The Hungarian dream come true: Gábor Szabó jr. won the Grand Prix for the third time in
Budapest.
The highlight of the CSI***-W International Show Jumping competition’s last day was the
Grand Prix with the total prize money of € 30,000. The very much anticipated class, which
included 13 obstacles and a total of 16 efforts, reaching 160 centimeters in height, was worthy
of the world-class flag. 54 riders managed to qualify based on the results of the past few days,
but only 49 of them took on the challenge.
In the first half of the competition there weren’t any clear rounds, however some riders
completed the course without faults. After the first few contestants it was clear, that it is
nearly impossible to finish the course within the time allowed, and for a while it seemed like
one penalty point will qualify them into the jump-off. But then, the excellence of the Czech’s,
Zuzana Zelinkova cleared the course within the time allowed, and broke the ice. She was
quickly followed by three other riders, thus the four of them, Zuzana Zelinkova and Ales
Opartny from the Czech Republic, Rene Tebbel representing Ukraine, and the Hungarian two
times winner of the CSIO Grand Prix of Budapest, Gábor Szabó jr. qualified for the jump-off.
The Nations Cup winner Zuzana Zelinkova was the first rider against the clock and trusting her
horse she started with a strong pace. With cutting one stride from the first line she finished
with a very good time, 45.04 seconds, but the high tempo resulted in a fault in the
combination, which meant 4 penalty points for her.
She was followed by her teammate, the European Championship gold medalist Ales Opartny,
who also chose to cut the first line with his long-strided horse Sangris Boy, which resulted in a
fault for him as well. He completed the jump-off with the same 4 penalty points in 47.30
seconds.
The Olympian Rene Tebbel representing Ukraine was the last but one, whose tactic was a safe
clear round. He rode the first half of the course with a moderate tempo, but after making a
fault on the combination he rose his speed and finished with 46.03 seconds, which was the
second-best time.
There was enough reason to be excited for the last rider, since he was the defending
Hungarian champion Gábor Szabó jr., and there were no clear rounds yet. Gabó chose the
tactic of a safe clear round as well, and with a conscious but energetic ride, which is so
characteristic of the pair, he cleared the jump-off and won the Grand Prix bringing great joy to
the Hungarian fans of show jumping! He rode the chestnut mare Timpex Bölcsész, who is
bred and owned by István Tárbály, and has been a loyal partner of his in the national team for
years now. Gábor Szabó jr. showed his special talent to the great number of spectators again.
He has further developed his miraculous riding career after winning the CSIO Grand Prix in
Budapest in 2014 with Timpex Cent, and in 2016 with Timpex Bölcsész.
On the fifth place, with only 4 tenths of second out of the time allowed, ended Andrea Herck
representing Romania, beating the Lithuanian Donatas Janciauskas and the Bulgarian Angel
Niagolov.
Ferenc Szentirmai, representing Ukraine, took eights place with his fastest ride at 4 penalties.
He completed an excellent round and was unlucky to have one rod down.
Two further Hungarian riders finished with scorer positions. István Máté jr., who rode double
clear rounds two weeks ago in Bulgaria in the Nations Cup with Chacrinue owned by Gábor
Szombati, and the Nations Cup winner Balázs Horváth with Zordon.
SOURCE: Press Release CSIO Budapest
The highlight of the CSI***-W International Show Jumping competition’s last day was the
Grand Prix with the total prize money of € 30,000. The very much anticipated class, which
included 13 obstacles and a total of 16 efforts, reaching 160 centimeters in height, was worthy
of the world-class flag. 54 riders managed to qualify based on the results of the past few days,
but only 49 of them took on the challenge.
In the first half of the competition there weren’t any clear rounds, however some riders
completed the course without faults. After the first few contestants it was clear, that it is
nearly impossible to finish the course within the time allowed, and for a while it seemed like
one penalty point will qualify them into the jump-off. But then, the excellence of the Czech’s,
Zuzana Zelinkova cleared the course within the time allowed, and broke the ice. She was
quickly followed by three other riders, thus the four of them, Zuzana Zelinkova and Ales
Opartny from the Czech Republic, Rene Tebbel representing Ukraine, and the Hungarian two
times winner of the CSIO Grand Prix of Budapest, Gábor Szabó jr. qualified for the jump-off.
The Nations Cup winner Zuzana Zelinkova was the first rider against the clock and trusting her
horse she started with a strong pace. With cutting one stride from the first line she finished
with a very good time, 45.04 seconds, but the high tempo resulted in a fault in the
combination, which meant 4 penalty points for her.
She was followed by her teammate, the European Championship gold medalist Ales Opartny,
who also chose to cut the first line with his long-strided horse Sangris Boy, which resulted in a
fault for him as well. He completed the jump-off with the same 4 penalty points in 47.30
seconds.
The Olympian Rene Tebbel representing Ukraine was the last but one, whose tactic was a safe
clear round. He rode the first half of the course with a moderate tempo, but after making a
fault on the combination he rose his speed and finished with 46.03 seconds, which was the
second-best time.
There was enough reason to be excited for the last rider, since he was the defending
Hungarian champion Gábor Szabó jr., and there were no clear rounds yet. Gabó chose the
tactic of a safe clear round as well, and with a conscious but energetic ride, which is so
characteristic of the pair, he cleared the jump-off and won the Grand Prix bringing great joy to
the Hungarian fans of show jumping! He rode the chestnut mare Timpex Bölcsész, who is
bred and owned by István Tárbály, and has been a loyal partner of his in the national team for
years now. Gábor Szabó jr. showed his special talent to the great number of spectators again.
He has further developed his miraculous riding career after winning the CSIO Grand Prix in
Budapest in 2014 with Timpex Cent, and in 2016 with Timpex Bölcsész.
On the fifth place, with only 4 tenths of second out of the time allowed, ended Andrea Herck
representing Romania, beating the Lithuanian Donatas Janciauskas and the Bulgarian Angel
Niagolov.
Ferenc Szentirmai, representing Ukraine, took eights place with his fastest ride at 4 penalties.
He completed an excellent round and was unlucky to have one rod down.
Two further Hungarian riders finished with scorer positions. István Máté jr., who rode double
clear rounds two weeks ago in Bulgaria in the Nations Cup with Chacrinue owned by Gábor
Szombati, and the Nations Cup winner Balázs Horváth with Zordon.
SOURCE: Press Release CSIO Budapest