Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – April 17, 2024 –The draw for the starting order for today’s opening competition at the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup ™ Final 2024 took place last night at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre in Riyadh ( KSA ), and three-time champion, Germany ’s Marcus Ehning ( GER ), will be first to go of the 34 athletes.
The draw was conducted by Saudi Arabia’s Ramzy Al Duhami, a five-time Olympian, and British Olympic champion Jessica Mendoza ( GBR ), whose defending champion will face Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann, who will be followed by young American Skylar Wireman.
Ehning stated yesterday that this was his twenty-first Final, so I have a little experience in it and I know anything could happen, but so far we are very relaxed and my horse feels great! ”, he pointed out. He will ride with the 11-year-old horse Coolio, who he described as “quite a fresh equine for me, he won the semifinal in Madrid and we are still on the lookout for each other, but we are very enthusiastic in him. ”
If he becomes the first person to win the FEI Jumping World CupTM at the age of 50 on Friday, it would be a very specific trip. However also chasing that goal will be Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat ( SUI) who is drawn 26th for tomorrow’s opening Speed and Handiness competition.
Van Eckermann only moderately assesses his own chances, but he and his beautiful horse, who have won numerous awards, including the Longines title last year, are likely to face fierce opposition in their quest for a back-to-back twice of victories.
The history of the 44th Final is about to sing out, so don’t lady a hoofbeat….
Some Facts and Figures:
Henrik von Eckermann ( SWE), the world’s number one, and his great animal King Edward, who won the coveted Longines FEI Jumping World CupTM trophy in Omaha, USA, 12 months before, and will now support their title this year.
The 44th Final is held in Riyadh, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for the first time in the Middle East.
The biggest-ever prize-fund of €2. 6m is on sell at this year’s Final.
When the first Final was held in Göteborg ( SWE ) in 1979, Austria’s Hugo Simon and Gladstone were the first to claim the prized title.
There have been five three-time champions – Hugo Simon ( AUT), Rodrigo Pessoa ( BRA ), Marcus Ehning ( GER ), Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum ( GER ) and Steve Guerdat ( SUI).
Ehning and Guerdat will be aiming for a third title that will break the previous record.
The star-studded cast of competitors also includes previous winners Christian Ahlmann ( GER ), Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs ( SUI) along with world number two and reigning Olympic champion Ben Maher ( GBR ) from Great Britain.
Course designer is Germany ’s Frank Rothenberger.
The three deciding tournaments have a three-day schedule:
Final 1 – Wednesday 17 April at 19. 05 nearby day
Ultimate 2 – Thursday 18 April at 18. 50 native time
Last 3 – Saturday 20 April at 15. 45 native period.
Origin: Press Release by Louise Parkes for the FEI – Fédération Équestre Internationale
Photo: © FEI / Martin Dokoupil
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Categories: Jumper News Middle East, Order-of-Go
