Saturday's main class at the CSI5*-W event in Zürich was the 75,000 CHF Art on Ice Championat, a 1.50m speed competition in two phases. With some of the very best horse-and-rider combinations in the world present, the class turned into a real race.
In the end, it was Kevin Staut (FRA) on the 12-year-old mare Ayade de Septon et HDC (Wandor van de Mispelaere x Belle d'Avril du Mazy) that took home the win after clocking a time of 25,61 seconds. Harrie Smolders (NED) on the 11-year-old gelding Cas (Indoctro x Numero Uno) took the runner-up position with a time of 26,53 seconds, while Philipp Weishaupt (GER) on the 11-year-old Lasse K (Le Carolus x Zapateado) placed third with a time of 26,69. The fourth place went to Jur Vrieling (NED) on the 11-year-old mare Zypern III (Casall x Coriano), after the pair stopped the clock at 26,90. Luca Maria Moneta (ITA) continued his great form on the 17-year-old gelding Connery (Cordobes II x Polydor) and secured the fifth spot.
Earlier in the day, Max Kühner (AUT) topped the Toshiba Accumulator, a 1.45m competition with a joker. Riding the 14-year-old gelding PSG Future (Cash and Carry x Lorentin I), Kühner clocked the winning time of 48,74 seconds. Last night's big winner, Martin Fuchs (SUI) on the 9-year-old mare Dubai du Bois Pinchet (Kashmir van Schuttershof x Andiamo) had to settle for the runner-up position with a time of 49,16 this time around, while Philipp Züger (SUI) on the 11-year-old gelding Cassido GZ (Cassini I x Corrado I) secured the third place with a time of 49,60. Julio Arias (ESP) on the 12-year-old stallion Armani des Maraichers (Kashmir van Schuttershof x Quater) placed fourth, and Luciana Diniz (POR) on the 10-year-old mare Isabeau (Winningmood van de Arenberg x Gershwin) took the fifth spot.
Text and picture © World of Showjumping by Nanna Nieminen