Text © World of Showjumping

Stephanie Holmén (SWE) and Flip’s Little Sparrow (Cardento 933 x Robin Z) gave it their all to come out on top after a nine-horse jump-off in Friday’s feature class at Sweden International Horse Show – a CSI4* 1.50m presented by Agria. 

After stopping the clock on 34.94 seconds in the jump-off, taking the win on home soil, Holmén said; “It was magical! To walk into a prize giving here after you have won, when they turn the lights down and the audience put the lights on their phones on, is something very special.”

“It is not every day that I get such a jump-off round as today – it has been a long time since I did, so it was really nice that it happened here. Sparven turns 17 next year, but she still wants to do this as much as I. I think she got really motivated by the atmosphere and she felt fantastic to ride. She is calm and safe and at the same time unbelievably ambitious and she always wants to do her best – I think that is what makes her the fantastic horse she is!”

The jump-off was a proper race against the clock and the runner-up position went to Olivier Philippaerts (BEL) and H&M Miro (Diamant de Semilly x Kannan) after the two finished the shortened course in 35.72 seconds. The third place went to John Whitaker (GBR) and Equine America Unick du Francport (Zandor x Helios de la Cour II) in 36.04 seconds, while Marlon Modolo Zanotelli (BRA) and Heureuse Nouvelle WH (Cardento 933 x Indoctro) ended fourth and Lars Bak Andersen (DEN) and Ethene (San Patrignano Corrado x Cayado 3) fifth. 

Earlier in the day, Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) and Hollywood V (Mylord Carthago*HN x Casall) took their second win in just as many days when taking the top honours in the 1.45m presented by Mio. Von Eckermann and Hollywood V stopped the clock on 63.94 seconds in this Table A class, to take the win ahead of Marlon Modolo Zanotelli (BRA) and Grand Slam VDL (Cardento 933 x Heartbreaker) who crossed the finish line in 65.29 seconds. 

The third place went to Olivier Philippaerts (BEL) and Odiena Van Berimar (Kannan x Game-Boy) ahead of Stephanie Holmén (SWE) and Thelma Hästak (Heartbeat x Comes van de Heffinck) in fourth and John Whitaker (GBR) and Sharid (Toulon x Vancouleurs) in fifth.