In a perfect round-up to a great year of sport in 2023, Germany’s Christian Ahlmann scooped the honours in the ninth leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2023/2024 Western European League in front of an ecstatic audience at the Nekkerhal in Mechelen, Belgium today.

There wasn’t an inch of viewing space left around the perimeter of the arena when, from a starting field of 41, just the six who jumped clear over Bart Vonck’s tough first-round course went into battle against the clock, including three from the host country. And in a real nail-biter, it was the man who claimed the FEI Jumping World Cup™ trophy on home ground in Leipzig, Germany back in 2011 who triumphed, his 11-year-old gelding Mandato van de Neerheide giving his all to bring his rider’s tally of Mechelen wins to three.

The eight retirements on the final result sheet indicated the complexity of the first-round course, with several faulting even at the opening oxer. The triple combination at fence seven - two verticals to an oxer - proved pivotal for many, as did the difficult line that followed along the edge of the arena, beginning with a narrow wall standing a full 1.60m followed by a double, oxer to vertical, on a difficult distance and then a very quick turn to the oxer at fence 10. Of the eight four-faulters, Sweden’s Petronella Andersson and Odina van Klapscheut were quickest when through the timers in 66.75 seconds, well inside the time-allowed that was eventually adjusted to 71 seconds.

First clear

German veteran, Hans-Dieter Dreher, produced the very first clear when fourteenth to go with Vestmalle des Cotis who didn’t give him the easiest time as he approached most fences sideways-on before producing plenty of jump to clear them. First out against the clock the 14-year-old gelding by Baloubet du Rouet was looking much more focused however, only to clip the first of the two parts of the treble now included halfway around the new seven-obstacle track to finish on four faults in 35.86 seconds.

Then Belgium’s Nicola Philippaerts and the 11-year-old Darco mare Moya vd Bisschop set off only to drop the previous oxer, but Ahlmann and Mandato would make no mistake when third into the ring. A super-tight and beautifully balanced turn to the oxer after the double set them up for a great run, and the normally stoic German had a smile as wide as an ocean as he left the arena with a bit fat zero on the board in 34.23 seconds. It would be up to the rest to beat that.

And it was Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann who was first to take on the new target with this great mare Iliana who, however, couldn’t seem to keep her feet on the turns and who, as a result and despite fantastic jumping, couldn’t break the beam any faster than 34.67 seconds to slot into second place.

There were still two more Belgians to come, so plenty more for the crowd to shout for, and Gregory Wathelet gave it everything he had with the 12-year-old stallion Bond Jamesbond de Hay who came out on top at the third leg in Lyon (FRA) in October. But Mr Bond was so busy bucking that he too lost time on the track, jumping like a stag but coming home in 35.23 seconds to slot into third place. And when Pieter Devos and Mom’s Toupie de la Roque had the oxer down at what was now fence three in 35.62 seconds then he would finish fourth at the end of the day.

Joy

Ahlmann couldn’t hide his joy with today’s victory. “It’s fantastic, no doubt about that! Mandato jumped incredible, we took the last risk and everything worked out like I could wish for. We had the fastest riders of the world behind us and still we could make it, so this was our day today!”, he said. 

He’s long had a brilliant record on the World Cup circuit, that title victory in 2011 coming with the great Taloubet Z who also clinched the first of his three Mechelen wins back in 2015. In 2018 he came out on top at the Belgian fixture with Clintrexo Z, and today it was Mandato who stood proudly at the top of the prize-giving line-up.

“I bought him when he was six, he didn’t do much, jumped a few classes, he’s a huge long horse with a lot of scope and I have the feeling that this year, after three years of jumping, his body is ready and for him every jump is almost the same. So the scope is no question, he’s willing to do everything, but what he did in the second half of this year was really good and he’s a horse for the future for sure”, Ahlmann said of his winning ride.

Asked if he was happy with his third-place finish, Wathalet replied - “Yes and no! Yes of course I’m happy because my horse jumped super…but there was just one turn to the vertical when he was bucking a bit and he was a bit behind my leg. I don’t know if I could have caught Christian but for sure I am happy with how he jumped, although you always want to win, and to win at home! I did my best but it just wasn’t enough today!” 

A bit strange

Von Eckermann described his jump-off round as “a bit strange because she jumped fantastic! On the first turn I slipped a little bit and then we got going and at the second-last I slipped also….I couldn’t get the seven to the last and I did eight instead. I need to ride with a bit more balance around the turn and then maybe not be slipping, but I’m happy for Christian. He did a wonderful round so - next time!” said the longtime world number one.

Meanwhile winner, Ahlmann, reflected on how it all worked out for him today.

“You have to give your best and try to do what you can do and this should be enough. And then you have to wait and cross your fingers! I did what I could do and it was our day!”, he pointed out. 

He loves riding in front of the enthusiastic Mechelen crowd. “It’s always nice - the people love the horses here, they love the sport and they are behind all the riders so it feels super-good!”, he said.

And the Belgian show is on the calendar every year for the man who is a driving force in the Zangersheide horse-breeding and production business.

