It was an exciting final in Omaha at the FEI World Cup jumping. Until the last combination at the start it remained uncertain who'd claim the title. In the end it was Henrik von Eckermann and his championship horse, the 13-year-old King Edward jumping to victory.
Today the best 30 combinations took the start in the first round of the ultimate final. From this first round, the best twenty advanced to the second course, ridden over two rounds.
The tables turned in the end. As third but last at the start Dutch showjumping rider, Harrie Smolders was set to win the title after his runner-up place last year in Leipzig. Aboard the 14-year-old Monaco (Cassini II), Smolders jumped to a total of 9 points, taking the lead after his start, with yet Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) and Pius Schwizer (SUI) to start.
Championship pair, Von Eckermann and his Belgian Warmblood-gelding, King Edward (Edward), secured a clear finish, pushing Smolders one place down, and taking the lead. The Sweden showjumper did put the pressure on Pius Schwizer who had just 1 point difference to Von Eckermann at that moment.
Schwizer eventually finished with two rails down, leaving the win for Von Eckermann. "Again just not," reacted Harrie Smolders after the ceremony. "Some time I'd like to just win this title," he added laughing.
On stage Smolders was followed by USA's Hunter Holloway and her 12-year-old, Pepita Con Spita (DSP Con Spita). The pair was followed by Yuri Mansur with his trusted Vitiki (Valentino) while Andreas Schou and Darc de Lux (Darco) completed the top five. Pius Schwizer and Vancouver de Lanlore (Toulon) in the end had to settle for sixth in the overall standings.