The last round of the Agria FEI Jumping World Championship in Herning was a proper test for the horses and riders, and Dutch mastermind Louis Konickx had built a track that required some serious jumping. Thirteen fences, including an influential triple bar-plank-oxer triple combination at 5abc, as well as a double of Liverpools on 10ab with an upright coming in and an oxer going out straight towards the tribune, waited for the twelve best horses and riders – and shook the individual standings up.
Konickx received praise for his course building in Herning, and the two last rounds of the individual final were exceptional – contributing to exciting sport to the very end.
“First of all, I have had a totally excellent team here, with the arena crew full of volunteers and course designer, I was supported by Quintin [Maertens] with a lot of brainwork and assisted by Anthony d'Ambrosio – thank you. It looks easy, but it isn’t and I needed these people and they did a great job – thank you for that, also to Jens [Trabjerg].”
“We were thinking about how to build it up and for me it was clear that the second round should be the climax, and that the first round should be a nice, fluent round. Big enough, but not too complicated – it was an open jumping round, which you saw also, it was a totally other round than the final for the teams. We saw the horses jump like that, I was excepting around ten clears but with no time pressure it was getting a bit easier for the boys and the girls. For the second round, we built it up. It was a bit more technical, and the time was short. I think that from the nice jumping in the first round, you could see that the horses felt good, they jumped amazing.”
"I am very glad that we have this result; King Edward and Quel Homme have been clear all days here. We have seen a lot of good sport!”
And with these words from Konickx, we look back at round two of the individual final, where Marcus Ehning and Stargold jumped one of four double clear rounds of the last competition in Herning.
All photos © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping.
Dutch mastermind Louis Konickx measuring the last round of the championship.
Henrik von Eckermann and Janika Sprunger discussing strategies for the last round with King Edward.
Eric Lamaze and Tiffany Foster.
Scott Brash supported his compatriot Ben Maher, the only Brit making it to the last round.
Rolf-Göran Bengtsson disappearing under the poles.
Nicola Philippaerts and Martin Fuchs.
German Chef d'Equipe Otto Becker had two riders in the last round of the individual final.
Jens Fredricson mapping out a plan with his brother Peder.
Marcus Ehning was perhaps a little lucky in the second round of the individual final, as Stargold gave both fence no. 7 and 10b a good rub, but with the German ace's marvellous riding, the stallion still stayed clear all the way around the course. With their double clear round, the pair jumped themselves up from sitting 17th to finish 5th.
Germany's Jana Wargers and Limbridge were caught out by the combination at 10ab, and finished the second round on six penalties, eventually ending 9th overall which made Wargers the best lady rider of the championship.
After jumping a very impressive clear in the first round of the individual final, Belgium's Nicola Philippaerts had to see the front pole on the oxer at 10b fall to the ground in the second round. With Katanga van het Dingeshof, Philippaerts finished 8th overall.
In the last round of the championship, two poles fell for Canada's Tiffany Foster and Figor, who ended 12th overall.
This tricky combination at 10ab caught out five of the horse-and-rider combinations in the last round, here Martin Fuchs and Leone Jei.
These two really impressed in their first championship: Simon Delestre and the Hickstead-son Cayman Jolly Jumper were best of the French to finish 7th overall.
Maikel van der Vleuten showed some serious fighting spirit to pilot Beauville Z N.O.P. to a double clear round, jumping his way up to the bronze medal.
Great Britain's sole representatives in the last round: Ben Maher and Faltic HB, who finished with an impressive 4th place overall.
Max Kühner and Elektric Blue P were breathing the top three in the neck ahead of the last round, sitting 4th on only 4.49 penalties and smelling a medal. But, unfortunately the two got the front pole on 10b down plus two time faults, which dropped them to 6th overall.
Clear all the way! Jerome Guery realises he has secured a medal with Quel Homme de Hus.
Jens Fredricson was sitting in silver position with Markan Cosmopolit, but three poles fell all together, first one in the triple combination and then two more in the double, and it was game over for the Swedish couple who eventually finished 10th individually.
Henrik von Eckermann trying to take in what has just happened as he becomes World Champion with King Edward.
Three extremely worthy medallists: Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward, Jerome Guery and Quel Homme de Hus as well as Maikel van der Vleuten and Beauville Z N.O.P.
Then