Today, at the Snai San Siro racecourse, the Italia. Open to Meraviglia – FEI Jumping European Championship Milan 2023 entered into a very significant phase of the competition for the European team and individual jumping results, as well as for the three “passes” to Paris 2024 for the best-placed nations not yet qualified for next year’s Olympics.
Today’s competition jolted the first day’s rankings and provided the first team verdicts (only the top 10 teams will take part in tomorrow’s competition to get the medals) and selected the top 50 individual pairs classified).
In the team competition, Sweden surrendered its lead to Germany. The Germans had only four penalties today, thanks mainly to the clear rounds of Philipp Weishaupt with Zineday and of Jana Wargers with Limbridge. With a total of 9.31, they managed to outperform the Swedes, who had remained in the lead with 9.51 penalties after the clear rounds of Jens Fredricson with Markan Cosmopolit and of Henrik von Eckermann with Iliana.
Switzerland obtained the third place (9.92), first among the six nations seeking a pass for Paris 2024.
In this special… Olympic ranking, Austria (5th with 16.77), Italy (6th with 18.42) and Spain (8th with 21.59) are still vying for the qualification. Denmark (12th with 37.84) and Portugal (14th with 49.04) did not make it to the top 10, and therefore they will not be allowed to participate in to tomorrow’s final and nor did they obtain the ”Olympic pass”.
Instead, Sweden is still in the lead for the individual title with Jens Fredricson, the absolute leader with two clear rounds (and 0 penalties) in the first two days. Jens is followed by Philipp Weishaupt (0.31) and by the Swiss rider, Steve Guerdat (0.43, with Dynamix de Belheme). Henrik von Eckermann placed fifth (0.70), while the other top Swiss rider, Martin Fuchs, slipped to the 15th position (with 4.28), getting on his nervous Leone Jei only at the start of his round.
Another excellent performance for the Italians by Emanuele Camilli with Odense Odeveld. He too managed to finish with the second clear round in two days and obtained the sixth place with 1.18. Better results also for Giampiero Garofalo (30th with Max van Lentz Schrans, 8.79), Alberto Zorzi (40th with Highlight W, 12.02) and for Francesco Turturiello (49th with Made In’t Ruytershof, 13.05), who participates only for the individual title. Instead, Emanuele Gaudiano (70th with Crack Balou, 22.45, after 19 penalties today) is only competing with the team.
FIRST REACTIONS
Sweden’s Jens Fredricson, leader of the individual ranking: “I have a horse in great shape, that loves jumping on grass. I am also in good shape and so we are always first. However, the European Championship is still a long way to go. We lost the first team position, but we remain confident and are ready to give our best tomorrow, the decisive day”.
Emanuele Camilli, sixth in the individual event, was once again the best among the Italians: “I am very happy, Odense Odeveld confirmed again that he is a champion: for me he is a genius, because he does everything with ease despite his young age. When did I discover his genius? At the beginning of the year, when we competed in the first Grand Prix of the Sunshine Tour, in Andalusia”.
TOMORROW – Tomorrow, Friday September 1, the third day of the Italia.Open to Meraviglia – FEI Jumping European Championship Milan 2023.
Program: 9 a.m. cat. A against the clock CSI2*; 1.30 p.m. competition no.2, valid as the 2nd final team round (with the top 10 in the ranking) and as the 2nd individual qualifying round.
Tv: live on Rai Sport HD 1.25-4.40 p.m.; live on Sky Sport Action 1.30-4.00 p.m.; live “windows” and summary at midnight on EQUTv (channel 220 Sky and the digital terrestrial 151); live full streaming on FEI.TV.
