Close to the action
The course designed by Peter Lundström of Sweden for the highlight of the Agria Oslo Horse Show was a tricky one in the long narrow arena, where spectators were as close to the action as possible.
The time of 73 seconds caught out 14 of the 40 starts. Both Yuri Mansur of Brazil (fifth place with QH Alfons Santo Antonio) and Géraldine Straumann of Switzerland (sixth place aboard Long John Silver 3) rode clear but were saddled with points for time.
Three athletes elected to retire. They included 2022 World Cup champion Martin Fuchs of Switzerland (Commissar Pezi) and home favourite Geir Gulliksen (VDL Groep Quatro), who rode a beautiful clear at the 2023 show.
The Norwegian veteran commented that the “massive middle” of the double combination and the constant stride questions made the course a challenging one.
Four pairs advanced to a jump off with multiple tight changes of direction. When both Schmitz and Gonin had rails down for 4 points apiece, Wathelet saw his chance.
Negotiating a tightrope between going clear and riding fast enough with one duo yet to go, the Belgian crossed the Longines beam in 43.17 seconds with no penalties.
When the final competitor — 21-year-old Mans Thijssen of the Netherlands — ran into trouble with his horse Hello playing up and decided to bow out, the victory was Wathelet’s.
'Something very special'
The winner was quick to credit his horse, saying: “He gives the feeling that I’m a good rider, that it’s easy.”
He too said the course was difficult, especially with the field moving from outdoors to the first indoor competition of the year. But his care on the jump off course prevailed. “To win a World Cup is something very special,” he said before heading to the prize giving.
Schmitz’s goal is to qualify for the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in the spring, which will be held at Basel in his home country. “Hopefully, I’ll get that qualification as fast as possible.”
Gonin is also on the road to rack up qualifying points. “Third place is good for the first World Cup of the year,” he said.
He was chased by Sweden’s Peder Fredricson (SV Vroom de la Pomme), Donald Whitaker of Great Britain (Millfield Colette), Philip Rüping of Germany (Baloutaire PS), and Kevin Staut of France (Visconti du Telman), who all finished in the top 10 behind Mansur and Straumann as the fastest of the 4-faulters.
Gonin’s next stop? The show at Lyon (FRA) on November 3rd, following next week’s leg at Helsinki (FIN).
Jumping fans can catch all the thrills live on FEI TV as the race to punch a ticket to Basel begins!
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