25 Aug BEMER Young Riders Tour: Swiss double victory in Zurich Dielsdorf
(Zurich-Dielsdorf) The Young Riders Grand Prix at the Zurich Youth Masters, which was also the seventh rating competition of the BEMER Young Riders Tour, was decided in a jump-off. The Swiss rider Thibault Keller, who had already won the qualification on Thursday, showed two clear rounds on the mare Happy Girl T in the 1.45 jump-off today. The 20-year-old thus secured himself another 20 points in the BEMER Young Riders Tour ranking and catapulted himself from 18th directly up to second place. The Swiss double victory was completed by Gilles Müller (SUI) from Lucerne in the saddle of Giavanna CB.
Out of 22 competitors, seven reached the jump-off. With four Swiss, two Italian and one German rider, the field was international and the jump-off was exciting. The Swiss rider Tiziana Baumann was the first to enter the arena on SD Chamaco, but had to accept four faults. This paved the way for her compatriots, Keller and Müller. Keller is a perfect example of the fact that consistency is crucial in the Tour. He was already able to score points twice in the current season, in Compiègne (FRA) and Zuidwolde (NED) he was also in the placings. Now he is in second place overall with 34 points after the seventh and penultimate stage. Coming closest to the two Swiss riders today was Italy’s Martina Simoni on the KWPN gelding Dalvaro, who has already enjoyed success up to 1.50m with Ashford Farm riders. The 21-year-old from Eggersriet, Joana Schildknecht (SUI) and her long-time top horse, the black gelding Napoleon, took fourth place and is now tied with Thibault Keller for second place in the Riders Tour Ranking with 34 points.
The SenTower Park equestrian centre in Opglabeek, Belgium, will be the venue for the eighth and final leg of the BEMER Young Riders Tour from 13 to 17 September. The young British rider Jess Hewlett continues to lead the overall standings with 46 points. The final of the BEMER Young Riders Tour is all about very special future opportunities for the U21 talents: Graded according to their ranking position, the top three placed riders in the overall standings will receive permits for starting places at renowned, international shows in the coming year. This paves the way to senior sport, enlarges the talent pool in show jumping and is entirely in line with the BEMER Riders Tour model.
Result BEMER Young Riders Tour – Competition 13 – Big Tour Grand Prix with jump off, CSIOY 1.45m, Kanton Zürich, Swisslos
- Thibault Keller (SUI) & Happy Girl T, 0/39.12
- Gilles Müller (SUI) & Giavanna CB, 0/40.72
- Martina Simoni (ITA) & Dalvaro, 0/42.87
- Joana Schildknecht (SUI) & Napoleon C, 4/40.64
- Tiziana Baumann (SUI) & SD Chamaco, 4/42.25
- Laura Micol Boni (ITA) & Mocca, 4/47.56
All results: https://www.etterevents.ch/CSI-Dielsdorf.php
Photo: Up in the ranking – Thibault Keller (SUI) now sits in second place overall with 34 points. © Katja Stuppia