Helsinki has been jumping at CSI5* level all weekend and today that weekend reached its apotheosis with the World Cup. Helsinki's track is not the biggest and with obstacles up to 1m60 high, the basic round did not promise to be an easy task. In the end, eight combinations managed to keep the clear in the basic course. A jump-off of eight therefore had to be decisive. Among those eight was Richard Howley, who could already claim the Oslo World Cup last week. Today he could start the jump-off from pole position, as he was the last one to appear in the ring.
When Howley was allowed to enter the ring, German Philipp Schulze Topphoff was in the lead. He had set a thumping time with the -year-old Carla NRW (by Comme Il Faut): 36.77 seconds. Howley, however, made firewood of this time. He and his Consulent de Prelet Z (v. Consulent Z) went through the course like an arrow and finished in 34.18 seconds, edging the time of his first pursuer by more than two seconds. This relegated Schulze Topphoff to the silver medal. Henrik von Eckermann followed with Dzara Ddorchival (by Qlassic Bois Margot) in third place. The duo recorded a clear round behind them 38.86 seconds.
Daniel Deusser fell just outside the podium in fourth place with Bingo Ste Hermelle (by Number One d'Iso). They recorded a clear jump-off in 40.56 seconds. Martin Fuchs was the fastest four-pointer in fifth place with Comissar Pezi (by Commissario).
Picture: ©Jenna Hanninen