The first CSI5* class has been completed at Messukeskus, and the competition got off to an excellent start for our top riders, with no fewer than five Finns placing in the morning’s 140 cm class. Jone Illi, riding Caprivi, achieved the highest placing. The class was won by Sweden’s Ebba Kewenter on Castlefield Cassandra.
Jone Illi and Caprivi. Photo by Hanna Heinonen.
Friday morning kicked off with the international CSI5* 140-class competition at the Helsinki Exhibition and Convention Center. The class was full of excitement as top-level competitors vied for the win. The winner of the class was Sweden’s Ebba Kewenter on her horse Castlefield Cassandra with a time of 24.76 seconds. Second place went to Hungary’s Tamás Mráz on his horse Neorado T.
Kewenter, who was competing in Helsinki for the first time, enjoyed the setting at Messukeskus.
“The arena is really great! I didn’t feel my best during the warm-up, but once I was on the course, it was absolutely amazing. I took the turns as well as I could, and my horse was fast.”
For Kewenter, this was only the second five-star competition of her career.
“This level is still new to me, so this victory means a lot to me.”
Jone Illi, who placed fourth at Caprivi, and Anni Hjerpe, who placed fifth on her horse Callboy, represented Finland in the class. Marika Rättö, Jasmin Seppälä-Geerink, and Anna-Julia Kontio also placed in the class.
Illi plans to compete at the one- and five-star levels over the weekend. Having just returned from the awards ceremony, Illi promised more podium finishes throughout the weekend.
“This isn’t the end of it!”
International Welcome CSI5* 140 cm, two rounds. Started 34th, placed 13th.
1) Ebba Kewenter – Castlefield Cassandra, SWE 0-0/24.76
2) Tamás Mráz – Neorado T, HUN 0-0/24.93
3) Malin Baryard-Johnsson – Ccstud’s Liisolde, SWE 0-0/25.94
4) Jone Illi – Caprivi 23, FIN 0-0/26.09
5) Anni Hjerpe – Callboy, FIN 0-0/26.46
…8) Marika Rättö – Stolzenburg E, FIN 0-0/28.7
9) Jasmin Seppälä-Geerink – Chapper, FIN 0-0/29.00
…13) Anna-Julia Kontio – Cayadina, FIN 0-0/30.52, …30) Aida Hämäläinen – Hurby, FIN 4/45.32
Full results: LINK
