Sweden’s Von Eckermann into World Cup Final after victory in Amsterdam

Sunday’s competition in the Dutch capital was the 12th and penultimate stage of the 2018–19 World Cup Jumping circuit in Western Europe. And in front of packed stands at the RAI Amsterdam venue in the ‘Venice of the North’, this year’s Grand Prix CSI5*-W was hotly contested, with only eight riders managing to qualify for the jump-off – ultimately won by Von Eckermann and his 13-year-old mare Tovek’s Mary Lou. With the 20 points he picked up up for the victory in the overall League standings, the Swede is thus guaranteed to finish among the top 18 riders on the continent and will face off in the spring Final against rivals from across the world, including defending champion Beezie Madden of the United States. 

In the first round in Amsterdam, 39 horse-and-rider combinations started on the course. Yet some of the most well-known pairs needing points for a qualification, such as Dutchman Leopold van Asten and his VDL Groep Beauty, had to throw in the towel and retire from the class, while others like Spain’s Eduardo Alvarez Aznar derailed their chances with too many faults. On the flipside, certain riders taking part in the Grand Prix exceeded expectations, like Portugal’s Rogrigo Giesteira Almeida, who – although second to start – was the first to qualify for the jump-off. Seven others joined him, including Niels Bruynseels, Malin Baryard-Johnsson and Eric van der Vleuten.

The decisive tie-breaker round opened with Rogrigo Giesteira Almeida and his 13-year-old gelding GC Chopin’s Bushi, whom he had already competed with in the CSI5*-W in Basel, Switzerland two weeks earlier. And the partners had a great performance, with their first double-clear ride at a World Cup stage this season. Only Eric van der Vleuten and Malin Baryard-Johnsson managed to go faster than the duo in the opening round.

Another of the top riders taking part, France’s Kevin Staut, with For Joy van’t Zorgvliet, would end up having to settle for fourth place behind Germany’s Daniel Deusser and Tobago Z, winners of the Madrid stage. And finishing one place above Deusser in the top three, Schwizer went all-out with his young Cortney Cox. A daring tactic that temporarily put the Swissman in the lead at the event. But then came Von Eckermann, who steered his bay through extremely tight turns, with the agility and precision of his mare making the difference in shaving off a few precious tenths of seconds. Their final time: 33:01 seconds, with no bars down. Good for €49,995 in prize money as well. 

As a result, the Swede stamped his ticket for Gothenburg, as did Belgium’s Niels Bruynseels, who finished fifth in the event with Gancia de Muze. Daniel Deusser, already assured of a Final spot, took over first place in the league, ahead of Christian Ahlmann, Steve Guerdat, and Kevin Staut. Before the World Cup Final, taking place in Gothenburg from April 3–7, the last leg of the season will take place the second weekend of February, in Bordeaux, France.