Luciana Diniz & Fit For Fun Ph. ©Tommy Holl/GHS
Friday evening’s competition in Gothenburg saw two of the sports leading female riders, ride away with the win of the day’s two five-star classes.
The 1.45m competition went to home-rider Malin Baryard-Johnsson aboard the 10-year-old mare H&M Second Chance (Carland x White Clover).
Countryman and current European Champion, Peder Fredricson, looked as if he would clinch the class with a time of 23.19 seconds but it would be Baryard-Johnsson’s day clocking the winning time of 22.56 seconds.
Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat and the 12-year-old mare Albfuehren’s Happiness (Heartbeat x Lambrusco Ask) came in third in 23.75 seconds.
The evening’s competition in the Scandinavium continued with Friday’s feature event, the 1.50m against the clock. Thirty-five horse-and-rider combinations contested the class which offered 560,000 SEK in prize money.
First place in the second round would continue to shift as Germany’s Marcus Ehning and the 13-year-old stallion Comme Il Faut (Cornet Obolensky x Ramiro) set the bar at 58.16 seconds. However, Daniel Deusser and the 10-year-old stallion Tobago Z (Tangelo vd Zuuthoeve x Mr. Blue) would take over the lead in 57.91 seconds.
Excitement was at a high as the last rider in the ring, Portugal’s Luciana Diniz, stepped up to the challenge. What started as a stress-filled travel day with delayed flights, ended with a surprising win!
Diniz and crowd-favorite partner, the 14-year-old mare Fit For Fun (For Pleasure x Fabriano) would push Deusser to second and Ehning to third with a time of 57.18 seconds.
Full results of Friday’s 1.45m two-phase presented by HÖÖKS, at this link.
Full results of Friday’s 1.50m speed presented by ATG, at this link.