Age is only a number for Geir Gulliksen who has just turned 60. The colorful and well known rider from Norway took his first Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ victory in Gothenburg as a late birthday present. Gulliksen was riding the small gelding VDL Groep Quatro who fought like a lion for the rider. The combination jumped into the hearts of the Swedish crowd, who cheered for them so fiercely that the winner took a tumble from the horse during the prizegiving. Gulliksen took it the way he is well known – with a big smile.
Gulliksen is also one of the most constant international riders in CSI-W 5* Helsinki Horse Show. He competed in Helsinki even before the World Cup show was established in the 1980’s. Nowadays he brings his whole family, children Victoria and Johan-Sebastian, to compete in Helsinki Horse Show. It is a family busines for the Gulliksen´s.
The young Swiss star Bryan Balsiger was the runner up in Gothenburg with Twenytwo Des Biches. Balsiger took the victory in the opening qualifier in Oslo, and secured in Gothenburg his place in the Longines 2020 Final in Las Vegas, USA next April. The French Olympic gold medallist, Kevin Staut, was left in the third place with Joy van’t Zorgvliet HDC.
The league leader, Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat, will defend his title for the fourth time in Las Vegas. He will be joined with the best 18 riders from the Western European League, who have now booked their tickets to the showdown in the Nevada desert. Both Gulliksen and Staut have guaranteed a ticket to Nevada. The Helsinki qualifier and Grand Prix winner Robert Whitaker was left at the 21. spot in the Western European League.
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