Victor Bettendorf and the 11-year-old gelding Mr. Tac (Non Stop x Toulon) took their first five-star Grand Prix victory when finishing on top of Saturday's CSI5*-W 1.55m Gothenburg Trophy presented by Volkswagen at Gothenburg Horse Show.
“I’m really, really happy,” Bettendorf said after his win. “To win my first 5* Grand Prix in front of an audience like this is very special."
In this photo special, we look back at some of the highlights from the Grand Prix.
Photos © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping.
Full focus for Marc Dilasser and E2K Abricot Ennemmelle that finished in runner-up position after crossing the finish line 0.78 seconds behind Bettendorf.
To the delight of the home crowds, Sweden's Rolf-Göran Bengtsson and Zuccero jumped to the 3rd place.
Not much beats that Gothenburg-magic: A fully seated Scandinavium arena.
Thibeau Spits and Foncetti vd Heffinck delivered an impressive double clear to take the 4th place.
The young and upcoming Swedish rider Andre Brandt impressed when jumping through the difficult course with only four faults to take the 11th place. He rode the 12-year-old El Qlassico TT.
A fully seated arena and lots and lots of flowers is one of Gothenburg Horse Show's trademarks.
In-form Henrik von Eckermann and Iliana had to see a pole fall in the first round, but as the fastest four-faulters they ended 7th.
Rolf-Göran Bengtsson's Zuccero has been in a tremendous form lately, delivering one clear round after the other. Last week he won the CSI3* Grand Prix in Neumünster and this week he ended 4th in Thursday's 1.50m class as well as 3rd in the Gothenburg Trophy.
Philipp Schulze Topphoff and Carla 229 were one of many horse-and-rider combinations that had to see a pole fall on their way over the course. Their time was good enough for an 8th place.
Friday's winner Julien Anquetin did a steady clear in the first round with Gravity of Greenhill. The two ended up in trouble in the jump-off though and Anquetin decided to retire.
Fastest of all were Robert Whitaker and Evert. After flying around the jump-off course and pushing the time down with 1.27 seconds, Whitaker and Evert had to settle for 5th place though as a pole fell at the very end.
Marc Dilasser has had a great Gothenburg Horse Show-debut.
Gregory Cottard and Cocaine du Val on their way to a 10th place after four faults in the first round.
Evelina Tovek and Moeboetoe v/d Roshoeve ended 9th after four faults in the first round.
Marcel Marschall and Coolio 42 finished 12th in the Gothenburg Trophy.
Victor Bettendorf went all in to the last fence and it was probably there he won it. Runner-up Dilasser was almost a second faster ahead of the combination as the penultimate fence, but in the end Bettendorf caught up with him.
It was only Robert Whitaker that managed to deliver a faster round than Bettendorf, but on the expense of a rail down.
A happy Victor Bettendorf who took his first five-star Grand Prix victory with Mr. Tac.
Then