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Best of 2017 | With Andy Kistler, Henrik Ankarcrona and Philippe Guerdat

Saturday, 30 December 2017
Best of 2017

We catch up with some familiar faces on the international showjumping circuit about what they consider to have been the best of the best of the year that soon comes to an end.

Andy Kistler, Swiss Chef d'Equipe:

Photo (c) Jenny Abrahamsson Andy Kistler. Photo (c) Jenny Abrahamsson.

“From a team perspective, it is clearly our bronze medal in Gothenburg at the European Championships that was a highlight in 2017. I am very happy about that. Individually, it is the season of Steve Guerdat – the most impressive thing about his season is the ten clear rounds in the Nations Cups, four of them double clears and three times in a row with Bianca. He also won ten Grand Prix classes this year!

To pick a horse of the year, this is a little bit difficult… but for me personally, the horse of the year is Bianca and that is because of the three double clears, which were very, very important for our team. But, also how she is and how she jumps and what she gives us – she is the horse of the year for me.

To pick only one groom, is not fair, I like them all. I really like Emma from Steve. But they are all doing such an amazing, unbelievable job. When you think what they are doing, driving the trucks all over Europe, they are unbelievable. They are all heroes, but if I need to mention only one, this year it would be Emma.

Clearly the show of the year is Geneva. It is the 57th time this show is organized and nine times they were elected show of the year. The whole Swiss team is here, the organizing committee has a heart for the sport and the crowd here is unbelievable!”

Henrik Ankarcrona, Swedish Chef d'Equipe:

Photo (c) Jenny Abrahamsson Henrik Ankarcrona. Photo (c) Jenny Abrahamsson.

“There were lot of highlights in 2017, but for sure the ones that mean the most were the European silver medal with the Swedish team and the gold for Peder. For me, to have my first year as Chef d’Equipe with success like that, I was not expecting that! To beat this will be hard, but I am going to try.

For the rider of the year I would like to mention the whole Swedish team, but one to stand out is going to have to be Peder. To have the pressure of going in the lead from the first day to the last at the Europeans, to keep it together – what he did there, I think only two other jockeys have done that before, Ludger Beerbaum and Paul Schockemöhle.

As the horse of the year, I would for sure go for H&M All In after the gold medal he won – but I want to mention both Zacramento and Mary Lou also. They have both done amazing things and kept a high level through the whole year.

I got to know most of the grooms well this year and I must say they are all super and are doing an amazing job. I am happy for all of them, and want to name them all as groom of the year, without them we are nothing.

For me, the show of the year is going to have to be the Europeans in Gothenburg.”

Philippe Guerdat, French Chef d'Equipe:

Photo (c) Jenny Abrahamsson.

“My best memory from 2017 was our home win in the Nations Cup in La Baule, and Kevin’s win in the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final in Geneva. We were not so good in the championships, it was not a great year in that perspective, but it finished anyway in a good way with Kevin. 

The rider of the year would be Peder Fredricson and the horse of the year his horse H&M All In.

Choosing a groom of the year, this is complicated, I know all of them. Maybe the groom from Daniel Deusser – Daniel was on the top, then he went down, but the groom was there with him all the time. And then to get Cornet D’Amour back to shape and win in Paris, that was special. 

The show of the year is always Geneva, but I also like Calgary.”

 


Text © World of Showjumping // Pictures © Jenny Abrahamsson

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