Judy-Ann Melchior and Lover Boy Z (Level Z x Aldatus Z) won Sunday's youngster competition Lövsta Future Challenge Final at Gothenburg Horse Show after two great rounds.
It was a huge but fair course that waited for the seven year olds, but as many as twelve out of the eighteen participants went clear in the first round. Stephanie Holmén with Uncle Blue (Chacco Blue x Robin Z) started off the jump-off with a safe clear round in 32.10 seconds, while Juri Sokolovski with Sundance (Hip Hop x Cardento) had to settle with 8 faults. Emma Emanuelsson took over the lead after finishing in 30.40 seconds, riding Coralle (Maloubet de Pleville x Candaletto).
Both Maikel van der Vleuten with Delina (Verdi x Cantos) and Satu Liukkonen with Mprez (Empire x Argentan) had to settle for four faults. When Gerco Schröder rode towards the first fence Glock's Debalia (Numero Uno x Lupicor) spooked, so Gerco had to make a circle before he could continue - without more trouble.
Sandra Carlsson with the big jumping Brenda Lee (Carmargue x Cardento) took over the lead with a time of 29.85 but could not keep it for long with Judy-Ann Melchior as next to go.
Marcus Ehning - who won both of the qualifications with Calanda (Calido x Chasseur) had to see himself beaten when ending the jump-off in 30.29 seconds and eventually had to settle for fifth place. Then Henrik von Eckermann shaved off the minimum possible on Marcus' time - getting it down to 30.28 seconds with Lord Chambertin 2 (Lord Z x Chambertin). Ludger then did exactly the same thing with Henrik's time and finished in 30.27 seconds with A Corrada (Corrado I x Corghano), slotting into third ahead of Henrik in fourth.
Rolf-Göran Bengtsson was last to go and after the a-element fell he had to settle for a final eight place.
Earlier in the morning Douglas Lindelöw and Talina (Matterhorn x Heidelberg) won the 1,45 speed class ahead of Pius Schwizer with Anisette de Lassus (Sherman-Sitte x Blume la Borderie) and Marlon Zanotelli with Zerlin M (Berlin x Concorde). Fourth place went to Reed Kessler on Charity 33 (Cayetano L x Indoctro) and Marcus Ehning with Gaudi (Ogano Sitte x Calvaro) took the fifth place.