He simply chose the right tactic: Henrik von Eckermann secured the victory in the CSI5* Grand Prix of Lyon with a safe zero round in the show jumping competition. The Swede and his horse Hylanderhof’s Saruschka (v. Stakkato Gold) were the only pair of 12 pairs that also remained error-free in the show jumping competition, allowing them to rejoice in their deserved victory.
„I knew that only two pairs would come after me and that no one had been flawless until then. Therefore, I didn’t want to take any risks and thought I wouldn’t take too much of a chance and would rather be on the safe side,“ Henrik von Eckermann explained his tactics afterwards. With 49.47 seconds remaining, the two were still within the allowed time of 51 seconds to jump to pole position. „The mare is still relatively green and inexperienced at 10 years old and hasn’t even been to many 1.60m jumps yet. But she is totally cool and brave like a lioness,“ the winner said with delight.
Second place went to the Frenchwoman Megane Moissonnier with Glamour du Lys (v. Tobago Chevrier) with a time error in the straights. Martin Fuchs and Lorde (v. Clyde LVB Z) were on the right track with 43.99 seconds. They had to start first, but on the way to the finish they took a pole and so they took third place.
Paula de Boer-Schwarz was also in the race with her top mare My Miss Marple OLD (v. Mylord Carthago). With a net roller in the race, the multi-tasking queen took a strong sixth place in the saddle.
The whole result: HERE