The Longines Grand Prix of Switzerland closed Sunday's programme at the five-star CSIO in St. Gallen. The Table A competition over 1.60 metres carried a prize purse of five hundred thousand euros and attracted 48 combinations at the start with an ultimate win for Marcus Ehning.
The day belonged to German rider Marcus Ehning, who produced two immaculate rounds aboard the thirteen-year-old Holsteiner gelding Coolio 42 (Casalito). His first round, completed in 80.70 seconds, set the tone, and he raised the bar further in the second with a time of 46.08 seconds, the fastest of the entire field in that phase. The combination's unblemished scorecard earned Ehning the top prize of 150,000 euros.
Second place went to Austria's Katharina Rhomberg, who also delivered two fault-free rounds with the eleven-year-old Westphalian gelding Colestus Cambridge (Colestus). Her second-round time of 46.83 seconds fell just short of Ehning's pace, but it was more than sufficient to secure the silver position and 100,000 euros in prize money.
The bronze medal went to fellow German Pia Reich, riding the fourteen-year-old Hanoverian PB Loewenherz (Levisto) to another double clear. Reich's first round, timed at 81.51 seconds, left a little margin to recover, and her second round of 50.80 seconds proved enough to hold third place.
France's Kevin Staut finished fourth with Exquis RB (Siwing de Triaval). After collecting four faults in the first round in 79.67 seconds, Staut responded with a precise, clear second round in 45.44 seconds, the fastest return of any rider in the jump-off phase among those with penalties.
Fifth place went to Belgium's Annelies Vorsselmans, riding the thirteen-year-old SWB gelding Trezeguet (Turmalin). Carrying four faults from the first round in 80.19 seconds, she answered with a composed and clear second round in 47.38 seconds, a performance that rewarded her with a well-deserved top-five finish.