“Mechelen is very important for us because we have the stallion competition here and all the young ones are jumping so it’s a very interesting show. All the days are sold out here, there’s an amazing crowd and it’s a lot of fun to ride in unbelievable sport every day. I’m enjoying the days here and every year we are really motivated to do something good - we have come many times and three times it has worked out!”, he said this evening.

After today he is in 17th place on the Western European League leaderboard and with 28 points could do with adding another 15 or so to ensure his place at the Longines Final 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in April. There are five more Western European qualifiers to go, with Basel (SUI) in two weeks time followed by Leipzig (GER) and Amsterdam (NED) in January, and then Bordeaux (FRA) and Gothenburg (SWE) in February.

So don’t miss a hoofbeat…….. 

Result

Standings

Great Britain’s Charlotte (Lottie) Fry and her Tokyo 2020 Olympic ride, Everdale, were convincing winners of today’s sixth leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2023/2024 Western European League in Mechelen, Belgium.

Scoring 84.980 they pipped The Netherlands’ Marlies van Baalen and Habibi DBV for top spot, while two rising stars - Belgium’s Flore de Winne with Flynn FRH and Germany’s Rapahel Netz with Great Escape Camelot - filled third and fourth places.

The event attracted a truly international line-up, with Singapore’s Caroline Chew (Blue Hors Zatchmo) and India’s Anush Agarwalla (Sir Caramello OLD) amongst the first group of eight to come before the judges panel of Eduard de Wolff van Westerrode (NED), Jacques van Daele (BEL), Freddy Leymann (BEL), Isobel Wessels (GBR) and Christof Umbach (LUX). And it was de Winne and her fabulous nine-year-old stallion Flynn who were the first-half show-stealers when putting it right up to the rest of the field with a great performance that set the second-half target at better than 80.330 percent, much to the delight of her home crowd.

Threaten the lead

It came down to the final three to threaten that lead, van Baalen and the 11-year-old Habibi producing a lovely test for a mark of 81.160 that put them out in front, only to be immediately overtaken by Fry and her 14-year-old stallion who were next into the ring. 

In a ride that oozed precision, supreme confidence and class this pair presented a picture of coordination as they threw down strong half-pass and canter pirouette along with multiple big-scoring flying changes and, of course, Fry’s particular speciality - extended canter that lives up to its name. The spectators knew they had seen something special as they roared their approval when the score went up on the board. 

Last into the ring, German 24-year-old Raphael Netz didn’t let that un-nerve him or his new partner Great Escape Camelot, the multiple U25 gold medallist steering the former ride of Switzerland’s Estelle Wettstein to the last of the over-80-percent scores of the day when earning 80.215 with the 12-year-old horse he has only been competing internationally since March of this year.

The Netherlands’ Thamar Zweistra and Hexagon’s Ich Weiss slotted into fifth place ahead of Belgium’s Charlotte Defalque and Botticelli in sixth and Morgan Barbançon and Habana Libre A from France in seventh. Eighth place went to Belgium’s Larissa Pauluis who made little short of a miraculous recovery after her 13-year-old gelding Flambeau threw a bit of a tantrum at the very start of his test only to settle into some lovely work that pulled back their score to a very respectable 77.905 in the end.

Great joy

There was great joy at the Belgian results during the post-competition press conference in which Jeroen van Lent declared that Flore de Winne’s score was “another mark in the history of Dressage in Belgium getting the first 80 (percent) in history, so as manager of Belgian Dressage I am a happy man!”, he said. 

De Winne agreed. “Yes, we’re back! It is unbelievable, nobody could have dared to dream that!”, she said.

The excitement around herself and the very elegant stallion Flynn is growing with every outing. In London (GBR) just a couple of weeks ago the pair were already hugely impressive when finishing sixth in the Freestyle. At only nine years of age the horse is still developing, and the partnership he has established with his 28-year-old rider suggests there is so much more to come.

Asked if she thinks they could reach the level of today’s winners, Fry and Everdale, de Winne replied with honesty and conviction, “that is everyone’s childhood dream and also my dream! We are slowly growing, we are both green at this level but I hope to get close in the future, or even better!”

And asked if she found the atmosphere created by the packed arena of spectators difficult to handle she added, “we came from London and London was huge already but Mechelen is definitely on the same level as London. It was even more impressive to come through the corridor and enter the arena, it made my hair stand on end and I can’t wait to be back!” said the third-placed rider.

Full house

Runner-up van Baalen said the “the crowd here is amazing, it was a full house and you feel the great atmosphere!”

And today was a special day for the Dutch star too. 

“Habibi and I rode a fantastic Freestyle. He had a break after the European Championship and we rode our first indoor again in Kronenberg (NED). That was a very good warm-up for Mechelen, and we rode a Personal Best in the Freestyle today so that was just great!”, she pointed out.

