Christian Ahlmann master of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup in Mechelen

Over thirty-nine, only four riders managed to qualify themselves for the jump-off of the ninth stop of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup in Mechelen. But for the crowd of the Nekkerhal Stadium the show was amazing. First to go, Kevin Staut with his new ride, the 10 years old Edesa’s Cannary, put a lot of pressure on the other riders. Even if they have only been competing together since October, they raced through the timers in 40.98 seconds. With the horse that helped him win individual silver at the 2017 European Championships, Don VHP Z, Harrie Smolders jumped clear as well but, with 41.42 seconds, he was not fast enough to take the lead. The tension was at its climax when the legendary Ludger Beerbaum with Casello set forth. Unfortunately, it did not go well for the pair. When turning to the first of the two remaining elements of the triple combination, he lost his line and the 15 years old gelding ran past the fence. The German rider ended up with 14 faults. Last to go, Christian Ahlmann had nothing to lose. He had to be clear and faster than Kevin Staut, and he did. With his extraordinary grey stallion Clintrexo Z, he stopped the clock on 39.87 seconds, an impressive performance for a nine years old horse.

“We built him up in the stallion approvals and later in young-horse classes, and Judy (his wife Judy-Ann Melchior) did some 3 and 4-Star Grands Prix and then allowed me to take him over and move him up another step. He won in Wiesbaden in May and Münster in August and he’s quickly growing into the big sport now. He really loves it, and he gets better and better week after week” Ahlmann said.

With only 71 seconds, the time-allowed in the first round was really tight and left great riders at the doors of the jump-off. It was the case for Ireland’s Denis Lynch with The Sinner, Italy’s Lorenzo de Luca with Armitages Boy, and Celine Schoonbroodt-de Azevedo with Chepetta. For the course designer, Eddy Geysemans : “the best riders were able to make it – if we had changed the time after the first three riders we would have had more clears, but the jump-off was great as it was!”

After the ninth leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup, eight riders have reached the 40 points usually necessary to be qualified for the early spring Longines FEI Jumping World Cup final, Steve Guerdat, Daniel Deusser, Kevin Staut, Peter Devos, Edwina Tops-Alexander, Christian Ahlmann, Olivier Philippaerts and Peder Fredricson.

Full results :  here

Watch highlights : here

Longines FEI Jumping World Cup ranking : here