The 2023-edition of Jumping Amsterdam attracted an audience of approximately 55,000 people, with the incredible atmosphere reaching a boiling point on Sunday, when Julien Epaillard – the French master of faster – and his homebred Donatello d'Auge set RAI Amsterdam ablaze with their incredible jump-off in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™. Taking his third World Cup win of the 2022/2023 season, Epaillard now leads the overall standings in the Western European League.
With eight pairs in it, the jump-off was an exciting mix of some of the most experienced riders on the circuit going against young, rising talents. "It takes a village to make great horse sport happen and I am very glad to have been a part of it today," second placed Edouard Schmitz said afterwards.
Here, we take a look back at some of the action in Sunday's Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ of Amsterdam.
All photos © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping.
As the last pair out in the jump-off, Switzerland's rising star Eduoard Schmitz and Quno challenged Julien Epaillard's lead, matching his time half-way. However, the two had to settle for the second place when the clock stopped on 43.44.
Norway's Victoria Gulliksen and Equine America Papa Roach opted for a steady clear in the jump-off, finishing fifth and securing their ticket for the Omaha final, as the pair now sits seventh on the overall standings in the Western European League.
Daniel Deusser and Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z ran into trouble in the jump-off, where the distance from one to two was eleven strides – even though Jodie Hall McAteer and Salt'n Peppa managed to pull it off on ten.
Jodie Hall McAteer and Salt'n Peppa gave it their all in the jump-off, powering through with ten strides from one to two. However, the risks proved too much in the double and the pair opted to retire.
Pathfinders of the day; Switzerland's Alan Jufer and Dante MM were the first to go in round one, posting a beautiful clear, and after another good round in the jump-off, they finished fourth.
"Everything with this horse is very emotional for me," second placed Yuri Mansur said at the press conference, visibly touched by the success with his wonderful Vitiki.
"Fiumicino van de Kalevallei jumped great, he had a long break before Amsterdam with no shows, he spent a lot of time in the field and enjoyed life, and it's always a bit of wait to see how he comes back to his first show, but he did a fantastic job," Jur Vrieling said after placing sixth as the best Dutch rider.
Jur Vrieling was awarded as the leading rider of Jumping Amsterdam 2023. "The atmosphere in Amsterdam is amazing; how the crowd here loves the horses, how they love our sport – we must show the whole world that we love our horses and that this is the greatest sport that we can imagine," he said.
Daniel Deusser and Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z finished seventh, and with two legs left in the Western European League the German rider now sits third on the overall standings.
Spain's Eduardo Alvarez Aznar and Bentley de Sury were one pair of many that were caught out by the plank at the a-element of fence 8ab on round one, placing 11th with their four faults.
The beauty of Donatello d'Auge!
Denmark's Andreas Schou and Darc de Lux jumped another impressive round with only an unfortunate pole down coming into the triple combination in round one. With their quick time, the pair placed tenth and Schou not sits 12th on the WEL overall standings.
Emanuele Gaudiano and Crack Balou had four faults in the jump-off to finish 9h.
In the jump-off, the distance from fence one to two was eleven strides. However, Jodie Hall McAteer and Salt'n Peppa opted for a flyer of a start, clearing it with ten.
Power mode, on!
Alain Jufer and Dante MM had a great day at Jumping Amsterdam, placing fourth.
France's Kevin Staut and Scuderia 1918 Viking d'La Rousserie were extremely unlucky in round one. Jumping out of the triple combination, the pair drifted to the right, touching the wing of the fence and had a pole down.
Tot ziens, Amsterdam!
Then