And of course Lottie Fry was also a happy lady. “It’s my third time here in Mechelen but my first time winning so that’s always more fun! I had a great ride yesterday and today on Everdale, I think these were two of his best ever tests, and he’s just improving all the time. And the atmosphere in there today was pretty incredible! Even for the Grand Prix there were so many spectators which we don’t always get so that was really nice to see, and the prize-giving was insane - it was like the roof was going to be lifted off!”, said the 27-year-old who is second in the world rankings and who scooped double-gold at the 2022 World Championships.

As 2023 draws to a close, the Western European League table still shows Sweden’s Patrik Kittel out in front while French rider Morgan Barbançon is second and young German, Netz, has moved into third following today’s result which has also boosted Fry into joint-sixth place.

With five more qualifiers to go before the series Final in April 2024 there is still plenty more action to come and the next leg in Basel, Switzerland in two weeks’ time will get the New Year underway. So don’t miss a hoofbeat….

Result

Standings

In a landmark moment in FEI World Cup™ history, the organisers of the FEI Jumping and Dressage World Cup™ Finals, scheduled to be held in Riyadh (KSA) between 16-20 April 2024, have contributed to a groundbreaking increase in prize money for the competitors. 

The pot for the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final already sits at an impressive 1.3 million Euros. Now thanks to a generous donation by the Organising Committee, the prize money for the 2024 Jumping Final will be doubled, reaching an extraordinary total of 2.6 million Euros.

This significant increase in prize money - the highest amount ever seen at an FEI World Cup™ Final - is likely to be a one-time opportunity, making the 2024 World Cup Finals™ in Riyadh an exceptional and unprecedented event.  It also highlights the Organisers’ dedication in welcoming the global equestrian community to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and for the first time as hosts of the FEI World Cup™ Finals.

The FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final will also benefit from a substantial boost, with an additional 100,000 Euros being injected into its prize fund. The Dressage prize money - already set at 300,000 Euros - will now be bolstered to an impressive 400,000 Euros.

FEI Secretary General, Sabrina Ibáñez expressed that;

“The FEI is privileged to have the Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation as a key ally in equestrian sport, and there is no doubt they are fully onboard when it comes to raising the bar for the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final and the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final 2024 to an unprecedented competitive level."

"The generous welcome of the equestrian community to Saudi Arabia, coupled with the wonderful commitment made by the Organising Committee to the growth and success of the sport, will foster a spirit of excellence."

Sabrina Ibáñez, Secretary General, FEI

"Thanks to the steadfast support of Longines, the FEI’s Top Partner for the last 11 years, and the invaluable contribution of the Organising Committee, we can look forward to demonstrations of world-class talent in two of the FEI’s Olympic disciplines at the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final and the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final, only months before the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.”

Riyadh, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a whole, has been emerging as a formidable host for equestrian events for some time.

In 2023, Riyadh successfully hosted 11 FEI events, with the momentum continuing in 2024 with another 12 planned, as well as the city of AlUla set to host the FEI Endurance World Championship in 2026, as announced at the FEI Board Meeting in Mexico City (MEX) last month. 

No stranger to the world stage in equestrian sport, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has already clinched two Olympic medals in Jumping – an individual bronze in Sydney in 2000 and a team bronze in London in 2012.  More recently, they secured their Jumping team a place in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Olympic Qualification Event in Doha (QAT) in February 2023, and took gold in both team and individual Jumping at the Asian Games in Hangzhou (CHN) this year.

2024 will be a year of world-class equestrian sport once again, with Jumping and Dressage only half the complement of the FEI World Cup Finals™ on the cards for the year.  It all kicks off with the FEI Vaulting World Cup™ Final hosted in Basel (SUI) from 11-14 January, and the FEI Driving World Cup™ Final in Bordeaux (FRA) from 1-4 February. 

Don’t miss a hoofbeat!

The International Horse Sport Confederation (IHSC) held its 2023 General Assembly on 8 December in the Happy Valley Clubhouse, Hong Kong. The General Assembly was led by the IHSC President, Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges.

The 2022 accounts were approved. Presentations were made on the activities carried out during 2023, with a particular focus on those related to the IHSC collaboration with the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH); African Horse Sickness (AHS); and, IHSCs activities to support the Peoples Republic of China in its development of the Chinese horse sector.

The budget and activities for 2024 were presented and approved, most importantly; the collaboration with WOAH continues as well as the work of the AHS-working group. New activities were proposed, a WOAH-IHSC Regional Workshop in the Gulf Region and an Assessment on Risk of Climate Change on Spreading of Infectious Equine Diseases.

The FEI Board has approved a list of criteria and conditions that Russian and Belarusian Athletes, FEI registered Support Personnel, Horse Owners and Officials must fulfil in order to be allowed to return to competition at FEI Events. The decision was taken following the lifting of the protective measures regarding Russian and Belarussian Athletes, Horses, and Officials agreed at the in-person FEI Board meeting on 19 November.

 

Criteria

he criteria include the absence of active support for the war in Ukraine, no contract with the Russian or Belarusian military or with any other national security agency, and compliance with all FEI Rules and Regulations, including the Anti-Doping Rules for Human Athletes and FEI Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations.

