This weekend, Verona (ITA) is the stage for the fourth leg of the Longines FEI World Cup-series in the Western European League.
The first Longines Ranking class, a 1.50m competition against the clock presented by KASK, saw Belgium on top. Olivier Philippaerts (BEL) on the small and fast Ustina Sitte (Clinton x Parco) went out as starter number three and set the time to beat for his followers to 57.27 seconds. Philippaerts turned incredibly tight to the fence set as number three, and it looked like this made the winning difference; not many others attempted the same and those who did saw poles falling.
Ireland's Billy Twomey and Ardcolum Duke (Gypsy Duke x Clover Hill) gave their best attempt, and ended as runners-up with a time of 57.09 seconds. Switzerland's Janika Sprunger on Aris CMS (Nassau x Amethist) galloped through the course and made the speed look effortless, placing third with the time of 58.87 seconds.
Home rider Juan Carlos Garcia on Moka de Mescam (Melkior du Montois x Quouglof Rouge) won the 1.45m class against the clock presented by Sony, and the second place went to Marcel Marschall (GER) on Cassius van de Smis (Cardento x Skippy II). The home crowd´s joy was perfected with the third place finish of Gianni Govoni (ITA) on Larbraker (Larino x Heartbreaker).
Text and picture © World of Showjumping by Nanna Nieminen