Presenting showjumping of the very highest standard on Friday, 46 duos participating in the first of a total of four Longines world ranking jumping competitions at the Glock Horse Performance Center. The CSI3* Glock’s Perfection Tour course over 1.50 m extended over two rounds, with all fault-free riders qualifying for the second round.

Here it was really exciting right from the start, because the very first to go through the gates was twice Glock’s Grand Prix winner John Whitaker, the most successful showjumprt of all time. The British rider and his good-natured,13-year-old stallion Argento (Arko III x Gasper), went on the attack, executed each jump with perfection and set a benchmark of 43.49 seconds, which remained unbeaten to the last. At the winner’s interview, John Whitaker made his objectives for the remainder of the weekend perfectly clear: "Tomorrow Argento has a rest and, on Sunday, we hope to win the Glock’s CSI3* Grand Prix again."

An objective sure also to be in the sights of Paul Estermann from Switzerland. Riding his also 13-year-old, Irish bred mare Castlefield Eclipse (Obos Quality x Furisto), his fate was to be pipped to the post by less than half a second, achieving second place in 43.91 seconds.

Also completing a pretty fast round was Marco Kutscher. This double bronze medal winner at the Olympic Games, on Balance, the eleven-year-old son of Baloubet du Rouet, also sped through the tournament arena in a fault-free 44.31 seconds and was rewarded for his efforts with third place.

Source: Press release from Glock Horse Performance Center