 

They also specify that any form of verbal, non-verbal or written expression, explicit or implicit, at any time since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, in particular public statements, including those made in social media, participation in pro-war demonstrations or events, and the wearing of any symbol in support of the war in Ukraine, for example the "Z" symbol, are considered to be acts of active support for the war in Ukraine and will prevent individuals from participating at FEI Events.

o:p> 

Procedure

FEI Criteria for the participation of Russian and Belarusian Athletes, Horses and Officials in FEI Events.

 

Once issued with the Neutral status, Athletes and Support Personnel will only be entitled to take part in Individual Competitions and will not be authorised to participate in any FEI Team Competitions.

 

The Neutral Individual Athletes, Neutral Individual Support Personnel, and Neutral Officials will not be entitled to compete or attend as representatives of the Russian Federation or the Republic of Belarus, their National Federations or National Olympic Committees. Flags, emblems, and identifiers will not be displayed at any FEI Event venue.

 

The national anthems of Russia and Belarus will not be played or sung at any time during FEI Competitions in any competition venue.

 

Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games

On 8 December the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided that Individual Neutral Athletes who have qualified through the existing qualification systems of the International Federations on the field of play will be declared eligible to compete at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 in accordance with the conditions set out by the IOC.

 

According to the Olympic Qualification Systems for Equestrian, individual qualification is secured through the FEI Olympic Rankings for Jumping, Dressage, and Eventing, which cover the period from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023. Since Russian and Belarusian athletes have not competed in FEI Events since 2 March 2022, no representatives of these nations will take part in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

 

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) had taken a decision similar to the IOC in September, however, similarly to the Olympic Games, with the Qualifying events being in 2023, and Russian and Belarusian athletes not having competed in FEI Events since 2 March 2022, no ranking points could be earned, and hence no individual qualification slots could be allocated.

 

In keeping with the IOC statement of 25 February 2022 urging International Sports Federations to relocate or cancel their sports events, the measures prohibiting FEI Events from being held in Russia and Belarus remain in place. No FEI Events organised in Russia and Belarus can be entered in the FEI Calendar for 2024. No Officials’ courses as well as any other FEI activities will be held in Russia and Belarus for the time being and all FEI Solidarity projects in Russia and Belarus remain frozen.

 

“The Board approved the strict criteria for the return of Russian and Belarusian Athletes, Support Personnel and Officials to FEI Events with a Neutral status further to its decision taken last month to lift the protective measures put in place shortly after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The original protective measures were introduced further to the recommendation of the International Olympic Committee, however, it was acknowledged that they may no longer fulfil a protective role and, therefore, had to be reconsidered.

 

“Whereas the procedure we defined on 14 December 2023 is paving the way for the return of Russian and Belarusian Athletes, FEI registered Support Personnel and Officials to international equestrian sport, difficult times lie ahead.”

 

“The war in Ukraine is still raging and the people of Ukraine continue to suffer. I would like to reiterate FEI’s unwavering support to the Ukrainian equestrian community through the FEI Solidarity Relief Fund.”

 

Note to editors:

The document outlining the FEI Criteria for the participation of Russian and Belarusian Athletes, Horses and Officials in FEI Events including procedures, deadlines, costs and sanctions for the non-respect of the criteria, as well as the Declaration Forms (as an annex to the document) is available on FEI website here. A Russian version of the Declaration Forms is also available.

 

The press release on the FEI’s Board decision to lift the protective measures and allow the participation of Russian and Belarusian Athletes, Support Personnel and Officials and Neutrals can be consulted here.

The detailed qualifications systems for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games are available on the dedicated hub here

With the Longines League of Nations' inaugural season kicking off in February 2024, over the next few weeks we will take a closer look at the 10 nations that have qualified to compete to be the first winner of the new trophy.  

Today, #10 in the rankings, we talk to Brazil...

Brazil has a rich and storied history in the world of Jumping, marked by a legacy of remarkable achievements and notable successes.  

Most recently, finishing fourth at the Longines FEI Jumping Nations™ Cup Final at the Real Club de Polo in Barcelona this year, where they secured their ticket to the Paris Olympics in 2024.

Over the years, Brazilian equestrians have consistently demonstrated exceptional skill, dedication, and passion for the sport, earning them a place on the global stage with Pan American games glory, but also when Rio de Janeiro hosted the Olympic Games in 2016.

From the iconic partnership between rider and horse to the pursuit of excellence in training and competition, Brazil's Jumping community has carved a remarkable path in the annals of equestrian history.

According to an official survey by the Brazilian Equestrian Federation, the number of active athletes with valid ID in national and international competitions held in Brazil has consistently grown over recent years, with Jumping leading the popularity ranks according to registrations. This is partly a nod to the cultural phenomenon of leading Brazilian Jumping athletes such as Rodrigo Pessoa, and recently the winner of the 2023 Pan American games, Stephan Barcha.

As Brazil gears up for the upcoming 2024 Longines League of Nations™ series, the nation stands poised to showcase its prowess once again as the only Southern hemisphere country to qualify for the top ten competing nations. With this qualification and participation underscoring the country's commitment to maintaining its position as a powerhouse in international Jumping; we speak to Carola May from the Brazilian Equestrian Federation.

