Katrin Eckermann takes spectacular World Champion titel in Lanaken

Katrin Eckermann takes spectacular World Champion titel in Lanaken

The final for the 6-year old horses has just been jumped at the World Championship for young horses in Zangersheide. It was a 1m30-1M40 class with jump-off. 16 combinations managed to jump a clear first round. A jump-off with 16 combinations therefore had to decide about todays winner. 

The Belgian rider Jeroen Appelen was the first rider to enter the show ring. He and Nero de Semilly N (f. Diamant de Semilly) immediately rode a super fast round. The BWP stallion didn't touch the wood and finished in 43,54 seconds. The combinations starting after him proved that riding a faster time was possible, but several combinations made some jumping penalties. Therefore Appelen stood on the lead for almost the entire class. 

But then it was up to Katrin Eckermann.. With the Come Il Faut mare Chao Lee she immediately went fast as lightening. This German combination did manage to keep the zero on the score board and managed to do it faster than Appelen. Eckermann was three seconds faster and crossed the finish line after 40,64 seconds. Michael Pender was the last rider to enter the show ground for the jump-off. At that moment, Eckermann was till in the lead. Pender, who already collected four medals at the World Championship over the years, did everything in his power to take the victory home. He took every possible risk but in the end he and MHS Cardenta (f. Cardento 933) were not fast enough. This Irish combination crossed the finish line after 40,74 seconds, which resulted in a second place for them. Jeroen Appelen ended third. 

Victoria Gulliksen ended on fourth place with the KWPN gelding Ibiza (f. Cardento). Harm Lahde and Oak Grove's Desprado (f. Diamant de Semilly) followed on fifth place.