David Will brought the second last week of the Autumn MET 2018 to the best possible end when going to the top in Sunday’s CSI2* Grand Prix presented by Oliva Nova Beach and Golf Resort, making it a hat trick of wins in three days. The German rider won Friday’s 1.45m world ranking class, Saturday’s main class – also set at 1.45m, and today the 1.45m Grand Prix.
Eleven out of the 84 horse-and-rider combinations in this Grand Prix cleared the first-round track set by Spain’s Javier Trenor in the Valencia ring. Beautiful sunny autumn weather brought the crowds out to cheer on some of the world’s very best riders, where it was David Will who saved the best for last aboard Forest Gump 29 (Forsyth x Feuerwerk).
As second to go, it was Denmark’s Andreas Schou who set the standard when delivering a blistering fast round on Eurvette O (Douglas x Manhattan). With a time of 38.29 seconds, Schou held on to the lead all the way until Will – the last rider in the jump-off – entered the ring. Will went all in from start to finish and managed to shave the time down to 37.72 seconds with an enthusiastic Forest Gump throwing in a few bucks along the way. The third place went to the last rider with a double clear round: Canada’s Tim Wilks on Quelbora Merze (Tarzan de Beaulieu x If de Merze).
“In the jump-off I was a bit lucky. I did not think I had the best round; Andreas’ round was better in my opinion – but Forest is such a little fighter and so unbelievably fast that it still was enough. I had him now the whole season, and he always wins a lot of classes as he is so quick and careful. We’re getting along more and more, this week he did two classes and he won both so I could not be happier with him,” Will said.
“It’s super rings, super footing – a great concept,” Will said about the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour in Oliva Nova. “The Tour is great for all kind of horses, more experienced ones, less experienced ones or new ones. They all get a lot out of being here, and as a rider it is also a pleasure to be here. It is the perfect place to go,” Will concluded.
The Autumn MET 2018 now enters its last week of competition, closing off on Sunday 11th of November.
Press release from the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour
Photo © Hervé Bonnaud / www.1clicphoto.com