Brazil has a rich history in equestrian sports. How do you see your participation in the Longines League of Nations™ contributing to the legacy and tradition of Brazilian Jumping?

"Competing in the Longines League of Nations™ series is undoubtedly of great importance for Brazilian equestrianism, not only for our international riders competing at a high level, but also as an encouragement for the future generation of the sport. 

Jumping is unquestionably the Olympic discipline with the largest number of enthusiasts in our country, and...

"Having the opportunity to compete alongside the best teams, represents a unique chance with positive impacts on the sport’s popularity and recognition"

Carola May

(BRA)

Brazil has produced some exceptional equestrian talents. How are you working to nurture and develop the next generation of riders through its involvement in the Longines League of Nations™ series?

"It all begins with the grassroots work. With the Brazilian Youth Championship in high-performance categories, selective competitions, and participation in the South American Youth Championship, which usually occurs annually, our young talents learn to experience the pressure of international competition and develop team spirit. The Longines League of Nations™ signifies the culmination of this preparation, much like the Pan-American Games, World Championships and Olympic Games."

Equestrian sports have a passionate following. How do you plan to engage and excite fans throughout the Longines League of Nations™ series, and what initiatives are in place to ensure that the Brazilian audience is part of this global equestrian celebration?

"Access to live streaming and potential TV broadcasts serve as tools to engage our Jumping enthusiasts who naturally seek to follow the exciting competitions in equestrianism. Simultaneously, promotion on social media and specialised channels are also crucial in enhancing the Brazilian audience’s participation in this global series."

The Brazilian team's journey promises to be a thrilling chapter in the unfolding narrative of the Longines League of Nations™ series, as they aim to add new chapters to Brazil's illustrious equestrian history. 

Be sure to catch all the action on FEI TV as the series kicks off in Abu Dhabi on 11 February.

For a very long time the London International Horse Show has been one of the most popular events on the European indoor circuit, and today almost 10,000 spectators nearly lifted the roof off the ExCel arena in the London (GBR) Docklands when Britain’s Ben Maher won the eighth leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2023/2024 Western European League with Enjeu de Grisien.

A year ago his compatriot and friend, Scott Brash, stood top of the podium at the same venue after winning with Hello Jefferson. But today the 2012 Olympic team gold medallist Brash had to settle for runner-up spot with his 14-year-old gelding when reigning individual Olympic champion Maher, and the young horse he calls Jazz, snatched victory from his grasp with a spectacular last-to-go run.

And if the crowd were screaming with excitement during the 11-horse jump-off against the clock, none were screaming louder than Irishman Daniel Coyle’s grandmother Ita who didn’t hold back when the Derry-born, Canada-based rider put it up to the final two contenders with a brilliant performance from his 13-year-old mare, Legacy, that finally left them in third place.

All the ingredients were there for another epic leg of the series that never fails to delight. And it was 2017 European champion Peder Fredricson from Sweden who filled fourth place ahead of 2023 European bronze medallist Julien Epaillard from France in fifth while Britain’s Matthew Sampson slotted into sixth.

Plenty to do

Course designer, Brazil’s Guilherme Jorge, gave them plenty to do over the 13-fence first-round track, but from the startlist of riders from 16 nations there were still eight countries in contention second time out.

Ireland’s Conor Swail led the way in the decider with Casturano who clipped the vertical at fence nine, three from home, but speed-master Epaillard followed with the first real target when clear in 39.20 seconds with Donatello d’Auge.

Portugal’s Duarte Deabra and the handsome grey Dourados 2 hit the penultimate oxer and Brazil’s Pedro Junqueira Muylaert and Quax 76 lowered the first of the two remaining elements of the triple combination which, now the third obstacle on the course, was a pivotal point on the new track. 

Then Max Kuhner returned a clear in 39.57 with EIC Up Too Jacco Blue to slot in behind Epaillard before Britain’s Sampson and Ebolensky immediately nudged the Austrian pair down the order when almost a quarter of a second quicker. But the excitement was only really starting.

Tail on fire

Next in, Coyle who turned 29 years old earlier this month, set off like his tail was on fire, and taking a stride out between the second element of the double and the following water-tray vertical, he raced home with his brilliant mare in 37.99 seconds to change the whole shape of the competition. 

Italy’s Lorenzo de Luca and Cappuccino 194 lost their chance when turning too tight to the first element of the double, but Fredricson and Hansson WL produced a very tidy clear in 38.42 seconds which slotted them in behind Coyle. However the last two would have the final say.

Brash and Jefferson are always lightning-fast, and when they stopped the clock on 37.80 seconds it seemed all but impossible that could be beaten. Maher however was having none of it. Despite the fact that he was riding a horse that is just nine years old he could feel the time was right to ask for what he needed, and Enjeu de Grisien shaved more than a half-second off his rival’s time to clinch it with a foot-perfect run that drove his home crowd into a frenzy. Just 0.62 seconds separated him from Brash, while Coyle was just 0.19 seconds further off the mark for third place.

