Simon Delestre and Olga van de Kruishoeve, winners of the CSI5*-W 1.55m jump-off class presented by KASK in Verona. Photo © Fieracavalli Verona/Stephen Fat.
Text © World of Showjumping
The 2023-edition of Jumping Verona, in Italy, hosts the fourth leg of the 2023/2024 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Western European League this weekend and the action at Fieracavalli Verona got underway with French victories on Friday.
France's Simon Delestre – current world number eight – and the 9-year-old Olga van de Kruishoeve (El Torreo de Muze x Nabab de Reve, bred by Eric Polfliet) won Friday's CSI5*-W 1.55m jump-off class presented by KASK, also a qualifier for Sunday's Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ of Verona.
With a time of 37.63, Delestre and Olga van de Kruishoeve took the win ahead of Daniel Deusser (GER) and Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z (Otangelo x Mr Blue, bred by Jonas Bellemans) in 38.92 – topping a jump-off between twelve horse-and-rider-combinations.
"Olga jumped amazing in Lyon last weekend already, and did the same today," Delestre told World of Showjumping after his victory. "It is incredible how fast she can be, and she is only nine, so we have a lot of hope invested in her for the future."
Peder Fredricson (SWE) and Vroom de La Pomme Z (Vigo d'Arsouilles x Untouchable, bred by Geert Baertsoen) placed third in 39.40, while Marcus Ehning (GER) and Coolio 42 (Casalito x Quidam de Revel, bred by Martina Wirtz) finished fourth in 41.10, followed by Francesco Turturiello (ITA) aboard Made In'T Ruytershof (Norton d'Elle x Diamant de Semilly, bred by Stal 't Ruytershof Bvba) in fifth in 41.23.
Julien Epaillard and Hoover, winners of the CSI5*-W 1.50m Prize Banca Passadore. Photo © Fieracavalli Verona/Stephen Fat.
Earlier in the day, France's Julien Epaillard – current world number seven – and the 11-year-old Hoover (Clinton x Carthago, bred by Gebr. Bosch) won the CSI5*-W 1.50m Prize Banca Passadore. Stopping the clock on 60.60, Epaillard and Hoover took the win ahead of Jessica Springsteen (USA) and the 10-year-old Naomi van het Keizershof (Cardento x For Pleasure, bred by Leon Otten) in second in 63.10.
“I really like it here in Verona, there’s a super atmosphere and everything is super for the horses and the riders," Epaillard said in a press release from Fieracavalli Verona.
Petronella Andersson (SWE) and Odina van Klapscheut (I Am Moerhoeve's Star x Landor S, bred by Mivaro BVBA) placed third in 63.45, while Nicola Philippaerts (BEL) and Klaartje Z (Kannan x Flipper d'Elle, bred by Ties Raijmakers) finished fourth in 63.62, followed by Robin Muhr (ISR) aboard Stawita PS (Stakkatol x Lawito, bred by Gestüt Lewitz/Paul Schockemöhle) in fifth in 64.07.
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