Today the individual final of the Youth Olympic Games was scheduled in Aachen. Earlier this week, the American team won the team gold medal and team Europe came in second. The medals were distributed today after a jump-off with no fewer than eighteen combinations.
Just like in the past few days, the riders started with 'borrowed' horses. In the end, Thomas van Rijckevorsel from South-Africa impressed with the 9-year-old Lucy 781 (Lux Z). The pair jumped to gold in the jump-off in 31.69 seconds. The mare is normally ridden by Germany's Maren Hoffmann.
Alexander Housen's Lady Angeles (Los Angeles) delivered the silver medal for Morocco's Jad Guerraoui. The American Mimi Gochman took the bronze with the BWP gelding, Merino van de Achterhoek (Darco). The BWP gelding from Jan Rutten's breeding is normally ridden by Marian Müller.
Just outside the podium, Saad Ahmed Al Saad and DSP Cessy (Casskeni II) jumped clear to fourth place. Belgium's Bart Jay Jr. Vandecasteele took fifth place with the KWPN mare Haya (Equador).
F. © Thomas Holcbecher for Equnews