Different animal

“This time of year for some reason my mare just seems to become a different animal, and if I can ride her correctly she usually jumps like she did today. I really wish sometimes she didn’t jump so high, you lose a bit of speed that way! Obviously to beat these guys you really have to nail it and there were a few places I maybe could have turned back tighter, but after I’d gone I felt like - if it wins great, and if it doesn’t it’s not meant to be! There wasn’t a whole lot in it, but these guys are brilliant and I’m sure I’ll get them again!” Coyle said, knowing that he had been involved in a momentous battle against the very best.

Brash could have been forgiven for thinking he was about to make it a back-to-back London double before Maher set off for a second time. But he insisted he wasn’t too disappointed with his second-place finish.

“I was actually very happy because Jefferson has been my main contender for the last two years really, he’s been having to do the big shows himself. I thought he jumped fantastic in Calgary (Spruce Meadows 5* in September) but after that I gave him a break and it was the worst thing I could have done because he lost a bit of muscle and it took time to get him back going. 

“But in Geneva last week he jumped good, maybe not as good as he can, but here he felt right back on form so I’m very delighted that he’s back to where he can be again!”, the 38-year-old Scotsman pointed out.

Very special

Even happier however was Maher who described today’s win as “very special for me”. That’s partly because he had a tough start to 2023 that included being out of action for four months with a shoulder injury.

“It’s been a difficult year for us as a family and a team with a few things that have gone on behind the scenes. It’s nice to get to the end of the year in one sense, but it’s nice to finish on a highlight like this and I really enjoy when Sophie my wife is here and our son Cooper”, said the 40-year-old rider. 

He already enjoyed a Western European League win in Verona (ITA) in November partnering another of his mighty string of horses, Dallas Vegas Batilly, and in Madrid (ESP) three weeks ago he finished second with today’s winning ride Enjeu de Grisien.

“I’ve brought him along carefully since he was seven years old, he had four months off at the beginning of the year when I wasn’t able to ride and today was one of those jump-offs where I didn’t have to be too quick over the first three jumps. But then I used his stride really to go, and in the end you don’t have that opportunity (to win) every week or every year. It’s about taking the opportunities when they are there, and today he was ready!”, he explained.

One less stride

He didn’t see Brash’s round “but I know he’s quick, and I knew roughly where I had to be on the course, and that I could do one less stride to the water tray (8). So I just tried to stay a little bit focused and calm and to ride the round that I knew I could ride with my horse, and fortunately it was quick enough today!”, he added. 

Maher congratulated Coyle and Brash on their placings in today’s competition, reflecting on the fact that you win some, and you lose some. “When you ride out of the ring you cross paths (with other riders), and it’s tough when you ride a round like Scott did and then someone goes in and beats you, but it has been the other way around many times before! 

“That crowd though!”, he added, “and this class, it’s one that everyone wants to win because it’s a great time of year, everybody’s happy, everybody is enjoying it and today that was as good sport as there’s been in a very long time!”, he added.

He has now taken over pole position on the Western European League table ahead of fellow-countryman Harry Charles in second and Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann in third going into the ninth of the 14 legs of the series in Mechelen (BEL) in two weeks time.

Don’t miss a hoofbeat…. 

Result

Standings

Less than two weeks after the Swedish Warmblood Tornado was made a permanent member of Skylar Wireman's (USA) string, the pair topped the first Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ of their respective careers. 

In front of an enthusiastic crowd at Fort Worth's Will Rogers Coliseum (USA), 19-year-old Wireman and Tornado bested a six-horse jump-off and were one of just two double-clear efforts on the evening. 

The winning time was 36.54 seconds. Nicolas Gamboa (COL), in his own right just 23 years old finished second with NKH Mr. Darcy (36.79 seconds). Jill Humphrey (USA) and Chromatic BH finished third for the second consecutive leg after earning the same finish last out in Las Vegas (USA); the pair finished with a single knockdown in 34.69 seconds.

"It doesn't feel real. It's incredible. That horse is incredible. Every time I've jumped a bigger track, he's just gotten better and better." 

Skylar Wireman (USA)

After a foot-perfect first round, things did not go entirely to plan for Wireman in the jump-off. Humphrey navigated Anderson Lima's (MEX) short course first and put pressure on those behind her after executing a bold inside turn to the jump-off's fourth fence. Wireman planned to replicate the turn, but she ended up leaving out a stride to the fence that preceded it, making the turn more difficult.

When Tornado struggled to execute the move, Wireman made a split-second decision to bypass the effort and go swiftly around a fence to the next vertical. 

"[My coach Peter Wylde] told me to go around if I did six [strides]. Apparently I missed that note! He said to do seven [strides] and go inside, but I saw six, and I tried to still go inside and quickly rerouted."

Skylar Wireman (USA)

While some time was lost in the moment, Wireman made up enough before and after to fend off Gamboa—along with a pair of Irish Olympians in Shane Sweetnam and Darragh Kenny, both of whom incurred faults with RR Combella and VDL Cartello, respectively.

