The Agria FEI Jumping World Championship finally got underway yesterday, and Louis Konickx's opening fourteen-fence course got the competitions off to the best possible start with fabulous sport. Here's Eiken Sato's feisty Chilensky JRA for Japan, who had a small hiccup at fence nr. 3 with a refusal but apart from that blazed around the track without touching a pole.
All photos © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping.
Israel's Daniel Bluman and Ladriano Z delivered a great round to finish 8th. It's extremely tight on the overnight standings with only 4.08 penalty points separating the leader Julien Epaillard from 38th placed Lillie Keenan.
A big smile from Canada's Erynn Ballard.
Austria's Max Kühner and Electric Blue P had to see one pole fall and finished 40th.
Australia's Billy Raymont celebrating his clear round with Black Jack Ixe. The team sits 15th on the overall standings ahead of Wednesday's second round.
Austria's Katharina Rhomberg and Cuma 5 did a super round, with only one rail down on the penultimate oxer.
Leone Jei bringing the expression 'toes to the nose' to a whole other level.
A happy Victoria Gulliksen after a clear round with Equine America Papa Roach for Norway.
Full focus from Egypt's Nayel Nassar and Igor van de Wittemoere, who had a rail on the triple bar at 12a down – like many others.
All smiles: Lars Bak-Andersen opened up with a clear round for the host nation, that sits 16th on the overall standings ahead of round two.
Germany's Marcus Ehning and Stargold also had a rail down on 12a, but were lightning fast to still finish in the top 20. Germany sits 6th on the team standings, with 7.76 penalty points.
Cecilie Hatteland's Missy showing her feisty self.
The Dutch studying the course with Chef d'Equipe Jos Lansink.
Former Olympic, World and European Champion Jeroen Dubbeldam assisting the Israeli team. Here with Ashlee Bond.
Harry Charles taking a moment by the Danish lighthouse upright.
Full focus! Mexico's Jose Alberto Martinez Vazquez and Quinley.
The combination at 12ab with a triple bar and upright caused trouble for many, also for Switzerland's Pius Schwizer and Vancouver de Lanlore who were fault free until this jump. The Swiss team sit 5th on the overall standing with a score of 6.83.
USA's Mclain Ward and Contagious did not have the best start, with the oxer at no. four coming down which dropped them down to sit 29th on the individual standings.
The Dutch sit 8th on the team standings ahead of round two, here Harrie Smolders and Monaco who had four seconds added to their time.
Also Gregory Wathelet and Nevados S had a pole down, on the oxer at 7. They sit 21st individually, and 3rd with the team ahead of day two.
The Canadians celebrating Tiffany Foster's clear round with Figor.
Bianca Babanitz was very happy after a clear round with Caipidor for Austria.
Kisses for Balou after a clear round for Team USA with Brian Moggre.
Harley vd Bisschop and Fabian Sejanes for Argentina that sit 20th of the 22 teams on the overall standing.
Steve Guerdat rode an absolutely amazing round and was the fastest of the class with Venard de Cerisy, but with one down and four seconds added the Swiss ace fell down to sit 13th overall ahead of round two.
Then