When? This year’s edition of the Gothenburg Horse Show began on Wednesday and ended late on Sunday afternoon.
Was? As always, the competitions have been decided in Scandinavium in Gothenburg.
More stars must come
This year’s World Cup sub-competition in dressage did not hold the class that a World Cup should hold.
There are explanations such as the fact that it is an Olympic year this year and all the top teams have put their competition programs in order to be at their best in Paris. Which means that they prioritized some indoor competitions.
The crews that took part this year – all inexperienced at this level – did well so this is no criticism of them. But the thousands of people who bought tickets in good time for Saturday’s kür class, which was the second and last part of the World Cup, in the belief that they would see some of Europe’s best crews dancing inside the Scandinavium, were cheated of that experience.
A very special audience
Incidentally, the audience in Scandinavium is something quite special. All participants agree on that.
When they describe the atmosphere inside the arena, the most common word is “magical”. The packed stands – which means almost 12,000 people – create a pressure as if it were a World Cup final in ice hockey that was decided inside the Scandinavium.
– The audience here cannot in any way be compared to the audience at any other competition abroad. It is clear that it is extra special for us Swedes, but it is an audience that also cheers for everyone else. They are a fair audience who appreciate good sport, and who show that they do, says the national team veteran in jumping Rolf-Göran Bengtsson.
Sunday started with a Swedish victory
The final day of competition began with a fast Swede winning. On Sunday morning, a 145 jump was decided on time, and Douglas Lindelöw impressed.
Together with experienced 15-year-old Cheldon, he accounted for the fastest lap of all, and thus the victory was theirs.
Even in Sunday’s final in the Lövsta Future Challenge Young Horses, which was open to seven-year-old horses, there was a Swedish victory.
Nicole Holmén, who now competes Peder Fredricson and Lisen Bratt Fredricson’s younger horses, won together with Qurious.
When the hundredth hurts
The Brazilian Yuri Mansur was in Gothenburg to take the last chance to take a place in the World Cup final. For that, a flawless ride in the basic round was required in the first step.
When Mansur rode over the finish line and no bars had fallen to the ground, he raised his hand and cheered. But the jubilation came too soon. Looking up at the scoreboard, Mansur saw that he had received a time fault after missing the maximum time by a single hundredth.
The disappointment on the rider’s face said it all about how much a hundredth can hurt.
The tradition continues
Of course, there will be international horse competitions – with the World Cup – next year as well. On February 19-23, 2025, there will be a new horse festival in Gothenburg.
Read more:
Fell off on the front ride – came second in the World Cup
2024-02-25 16:13:22
#worlds #crowd #deserved
