Ten Helsinki Horse Show top riders make it to the Final

Kevin Staut ja Dialou Blue PS. Photo Satu Pirinen.

Helsinki Horse Show is proud and happy to have ten of the events top riders make it to the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Finals in Basel. It is an honor that the five most successful riders in the Western European League all competed in Helsinki.

The winner of the series is Kevin Staut, who took his best result of the season, second place, in Helsinki. In addition to Staut, the top three riders in the series are Hans-Dieter Dreher and Pieter Devos.

Robert Whitaker, winner of the Helsinki World Cup, also secured two more podium finishes during the season. The Brit is heading the final in a strong form. Max Kühner, who had his first points in Helsinki, has been consistent during the whole season.

Both Julien Anquetin and Martin Fuchs were left without points in Helsinki but later in the season got going. Fuchs, winner of the Helsinki Grand Trophy, later won the Bordeaux qualifier.

Steve Guerdat, who came third in Helsinki and has won three finals, had to wait all the way to the end. He secured the last places in the league together with his compatriot Edouard Schmitz. Schmitz made it to the jump off in Gothenburg and just got enough points to reach the top 18.

Mario Stevens and Starissa FRH in Gothenburg. Photo FEI/Kim Lundin.

Perhaps the happiest in Gothenburg, together with the winner Linda Heed, was Mario Stevens, who took the second place. He had to finish in the top four in Gothenburg to make it to the Final. A tough goal, but he managed it! Stevens made a stunning performance in Gothenburg, and for the first time in his career qualified for the World Cup Final.

“It’s a special Sunday! My horse jumped unbelievably. I needed points and there was a lot of pressure here as ten athletes could potentially (have gone) into the final today. I’m so happy and proud to be second in the World Cup and to get to my first World Cup Final in Basel. It’s a special moment!” said Mario Stevens.

The Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final is held on April 1-6^th in Basel, Switzerland.

Exactly in a year the last qualifier of the Western European League will be held in Helsinki, Finland. The Helsinki qualifier which has been held since 1986 will be on February 26^th -March 1^st in the Helsinki Exhibition and Convention Center Messukeskus. The new venue offers a significantly bigger main arena. The whole competition site with the stables and warm up will be under one roof.