Press release from Jumping Verona

Belgium’s Olivier Philippaerts stormed to victory in the 1.50m Banca Passadore Speed class at Jumping Verona 2021 this afternoon. But only one-hundredth of a second separated him from runner-up Mark McAuley from Ireland.

McAuley set the early target with a super-fast time of 59.46 seconds with his nine-year-old chestnut mare O’Hara ELS (Ogano Sitte x Liandero) when fourth to go of the 51 starters. But, eighteenth into the ring, Philippaerts squeezed fractionally ahead when racing through the timers in 59.45 with the Belgian-bred chestnut gelding Miro (Diamant de Semily x Kannan). And despite their best efforts none of the rest could better that.

Jessica Springsteen, winner of the first class of the opening day with the mare Tiger Lily (Balou du Rouet x Domino), produced by far the quickest time when racing through the finish in 57.13. But a very tight turn to the double at fence nine didn’t pay off, and when she crossed the line leaving two fences on the floor it wouldn’t be the American on the top step of the podium this time around.

Instead that honour went to 28-year-old Philippaerts who has become one of the most consistent younger riders on the international showjumping circuit in recent years. He was only 22 when a member of the winning Belgian team at the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final in Barcelona, Spain in 2015, and he was back in the Belgian side that finished second at the Spanish fixture this year. 

Philippaerts has twice finished fifth at the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final, in 2018 and 2019 with H&M Legend of Love, and will be one to watch out for in this Sunday’s World Cup qualifier in Verona.

Third place in today’s Banca Passadore Speed class went to Italy’s Ricardo Pisano whose lovely rhythm and light hands brought the handsome 11-year-old grey stallion Charlemagne JT Z (Cachas x Carthago Z) home in 60.83 seconds, while Ireland’s Denis Lynch slotted into fourth with In the Air (Indorado x Quite Easy I) when stopping the clock on 61.85 seconds.

America’s Jessica Springsteen got Jumping Verona 2021 off to a flying start when galloping to victory in the first international competition of the show today with a brilliant performance from Tiger Lily (Balou du Rouet x Domino).

Going 34th in the big field of 61 starters, she showed the rest a clean pair of heels when racing through the finish with her 14-year-old chestnut mare in 30.39 seconds. This left her well clear of runner-up Filippo Marc Bologni who broke the beam in 30.95 seconds with his ever-reliable 17-year-old stallion Quidich de la Chavee (President x Apache d'Adriers) while Bologni’s Italian compatriot, Luca Marziani, finished third when fractionally slower with Don’t Worry B (Numero Uno x Quidam's Rubin).

Sweden’s Petronella Andersson and Jeunesse van T Paradijs (Emerald x Heartbreaker) lined up in fourth ahead of former Egyptian rider Sameh El Dahan and Suma’s Zorro (ARD VDL Douglas x Horos XX) who are now flying the flag of Great Britain. And rounding up the truly international field, Brazil’s Marlon Zanotelli finished sixth with his exciting young mare, the nine-year-old Chili (Consolidator x Berlin).