In Gothenburg the highlight of a busy international weekend has just been ridden: the World Cup. The riders got to jump a very difficult course. Only five riders managed to keep the zero on the score board during the first round. A jump-off with five riders therefore had to decide about the winner.
Rolf-Göran Bengtsson was the first rider to enter the show ground for the jump-off. With Cassilano (f. Calisco) under het saddle, he immediately went fast as lightening and did everything in his power to take the victory home. His mother, who was in the audience today, has her birthday today and Bengtsson clearly wanted to give her a special birthday present. Unfortunately his gelding got two penalties for jumping, which would result in a fifth place in the overall standings.
The next rider to enter the ring was Geir Gulliksen. He and Vdl Groep Quatro (f. Quaprice Bois Margot) did keep the zero on the score board and finished in 45,75 seconds. Olivier Philippaerts, the next rider in the ring, knew what he had to do: stay clear and go faster than the Norwegian with his Landzauber mare, H&M Legend of Love. He did ride a fast round, but in the end his mare kicked one fence down. Their fast chrono would result in a fourth place.
Kevin Staut and For Joy van'T Zorgvliet (f. For Pleasure) didn't keep the zero either. They did ride the fastest round of all competitors but the gelding knocked one fence down as well. They ended on third place.
The only rider who could keep Gulliksen from winning, was the young Swiss rider Bryan Balsiger, the winner of the World Cup in Oslo. He did everything in his power to go even faster but in the end his Twentytwo Des Biches (f. Mylord Carthago) crossed the finish line in 46,45 seconds, slower than Gulliksen.