The list of starters for the CSI5* GLOCK’s Perfection Tour over 1.50m read like a who’s who of the show jumping world, with no less than 25 riders from among the world’s top 100 making the trip to Carinthia to earn their share of the generous prize money totalling almost 600,000 euros.  

Three times GLOCK’s Grand Prix winner Martin Fuchs had already identified the triple combination 12a,b,c as one of the key components of the course, given that the distances within this upright-upright-oxer combination had been laid out by course designer Franz Madl to present a difficult challenge: “What you have to decide is whether to go fast and take five canter strides, or hold back and take one more,” explained the Swiss show jumping pro.

The course for this competition carrying prize money totalling 62,000 euros went over 13 obstacles with 16 jumps, laid out over a distance of 350 metres. This, the first of a total of five Longines Ranking competitions this weekend, was decided with a jump-off, because five of the 40 entering duos mastered the challenging first round penalty-free.

In the incredibly exciting jump-off it was ultimately the Belgian rider Christoph Vanderhasselt on Identity Vitseroel (Air Jordan Z x Darco) who prevailed. With the most slender of leads by a hundredth of a second, he pushed his compatriot and twice winner of this day Constant van Paesschen on Jilbert van’T Ruytershof (Numero Uno x Cartani) into second place.

“My mare is in very good form, really fast and always giving her best. There are lots of good riders here and I’m very happy to have come out faster than the others,” commented a smiling Christophe Vanderhasselt following his success.  

Taking third place was number eight in the world Daniel Deusser. With his experienced 14-year-old Holstein, Cornet (Cornet Obolensky x Caletto I), he also remained penalty-free, with the clock stopping at 46.89 seconds. 

For what was the third time in today’s tournament, Max Kühner delivered the best result for Austria. Riding his big hope for the future, the just eight-year-old PSG Final (Toulon x Cassini), Austria’s number one jumped to fifth place in this prestigious jumping competition.

Victory in the opening CSI5* 1.45m class went to number 91 in the world, Constant van Paesschen (BEL). With his 11-year-old Holsteiner Compadre van de Helle (Casall x Concerto), the Belgian rider completed the opening competition not only quickly - in 66.86 seconds – but also penalty-free. The 24-year-old Belgian rider also won the GLOCK’s Youngster Tour with the 7-year-old Quido van de Helle (Quadros x Lord).