Andre (SUI) amazes in Mechelen

Laura Andre (SUI) was rewarded for her incredible consistency in three classes over four days here at Mechelen (BEL) this week when she took victory in the FEI Jumping Ponies’ TrophyTM Final this afternoon in front of a packed stadium with her brilliant grey mare Clementine.

The top 20 international athletes after four qualifying legs were invited to compete at the FEI Jumping Ponies TrophyTM Final in Mechelen. Following the first two competitions their placings were converted to penalties. The top 15 athletes from this ranking qualified to start in round one of today’s final two- round competition, carrying forward their converted points. Following round one, only the top 10 combinations proceeded to the final round, another full course of 1.35m fences.

Andre came into today’s final in second position on a converted penalty score of two, having finished faultless in second place in both qualifying classes. Bethany Vos (NED) dominated both of these, winning the opening speed class and day two’s jump off class to lead the standings on a score of zero going into today’s final two- round competition with the 13-year-old gelding Still Got Me. A fence down in round one and an uncharacteristic 10 faults in round two saw Vos drop dramatically out of the top six. 

Vos’s four faults in the opening round gave Andre the opportunity to head the standings going into the final round and another polished performance from the Swiss athlete saw her do just that. In form combinations James Darwin (IRE) and Katie Bradburne (GBR) were looking dangerous going into round two in third and fourth position breathing down the necks of the leaders, but to the surprise of many, poles fell for both dropping them out of podium contention.

Hannah Blandfort (GER), lying in ninth position and carrying forward 10 penalties coming into today’s competition produced the only double clear of the day to shoot up the order and claim second place with the 15-year-old Karim van Ochid S, her Team Silver Medal winning partner at this year’s FEI Jumping European Championship for Ponies. Selma Hundborg Dresler (DEN) also remained faultless in the final round to climb up from seventh position after round one to take the final podium position with the 9-year-old Clounamon Coco. 

Andre, 16 years old and in her final year on ponies was delighted with the win and the performance of her long-term partner, the eye-catching grey mare Clementine who lowered just one pole all week in five testing rounds of Jumping. The experience gained here this week and over the FEI Jumping Ponies’ TrophyTM series will undoubtedly put her in great stead for a successful youth and senior career, as former winners of this prestigious Final such as Ireland’s Seamus Highes Kennedy and Rhys Williams have gone on to achieve.

First staged in 2017, the FEI Jumping Ponies’ TrophyTM  Final was devised in light of the Olympic Movement’s aim to focus on the development of youth sport. With four qualifying legs held this year in Herning (DEN), Lyon (FRA), Stuttgart (GER) and Salzburg (AUT) the series gives aspiring athletes the opportunity to compete in the midst of their idols, Jumping’s elite athletes, benefit from their help and experience the electric atmosphere or a full stadium of fans. Mechelen has hosted the Final since it first began.

Mechelen Sport Director Peter Bollen is a huge supporter of the FEI Jumping Ponies’ TrophyTM  Final from the beginning and has enjoyed watching the series grow in popularity and status year upon year. The series will be back for 2025 with Mechelen set to play host to the final once more.

FULL RESULTS

Image: Laura Andre (SUI) and Clementine - winners of the FEI Jumping Ponies’ Trophy Final 2024 - Mechelen (BEL) ©FEI/Dirk Caremans