Henrik Von Eckermann & Little Lord 290. Ph ©Claes Jacobsson
Sweden’s Henrik Von Eckermann celebrated a super Friday on February 24, 2017 at the Gothenburg Horse Show CSI5*-W when he won the first two feature classes of the weekend.
Von Eckermann started his morning off by winning the 1.45m speed, presented by Volvo, aboard Little Lord 90, a 12-year-old Holsteiner stallion (Lasino x Calato). He topped 12 other clear rounds in the class with 225,000 SEK in prize money.
Fellow Swedish rider Malin Baryard Johnsson finished in the runner up spot with H&M Second Chance, a 9-year-old SWB mare (Carland x White Clover). In 3rd place was Marcus Ehning of Germany and the 11-year-ol Zangersheide mare Cristy (Canturo x Landlord.)
Eckermann returned for the very next class, a 1.50m competition with jumpoff, presented by ATG, and doubled his success on the day. With the 10-year-old Zangersheide mare Lucky Silvana (L.Silver Joter Z x Cortez 679), he kept a hold on the 1st place position, despite a late challenge from Belgium’s Pieter Devos and Claire Z. Devos made quite a bid for the win and came agonizingly close to topping Von Eckermann, but the time difference of 36.08 seconds to the winning 36.04 gave the Swedish crowd quite a thrill as they watched their countryman lap the Skandinavium Arena once again. Ehning again grabbed a top placing by finishing 3rd, this time with Pret a Tout.
Competition in Gothenburg continues throughout the weekend, when the all-important final leg of the Western European League’s Longines FEI World Cup Jumping qualifier takes place.
“I will do my best to be here again on Sunday!” Von Eckermann promised the adoring crowd. If he does, he will be on pace with the best riders in Europe, who are all competing this weekend in Sweden.
See the complete results of all classes at this link.