"[Tornado] was just flying," Wireman said. "I just [thought], 'I better stay on!'"

Wireman has only been partnered with Tornado since June, when fellow rider Nick Haness (USA) asked the young professional to campaign the horse with an aim to sell him. Haness had injured his wrist and was unable to ride, and Wireman produced three clear efforts with the gelding at their debut show in California. But then she suffered an injury of her own.

"I ended up getting hurt, but Nick was nice enough to let me keep him through that time. Then [I recovered and] we jumped our first bigger classes," Wireman explained. "Just recently, some close family members helped me keep him, forever.

"Honestly, he has the biggest heart of any horse I've ever had," she added.

In her first year as a professional rider, Wireman has made a smooth transition from the junior, young rider and U25 ranks to contend at the senior international level. She is undaunted.

"I've had great fun [with the transition]," Wireman shared. "The more you challenge me and the more you dare me, the more I push harder and want it more."

After six legs, Daniel Bluman (ISR) leads the North American League standings with 43 points. Sweetnam second (41 points), while Humphrey moved into third (39 points). 

The NAL resumes at Puebla (MEX) on 27 January 2024.

Full results

Standings

In an electrifying event at the ExCel Centre in London’s Docklands, Boyd Exell (AUS) blazed to victory on three occasions – but only just.  In the closest contest of the FEI Driving World Cup™ 2023-24 series so far, the reigning champion was pitched against his two old adversaries, Ijsbrand Chardon (NED) and Koos de Ronde (NED), all on career-best form.  

By Saturday evening’s final drive-off, the top three were so finely tuned that they produced rounds which were only two seconds apart.  But it was Boyd’s experienced combination of horses that was marginally faster, and he steered them through a clear course to finish on a time only score of 145.41.

“In indoor driving you can have one ball at any moment so you can never take the pressure off.  If you go slow and then have a ball later in the course, you will get punished twice. The sport here has definitely grown and now the public really gets behind it which means a lot.  And as far as the drivers are concerned, this is a fantastic venue.”

Add quote person Boyd Exell (AUS)

Marking the three-quarter point of the series, the London leg is the sixth qualifying event and has an established extra “Extreme Driving” competition the day before the FEI World Cup.  Using a different course, also designed by Jeroen Houterman (NED), it is a standalone class and one that gives a taster for what is to come.  After two clear rounds, Boyd was the winner, with Koos second and Ijsbrand third.  
The warm-up event means that by Friday’s opening World Cup competition, the horses are more attuned and although the course is different, the arena and ambience are familiar.  In a nail-biting drive-off, it looked as if Ijsbrand was going to win as Boyd was down on the split time but spurred on by a cheering crowd, his horses found an extra, explosive gear and edged ahead by only 1.02 seconds.

By the third competition on Saturday evening, expectation was high for another tightly fought contest – which it was.  The same three qualified for the drive-off and each driver managed to shave seconds off their already impressive times over the same course.  And like the night before, it went down to the wire as last-to-go Boyd knew that he had only a tiny amount of wriggle room after both Dutchmen knocked a ball to add four seconds.  Aware of their scorching speeds - Ijsbrand’s 146.99 and Koos’ 147.37 seconds - Boyd was pushed hard every step of the way.  

Delighted with his performances in London, Ijsbrand said, “This is my first competition since Stuttgart (GER) and I had a really good second place.  To keep up with the tempo of Boyd and Koos, I had a new horse for London and he’s not so experienced, but he was perfect and I am very, very happy with him.  At this stage in the series, the level is really high and we have four or five people who are doing very well.”

Keeping the home crowd enthralled, wild card Daniel Naprous (GBR) ended his weekend in fourth.  Feeling that there was room for improvement after his opening round on Thursday, he went out on a high note by producing a fast, clear round on Saturday to jump up the placings.  

Afterwards he said, “I am so proud of my horses today!  To be on the coattails of these legends is a phenomenal feeling.  I flew in from filming on Sunday and then we came to London, so they did really well.  The sport is so great because after I struggled a bit on the first day, Boyd was gracious enough to give me a few tips and it was appreciated.  Tonight, luck smiled on me and the balls stayed on top.”

Completing the London line up were Glenn Geerts (BEL), Mareike Harm (GER) and Georg von Stein (GER). Glenn’s best result was fourth on Thursday, a position also taken by Georg on Friday, while Mareike was sixth on both Friday and Saturday.

Ijsbrand took the maximum ten points for the rankings as Boyd was also a wild card so not eligible. The two titans are now in first and second place with only a point between them as Ijsbrand pushed his son Bram Chardon (NED) into third place.

The next leg is in Mechelen (BEL) after Christmas where Boyd and Bram will go head to head again as qualified drivers. They are joined by Michael Brauchle (GER) who will be hoping to repeat his Stockholm (SWE) success and Dries Degrieck (BEL) who shone in Geneva (SUI). Completing the qualified drivers line up is Jérôme Voutaz (SUI) with Glenn and Koos as the wild cards.  

