Rolf-Göran Bengtsson & Clarimo ASK Win €200,000 Longines Falsterbo CSIO5* Grand Prix
Ph. Falsterbo Horse Show
Sunday, July 10th 2016 was the last day of competition at Falsterbo CSIO5* Horse Show in Sweden and with the last day came the biggest class of the event, the €200,000 Longines Falsterbo Grand Prix.
A total of 44 riders and horses took part in the only five star class of the day and 12 combinations managed to produce a clear round over the course by the Brazilian and German designers Guilherme Jorge and Christian Wiegand to then jump the second round.
The podium placings were set early as no one who followed the early rides could beat the scores of the first four riders to go in the second round.
The Grand Prix win stayed at home as Swedish Rolf-Göran Bengtsson jumped an unbeatable clear round in 43.83 seconds jumping forth in the order. Bengtsson rode the 13-year-old Holseiner stallion owned by himself and the Holsteiner Verband, Clarimo ASK (Clearway X Caletto II).
Going second in the order, Brazilian rider Eduardo Menezes jumped a clear round in 45.79 seconds aboard the 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding Quintol (Quintender X Cento), but they had to settle for 2nd place when Bengtsson beat their time by nearly two seconds.
Ireland’s Darragh Kenny managed to produce a result good enough to maintain a position in the top three. He was first to go and finished in 45.85 seconds to earn 3rd place with the 10-year-old Belgian gelding Go Easy de Muze (Vigo d’Arsouilles X For Pleasure).
Fourth place went to Holland’s Jeroen Dubbeldam riding SFN Zenith N.O.P. in 46.20 seconds and 5th place was for England’s Tim Stockdale, who jumped the last double clear in 47.34 seconds riding Fleur de l’Aube.
Sweden’s Henrik Von Eckermann tried to beat his compatriot’s time but picked up 4 faults and finished in 44.39 seconds which sent him and his Rio-Olympic Games select mount Yajamila to 6th place. Another good result for Sweden was Peder Fredricson’s 10th place riding his own Olympic Games select partner, H&M All In in 48.96 seconds with 8 faults.
Last year’s winners of this class, Switzerland’s Janika Sprunger and Bonne Chance Cw finished jumped clear in Round 1 to qualify for the shortened course, and earned 9th place with 4 faults in 47.19 seconds.
See full results here.