Top British and Irish show jumpers in Austria this weekend for Treffen CSI5*

Since 2012, the gunmaker Gaston Glock has been organising a CSI3* winter jumping competition and CSI5* summer competition in the region of Carinthia, Austria’s southermost state (or ‘land’), located in the Eastern Alps. But this year the 5* is taking place at the start of February. And a star-studded field of show jumpers is expected at this inaugural winter edition. Indeed, as there is no Longines FEI World Cup Jumping qualifier scheduled this weekend in Western Europe, many top athletes (46 riders from 12 countries, with 133 horses) from the continent have decided to make the trip to Austria – albeit not the defending champion of the 3* Grand Prix, Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs. 

In front of a home crowd, three Austrian riders will be among those trying to follow in Fuchs’ footsteps. The most experienced of them, Max Kühner, will be particularly anticipated in the battle for podium spots. He will be defending the red and white colors of Austria alongside compatriots Julia Kayser and Gerfried Puck.

Other riders will be freed from any pressure regarding qualifying for the World Cup Final, and thus can concentrate on Sunday’s Grand Prix. One of those is Germany’s Daniel Deusser, third this past weekend at the World Cup stage in Amsterdam, first in the league standings and holder of a ticket to April’s Final in Gothenburg, Sweden. His compatriot Christian Ahlmann is in the same position (second in the European standings). Following a recent victory at the CSI5*-W in Leipzig, he will be aiming to repeat that performance with Clintrexo Z. And from neighbouring Switzerland, World No.1 Steve Guerdat, right behind Deusser and Ahlmann, hopes to be the one to take the place of his friend Fuchs.

Conversely, others who no longer have the possibility of making the World Cup Final will also have few distractions. That is the case of the British, whose strong contingent includes Scott Brash, Guy Williams and the legendary show jumper John Whitaker. For Ireland, Bertram Allen is also expected in Treffen with his new horse Harley vd Bisschop, after a mixed indoor season and a move of stables for his strong Hector van d’Abijhoeve.

As for the French, Kevin Staut will be counting on young mounts including the promising Viking de la Rousserie. And Nicolas Deseuzes and Julien Epaillard, both returning from Oliva (Spain), will also be aiming for good results in their first CSI5* of the season. The Grand Prix will take place this Sunday starting at 1 p.m. local time in Austria.