After the two most recent events, if Boyd and Bram maintain their form, it is going to be a very close call in Belgium as both will put maximum pressure on to unseat the other.  As Boyd said, “I never count the titles because you are only as good as your last competition.  Indoor driving’s quite hard on your confidence – if you have a great performance you just keep riding higher and higher, but if you start making mistakes and floundering, then it really pounds you!” 

Results Here 

Image: FEI/ Jon Stroud

Not for the first time in her career, Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin set the arena alight when steering Imhotep to victory at the fifth leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2023/2024 Western European League in London (GBR) tonight. And, mirroring the result of yesterday’s Grand Prix, compatriots Lottie Fry with Everdale and Becky Moody with Jagerbomb filled second and third places. 

Dujardin is always a crowd-puller, her spectacular record in the sport guaranteeing big audiences and plenty of profile. And once again this evening she didn’t disappoint.

From a starting field of 14, she stood out from the rest when putting a score of 89.465 on the board with the horse with whom she has great hopes. Not since her glory days with the magnificent Valegro has the 38-year-old rider seemed so excited about the future as she continues to build her partnership with the 10-year-old gelding who is known at home as Pete. 

At the FEI European Championship 2023 in Riesenbeck, Germany in September, where the pair helped their country to team gold before claiming  both Grand Prix Special and Freestyle bronze, Dujardin was already delighted with the progress being made by her relatively unexposed chestnut horse. She made no secret of the fact that she is targeting the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with him, and tonight’s indoor event was another big step along that road. He rose to the challenge magnificently.

“This is Pete’s first indoor show so he felt a little bit nervous with the atmosphere which was absolutely buzzing tonight. I was so proud of him, yesterday he was a little bit tense but tonight he felt a bit better, he’s just not got that experience of doing these shows, so I was so pleased with how he dealt with everything here - he never lets me down, he tries so hard and he’s a horse I just love to bits, and there’s so much more to come!”, she said.

Brilliant night

On a brilliant night for British dressage, Lewis Carrier took the lead with a mark of 76.195 as the second-half of the competition got underway with a lovely performance from the 15-year-old Diego V who was settled, secure and light in his rider’s hands.

Belgium’s Flore de Winne overtook them with the elegant black stallion Fliynn FRH who belied his nine years of age with a very polished presentation that earned 77.020. And then French rider Morgan Barbançon squeezed fractionally further ahead when scoring 77.025 with the veteran Sir Donnerhall ll OLD who, at 17, is a full eight years older.

But then Dujardin and Imhotep blew the competition away, consistently scoring 8.5s and 9s, and earning three maximum score of 10 for Choreography and four more for Music and Interpretation. All five judges - Henning Lehrmann (GER), Susanne Baarup (DEN), Andrew Gardner (GBR), Jacques van Daele (BEL) and Magnus Ringmark (SWE) were in complete agreement as they put the pair well out in front.

Next in, 43-year-old Becky Moody wasn’t intimidated however, throwing down a spectacular test with her home-bred nine-year-old gelding Jagerbomb who showed remarkable maturity in the security of his passage and piaffe, and who stormed through extended trot to put 83.675 on the board.

And then, last into the ring, Lottie Fry and Everdale who helped bring home Olympic team bronze in Tokyo and European team silver later in 2021, pushed Moody and her young star ride down to third when scoring 85.040 to decide the final line-up. Everdale is Imhotep’s sire, so it was a horse-family affair at the post-competition prizegiving.

Incredible

Runner-up Fry described the atmosphere in the ExCel arena tonight as “incredible and like no where else!” And she was pleased with her result. “I think this was one of my favourite tests I have ridden. With this new music it was amazing to ride, and Everdale was just brilliant tonight!”, said the Olympic, World and European medal-winning rider.

Talking about her experience tonight, Moody said “you dream about riding at this show, it is somewhere that we all aspire to compete at. I was incredibly nervous in the build-up and my horse is a legend. Being on the podium with Lottie Fry and Charlotte Dujardin is amazing! They both inspire me on a daily basis. They are incredible role models, and it is incredible being sat next to them. But I do have every intention of beating them in the future!”

Dujardin described Moody as “fantastic, it’s been an incredible show for her and it’s great to have her now as a back-up for the team next year”, which is quite some confirmation with Paris 2024 now very much on the horizon.

Talking about her own test tonight, Dujardin said, “the first transitions to piaffe, they could have been a bit better but at the start we didn’t quite get going where I needed him, but then he settled into it and really took it in his stride. But that’s where he’s still a bit green and I’ve only done that floor-plan once before. 

“My pirouettes felt fantastic and the degree of difficulty in that test is phenomenal, it’s way beyond a 10! The two’s into the one’s into the piaffe/pirouette, he’s only 10 years old but you ask him a question and he’s answering it. There’s so much to be proud of with him!”, she concluded.

The Western European League now moves on to Mechelen, Belgium in two weeks’ time for round six of the 11 qualifiers on the road to the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2024 Final which will be staged in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia next April.

Don’t miss a hoofbeat….

Result

Western European League Standings