Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) and the 9-year-old gelding Little Magic D’Asschaut (Back Gammon x Nonstop) won Monday’s CSI3* 1.50m Grand Prix in Vejer de la Frontera, Spain. With a time of 40.43 seconds in the jump-off, the Swedish rider bested a field of 61 horse-and-rider combinations. 

Only eight pairs cleared their way into the deciding jump-off, proving the course designer Elena Boix Gracia (ESP) had succeeded in creating a demanding, yet fair course. "I have to say the course builder did a very good job today," von Eckermann commented to World of Showjumping. "The course was nice and technical, and she got the time allowed just right: It was not too tight, but you had to pay attention. It was really well built, horse-friendly but still tough enough." 

"Little Magic D'Asschaut belongs to my fiancé Janika (Sprunger) and we have always had a lot of faith in this horse," von Eckermann continued to speak about his winning mount. "However, he is only nine and so far he did not win any big classes –  even though he did many good things. It is nice that he now proved that we have been right in believing in him. He really deserved to win a class like this." 

Kim Emmen (NED) on Jack van het Dennehof (Toulon x Quidam de Revel) took the runner-up position with a time of 41.13, while Olivier Robert (FRA) on Vivaldi Des Meneaux (Chippendale Z x Bamako) placed third after the clocks stopped on 41.31. Conor Swail (IRL) on GK Coco Chanel (Clarimo x Lerano 2) took the fourth place, and the fifth spot went to Laurent Goffinet (FRA) on Atome Des Etisses (Mylord Carthago x Quidam de Revel).