No fewer than 17 combinations qualified for the jump-off of the 1.60m Longines Grand Prix in Basel. Riding his 12-year-old KWPN mare, Iliana (breeder: J.A.M. Bocken), Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) ultimately claimed the Grand Prix victory.
"It's the first time I win this class. Normally I don't do well at the start of the year," von Eckermann says. "Luckily my mare, Iliana is very fast, as competition was hard today..."
Von Eckermann and the 12-year-old Cardento mare, owned by Dufour Stables Ag., narrowly beat the time of France’s Simon Delestre and the 12-year-old Zangersheide gelding, Dexter Fontenis Z (by Diarado). Third place went to Irishman Denis Lynch aboard the AES stallion Vistogrand (by Fantaland).
Lynch pushed German rider Sophie Hinners with Iron Dames My Prins (formerly My Prins van Dorperheide) into fourth place. Together with the son of Zilverstar T, bred by Ludo Philippaerts, she finished ahead of Tim Gredley and Imperial Hbf (by Glasgow-W vh Merelsnest). Only this top five managed to complete the jump-off without faults.
"It's the first time I win this class. Normally I don't do well at the start of the year," von Eckermann says. "Luckily my mare, Iliana is very fast, as competition was hard today..."
Von Eckermann and the 12-year-old Cardento mare, owned by Dufour Stables Ag., narrowly beat the time of France’s Simon Delestre and the 12-year-old Zangersheide gelding, Dexter Fontenis Z (by Diarado). Third place went to Irishman Denis Lynch aboard the AES stallion Vistogrand (by Fantaland).
Lynch pushed German rider Sophie Hinners with Iron Dames My Prins (formerly My Prins van Dorperheide) into fourth place. Together with the son of Zilverstar T, bred by Ludo Philippaerts, she finished ahead of Tim Gredley and Imperial Hbf (by Glasgow-W vh Merelsnest). Only this top five managed to complete the jump-off without faults.