We look back at Sunday's individual final at the Agria FEI Jumping World Championship 2022 in Herning, Denmark, which brought the spectators to the edge of their seats.
Louis Konickx’s first-round track for the individual final was both delicate and technical, and it was especially the line from the open water at no. 8 on seven following or eight short strides to a tall upright at no. 9 and then five following or six short strides to an oxer-upright combination at no. 10ab that looked particularly challenging to ride. Nevertheless, 14 of the 21 horse-and-rider combinations that had qualified to compete managed to clear the course – and one pair that made it look easy was Switzerland’s Pius Schwizer and Vancouver de Lanlore, who jumped themselves up to finish 14th overall. Not a bad way for Schwizer to celebrate turning 60 this weekend!
All photos © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping.
Two Dutch, and the Men At Sea. The Men at Sea is a tall white monument of four seated males, located west of Esbjerg in Denmark. Men at Sea is meant to have a universal appeal to represent all humanity and symbolises the pure man's encounter with nature.
Great Britain's Scott Brash checking out the first-round track, here at the FEI oxer.
France's Simon Delestre and Belgium's Jerome Guery discussing the course.
Brazilian Chef d'Equipe Philippe Guerdat and Germany's Marcus Ehning.
Commentator aces Steven Wilde and Jessica Kürten discussing the course.
Austria's Max Kühner with the mute swans in the background. The mute swans, native to Denmark, became the national bird of Denmark in 1984. The swan’s popularity probably derives because of its role in “the Ugly Duckling” by Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen.
Apart from his cap and boots, Ireland's Denis Lynch was quite matching to the Men at Sea.
Switzerland's Martin Fuchs.
Peder Fredricson reflecting on the course. Unfortunately for Fredricson, the championship did not get the ending he would have hoped for and after three down in Friday's team final, he had to watch the individual final from the sideline.
Greek rider Ioli Mytilineou impressed again when jumping the first clear in round one of the individual final, to finish 19th overall with L'Artiste de Toxandra.
Italy's best rider of the championship: Lorenzo De Luca with F One USA, 13th overall. Here jumping clear in round one of the individual final.
Germany's Marcus Ehning and Stargold jumped double clear in the final, and made their way upwards on the individual standings to eventually finish 5th.
A big smile from Germany's Jana Wargers who was clear in the first round of the individual final with Limbridge, moving on to the last, decisive round.
Belgium's Nicola Philippaerts jumped a fantastic clear in the first round of the individual final, having his hands full with the feisty Katanga vh Dingeshof.
Canada's Tiffany Foster has impressed in Herning, and moved on to the last round of the championship after going clear with Figor in round one of the individual final.
For Great Britain's Scott Brash and Hello Jefferson it was not to be. After a strong start to the championship, the pair had two down in the team final and then a rail on the vertical at no. 9 fell in the first round of the individual final – dropping them down to finish 17th overall.
Harrie Smolders and Monaco N.O.P. had a rail down on 10b in the first round of the individual final, and finished 15th overall.
These two!! Cayman Jolly Jumper is an extraordinary horse in every way, and with Simon Delestre in the saddle he is flourishing. The pair was best of the French and jumped their way into the last round of the championship, with a clear in Sunday's first round of the individual final.
Maikel van der Vleuten showed some seriously impressive riding to guide Beauville Z N.O.P. to a clear in round one of the individual final, moving himself upwards ahead of the very last round in Herning.
Faltic HB replaced Explosion W for Ben Maher, and really impressed in his championship debut when making it all the way to the last round in Herning.
Showjumping is full of ups and downs. After a fantastic clear round on Friday, Israel's Daniel Bluman and Ladriano Z got in trouble in the turn to the wall in Sunday's first round of the individual final and dropped down ten places to finish 16th overall.
A focused Max Kühner, who did a clear round with Elektric Blue P to move himself upwards on the standings to sit fourth ahead of the last round.
Unfortunately for Switzerland's Martin Fuchs, the front pole on the oxer at no. 4 fell to the ground, which dropped him and Leone Jei out of contention for a medal. Fuchs was sitting 4th ahead of the individual final.
Belgium's Jerome Guery and Quel Homme de Hus delivered, and moved on to the last round without adding any penalties to their overall score – keeping their bronze position.
Jens Fredricson pleased the many Swedish fans that had met up to support him, when jumping clear again with Markan Cosmopolit, to keep his silver medal position ahead of the last round.
A focused Henrik von Eckermann delivered another clear round with King Edward, and went into the last round with a margin of 2.13 penalty points down to Jens Fredricson.
Lets hear it for the Swedes... Swedish Chef d'Equipe Henrik Ankarcrona.
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