Adrenaline scatter on the second day of Madrid Horse Week with the qualifying phase for the FEI World Cup Jumping, winned by Ben Maher, and the Round of 16 of the JUMPINGCLASH CHALLENGE, in a day in which the Spanish riders proclaimed themselves champions of the majority of the jumping tests. The fourth edition of Madrid Horse Week woke up early today to get everything ready to start a day full of competitions. The CSI5* UAX Trophy, which was the qualifying phase for the FEI World Cup Jumping, was disputed under table Jump Off and a height of 1.55m. Britain's Ben Maher, riding Diva II, positioned himself first in a time of 33.77 seconds, beating German Ludger Beerbaum riding Chiara at the last moment of the playoff, who finished second in a time of 33.99 seconds. Third was Edwina Tops-Alexander, in a time of 34.67 seconds. These riders are three of the eleven who have managed to qualify themselves to compete in the World Cup Jumping that will take place on Sunday 27. The only Spanish qualified for this test was the Olympic Sergio Álvarez Moya, riding Unicstar de l'Aumone, in a time of 35.55 seconds. The Round of 16 of the JUMPINGCLASH CHALLENGE, was disputed today, being the first time in the history of jumping that one-on-one eliminations are made, thus making the passage to the next phase more agile and competitive. The heads of series that competed today did not disappoint us at all, being Teresa Blázquez-Abascal, riding Carola, the only Challenger who has managed to qualify herself for the next round, being also the only Spanish to pass the cut, in a time of 55.88 seconds. The best score of this phase was for Jessica Mendoza, who snatched the position to Teresa Blazquez-Abascal in the last moment, riding Constance masterfully, in a time of 52.56 seconds. The quarters, semi and final of the first edition of JUMPINGCLASH CHALLENGE will be tomorrow during the afternoon session. The small test of the CSI5 *, MITSUBISHI Trophy, with a height of 1.45m and disputed under the table Fault & Time, was a demonstration of complicity between riders and horses and a good dose of technique and preparation. The Spanish Eduardo Álvarez Aznar, riding Fidux, has become the undisputed champion of the race, coming in seventh position but with an impressive time of 57.12 seconds that none of the other 48 contestant was able to beat. Second was the Dutchman Maikel van der Vleuten, who is eighth in the international ranking, riding VDL Groep Quatro, with a time of 58.25 seconds. Leaving the last of the test, Gonzalo Añón Suárez surprised us overtooking the Irish Darragh Kenny, placing himself in third position with a time of 58.59 seconds. The small test of the CSI2*, the MHW Trophy, was disputed under table Fault & Time and the height of 1.25m. The champion has been the young Spanish rider Otti Verdú Vidal, riding Twiggy KA, in a spectacular time of 57.01 seconds, which despite being among the first contestants, it has been impossible to beat. In second place was the Belgian Emilie Conter, riding Cesanna, binomial that yesterday was third in the Ecuestre Trophy. Third has been the Italian Eugenio Grimaldi, with a time of 57.72 seconds. The IFEMA Trophy, with a height of 1.40m, had a very technical course that only 8 riders of the 49 participating were able to finish without fail, 5 of which were Spanish riders. The Spanish Alvaro Díaz García finished in first place riding Visama Parsifal, in a time of 23.03 seconds. Second was the Portuguese Luis Sabino Goncalves, riding Filou Egyptian Empire, in a time of 23.78 seconds. Otti Verdú, winner of the MHW Trophy held this morning, continues accumulating podiums finishing in third place riding Top Lulu, a mare who has only been in her stable for two months and was competing with the Olympic rider Eduardo Álvarez Aznar. Manuel Añón Suárez, Jaime Silvela Castañon, and Paloma Barceló Martínez are the rest of the Spanish rider who did the course without faults. The second qualification of the FEI World Cup of Vaulting, which would announce the winners, after elaborating the average score with the first qualification that took place yesterday, has not brought many surprises. The winner of yesterday’s test, the Italian Ana Cavallaro, consolidated herself as undisputed winner of this first stage of the FEI World Cup Vaulting with a score very similar to yesterday's with 8,423 points. Second was the Swiss Nadja Büttiker with 7,709 points, which overtook her compatriot Marina Mohar, who has had to settle for third position with a score of 7.594. The men's round developed without changes. Swiss Lukas Heppler, following yesterday's forecast, finished first, with an average score of 8,535. He was followed by Belgian Jannick Heiland with 8,395 points and third finished his compatriot Daniel Kaiser.
