazabal (Condar) is in tenth. Larrazabal’s score is 5.41, so there is no room for error amongst the top ten.

Confident

Brazil’s de Freitas Barcha is feeling pretty confident.

“The first target was the team competition and the bronze medal was not the best feeling because we were fighting for the gold but I am in a good position for the individual. It’s sport and we have two more rounds so there’s a lot more to come. I need to stay focused, the mare is jumping unbelievably so let’s see whats to come!

“I have Primavera since she was six years old (she is now 12) and we grew together. I twice won the Brazilian national title with her and I came to Europe at the beginning of this year straight to a 4* show and won the Grand Prix, I was in Rome (in May 2023) also third in the Grand Prix, then I did some Nations Cups to prepare for coming here to this championship. We are in nice shape to fight!”, he says.

The first round of tomorrow’s competition begins at 11.00 local time and the top 20 go through to a second round over a different course, starting at 14.00. 

Anything can happen, so don’t miss a hoofbeat….

Startlists and Results here