Text © World of Showjumping

This week, the 2023/2024 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Western European League has moved on to Basel (SUI) for the 10th leg of the season and the first of 2024. The action at the 2024-edition of Longines CHI Classics Basel got underway on Thursday, with the highlight being the CSI5*-W 1.50m Prize of Grand Hotel Les Trois Bois Basel, counting for the Longines Ranking Group C. 

With a time of 56.36 seconds, Germany's Hans-Dieter Dreher and the 12-year-old Cous Cous 3 (Cachas x Lasino, bred by Norbert Carl Schmalbach) took the win ahead of Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) – current world number one – and Iliana (Cardento x Gentleman, bred by J.A.M. Bocken) in second in 58.91. 

"I simply had a super round," Dreher – who as number 13 took over the lead and held on to it through the class, which consisted of 40 horse-and-rider-combinations – told World of Showjumping.

"I saw Henrik's round, and he was very fast, even though he added a few strides. Luckily, every distance I saw was forward, and every first distance worked – so I could just move forward all the time," Dreher explained about his round over the 1.50m track set by France's Gregory Bodo. 

Kevin Staut (FRA) and Beau de Laubry Z (Bisquet Balou C x Nabab de Reve, bred by Haras De Laubry) placed third in 60.48, while Kevin Jochems (NED) and Casillas van de Helle (Casall x San Patrignano Corrado, bred by Dr. Konrad Bartjen) finished fourth in 62.14, followed by Lars Kersten (NED) aboard Funky Fred Marienshof Z (Fantomas de Muze x Libero H, bred by Stal Marienshof) in fifth in 62.23. 

Earlier during the day, the CSI5*-W 1.45m Prize of Thermoplan – a class counting for Longines Ranking Group D – went to France's Roger Yves Bost and the 10-year-old Ever de Turan (Kannan x Ibis de Courcel) ahead of Richard Howley (IRL) and Mansini Ltd (Caressini L x Marramas) in second and Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) aboard Calizi (Cellestial x Stakkatol) in third.