World of Showjumping
World of ShowjumpingWorld of Showjumping
Menu

Henrik von Eckermann and Iliana best in the Longines Grand Prix of Basel

Saturday, 11 January 2025
Longines CHI Classics Basel 2025

Photo © Nanna Nieminen/WoSJ. Henrik von Eckermann and Iliana won Friday's CSI5*-W 1.60m Longines Grand Prix of Basel. Photo © Nanna Nieminen for World of Showjumping.

 

Text © World of Showjumping

 


 

Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann and the 12-year-old mare Iliana (Cardento x Gentleman) won Friday night’s CSI5*-W 1.60m Longines Grand Prix of Basel at the 2025-edition of Longines CHI Classics Basel in Switzerland.

With seven from the current top ten on the world rankings present in Basel, the level of competition in Friday's Grand Prix – a competition counting for the Longines Ranking Group A – showed with a total of 17 from the 46 horse-and-rider combinations at start clearing the first-round track set by a course designer duo of Gregory Bodo (FRA) and Gerard Lachat (SUI). 

With a time of 38.68 seconds in the jump-off, von Eckermann – current world number one – and Iliana bested the 17-strong jump-off, with France’s former world number one Simon Delestre and the 12-year-old Dexter Fontenis Z (Diarado x Voltaire Pref) taking the runner-up spot in 39.01 seconds. Denis Lynch (IRL) and Vistogrand (Fantaland x Mr Visto) placed third after clocking a time of 39.79 seconds, while Sophie Hinners (GER) and Iron Dames My Prins (Zilverstar T x Winningmood) finished fourth in 40.73 and Tim Gredley (GBR) aboard Imperial HBF (Glasgow-W vh Merelsnest x Original VDL) fifth in 43.34.

“I have never won this class, I have always done quite bad in this one actually, so I am happy to now say that I have won it once,” von Eckermann told World of Showjumping after his victory. “To be honest, there were too many clears in the first round, but I am lucky to have a very fast mare, and she was jumping fantastic today. She could not have been better. My plan going in for the jump-off was trying to win but not over-do it.”

Earlier during the day, the CSI5*-W 1.45m Prize of Land Rover Discovery – a competition counting for the Longines Rankings Group D – went to the hosts' Niklaus Rutschi (SUI) and the 12-year-old gelding Amar des Brimbelles Z (Amadeus Zbrimbelles x Russel) ahead of Simon Delestre (FRA) and Golden Boy DK (Diamant de Semilly x Cash) in second and Adrian Schmid (SUI) aboard Con Quality (Chin Champ x Quality) in third. 

 



This photo has been added to your cart !

Your shopping cart »
This website is using cookies for statistics, site optimization and retargeting purposes. You consent to our cookies if you continue to use this website. Read more here.