Edited press release from CSIO Warsaw Jumping
Niklaus Schurtenberger (SUI) and the 10-year-old mare C-Steffra (Clarimo x Lavall I) took the top honours in Friday's CSIO4* 1.55m Grand Prix presented by PKN Orlen in Warsaw, Poland.
Five horse-and-rider combinations made it to the jump-off, while another four riders were clear on the fences in the first round but kept out by the time allowed.
With an outstanding time of 41.82 seconds in the jump-off, Schurtenberger took a very convincing win with 2.06 seconds down to runner-up Giulia Martinengo Marquet (ITA) with the 12-year-old Elzas (Diamant de Semilly x Cornet Obolensky). Then it was another 1.47 seconds down to third placed Gerrit Nieberg (GER) with Ben (Sylvain x Quincy Jones).
Antonio Alfonso (ITA) had to settle for the fourth place after recording four faults in the jump-off with Harrie (Harmony x Aramis Z), while fifth place went to David Simpson (IRL) with Carleyle (Connor 48 x For Pleasure).
"The course was quite a challenge, one of those few I had to focus a lot on the riding. That is why, I guess, only five of us delivered a clear one," said Schurtenberger after his win. "Today’s victory is an obvious lift-up and makes our team look forward to Sunday’s Nations Cup even more.”