Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs took the Longines FEI World Cup Show Jumping championship in Leipzig, Germany, today, with a two-horse approach. He rode Chaplin in the opening competition on Thursday, then switched to The Sinner for Saturday’s jump-off format. He was back on Chaplin, a Dutch warmblood stallion, this afternoon for the final.
Harrie Smolders of the Netherlands finished second on Monaco, while Jens Fredricson of Sweden came third with Markan Cosmoplit. Jens is the younger brother of Swedish superstar Peter Fredricson, who was on his country’s Olympic gold medal team last year.
The highest-placed American was McLain Ward on Contagious, winner of the second leg. One fence down in today’s first round, a two fences down in the second round with a time penalty put him seventh overall.
“It’s really disappointing of course. I thought Contagious jumped great and unfortunately, he stumbled or lost his footing in the combination and fell through B and after that when you’re focused on winning, not much else matters,” said McLain.
“It’s a sport of variables and he took a funny step and jumped too low, which isn’t a normal mistake for him, but you know that’s a part of the sport and it’s unfortunate when it happens in that moment.”
“Both of my horses are fantastic,” said Martin, who stands third in the overall global rankings this month.
Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Show Jumping Final winner Martin Fuchs takes his victory gallop on Chaplin in Leipzig, Germany (FEI photo)
“Chaplin is such an unbelievable fighter. I’m just so happy to have a horse like that.”
He added, “I must say, I thought I would be second again, with Harrie and McLain coming after me. I’m very delighted with this win,”
He followed in the hoofprints left by Tinka’s Boy and his uncle, Marcus Fuchs, the 2001 winner. Tinkas Boy died earlier this year at age 33.
Hunter Holloway was the next-best from the USA on Pepita con Spita, finishing 16th.
The dressage title not unexpectedly belongs to Olympic champion Jessica Von Bredow-Werndl of Germany with Dalera BB, scoring 90.836. It didn’t quite match her score from the Tokyo Games, but who would quibble with any mark over 90 percent?
Jessica is pregnant (will her baby’s name be inscribed on the trophy as well?) and she will not be able to ride for her country in the world championships this summer as a result.
In second place, Catherine DuFour on Vamos Amigos was quite a bit further back, with 86.164 percent. That’s not a score to be sneezed at either, however, especially since it was a personal best for the Danish rider.
The world’s most decorated dressage rider, Isabell Werth of Germany, finished on the podium in third with Weiheigold OLD. She had been shooting for her fourth Cup title, but a mark of 85.921 kept her from that ambition. Her mare was retired in a ceremony immediately after the competition.
The highest-placed U.S. dressage rider was Ashley Holzer, in her first championship representing the country since she became a citizen. She formerly rode for Canada. Her score of 75.532 on Havanna 145 put her ninth.
The other American contender, Anna Buffini, wound up 12th of 17 starters in her international championship debut. Her total on FRH Davinia La Douce was 74.011 percent,
This was the first Cup final since 2019. Both 2020 in Las Vegas and 2021 in Gothenburg, Sweden, were cancelled due to Covid.
In 2023, the Cup comes back to the U.S. for the first time since 2017 and it’s in the same city, Omaha, Neb. It will include jumping, dressage and in a new twist for an American final, the championship in vaulting as well.
