When? The competitions began on Wednesday, then only with national classes, and continue until Sunday.
Was? Scandinavium in Gothenburg.
New procedures at the award ceremony
In connection with the award ceremony after the World Cup class in show jumping 2020 in Scandinavium – the last time the elite competed in Gothenburg – a nasty accident occurred.
The Norwegian veteran Geir Gulliksen had taken a World Cup victory for the first time. In connection with the award ceremony, he was interviewed inside the arena, and during the interview, the Norwegian’s horse Groep Quatro quickly and unexpectedly turned around and set top speed. A surprised Gulliksen lost his balance and fell off.
When the Norwegian fell off his horse, the chinstrap of his riding helmet was not fastened, and when he landed on the ground, the riding helmet was therefore no longer on his head.
In connection with award ceremonies at major competitions, it has always been customary for the male riders to unbutton their riding helmets and take them off to thank the audience when they receive their award.
The accident looked nasty, and screens were quickly put up around the rider, but Geir Gulliksen escaped without any serious injuries.
In order to make the pompous award ceremonies as safe as possible, however, the organizers of the Gothenburg Horse Show have decided to redo the routines for this year’s competitions. Something as Hippson was first to tell about.
The organizers have drawn inspiration from dressage.
– So we will let the sixth, fifth and fourth come in first and do a lap of honor and receive the audience’s appreciation. Then they go out and we take first, second and third into the arena, race leader Tomas Torgersen tells DN.
– Then we only have three horses in place under the arena, which feels safer, more secure and easier to handle.
– Because what happened, we don’t want it to happen again.
After the incident in Scandinavium three years ago, the Swedish equestrian sports ban tried in connection with the FEI’s annual meeting in 2020 to bring about a change in the rules around the awards ceremony.
– It didn’t go through, but at least we have the opportunity to control how we do it ourselves and we’ll take that chance, says Tomas Torgersen.
63-year-old Geir Gulliksen is there again this year to compete in the biggest classes.
Photo: Pontus Lundahl/TT
Mary Lou is celebrated – but missed
Henrik von Eckermann’s former top horse Mary Lou – with whom he won WC and EC medals as a team, was retired in the spring of 2021 after a long period of injury concerns.
The mare was actually supposed to be acknowledged and praised in connection with last year’s competitions in Scandinavium, but the competitions were canceled due to the pandemic.
The tribute will therefore take place on Sunday, but without the star horse in place. Mary Lou now lives in Italy together with other breeding mares.
– Mary Lou deserves a tribute. For example, she won the World Cup two years in a row here in Gothenburg. Not many horses have done that, says Henrik von Eckermann.
The competition’s first winner
Mathilda Bohlin and the horse Domino van de Zuuthoeve rode home the first victory during this year’s competitions. On Wednesday morning, the crew won the warm-up class for the spring finale of the Arena Youth Tour, a competition for juniors and young riders.
The final will be decided on Thursday.
Battle for final places
On Sunday, the last competition in this year’s world cup in jumping will be decided. The overall top 18 in the Western European League after the 14 heats advance to the finals, which will be held on April 4-8 in Omaha, USA.
In the lead before the decision is the Swedish world number one Henrik von Eckermann with 102 points, ten points ahead of the Frenchman Julien Epaillard. In the final, everyone starts from scratch, and von Eckermann’s final place has been decided for a long time. Nevertheless, it is important that he retains first place even after Sunday’s competition. It gives him the advantage of starting last in the spring final.
The second best Swedish rider is Wilma Hellström in 13th place.
Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli is facing the decision in 34th place, but her final chance is not completely gone, even if it requires a place among the top three, and a little luck with the competitors’ results.
Highlights during Thursday
The international show jumpers make their first starts.
On Thursday evening, the gelding All In, who together with rider Peder Fredricson won Olympic, WC and EC gold, will be celebrated, honored and thanked. Last week, Fredricson announced that 17-year-old All In is now being retired.
