Three equestrian stars to shine in Carinthia

Who is riding in the CSI3* at the GLOCK HORSE PERFORMANCE CENTER?

The equestrian stars will soon be here and ready for action. Starting on Thursday (31 Jan), the international show jumping competition at the GLOCK HORSE PERFORMANCE CENTER will see them riding to win and place well over four days. 153 riders with 315 horses from 28 nations have entered and the best of them include:

The best woman rider in the world comes from Australia and ranks number six in the world – that alone is a sensation in itself. Edwina Tops-Alexander will be debuting in Carinthia and also taking part in a CSI3* in Austria for the first time. “Learn from mistakes and never give up” is the motto of the 39-year-old who now lives in Monaco and was overall winner of the Global Champions Tour twice.

Netherlands-born Jos Lansink has been riding for Belgium for years. In 1991 he helped his country of birth to team gold and individual bronze at the European championships in France and to team gold at the Summer Olympics in Barcelona in 1992. He then helped Belgium take the World championship title in 2006 at the World Equestrian Games. These are however just a few of the many successes achieved by the 52-year-old who started his riding career on a pony at the tender age of three.

Bermuda is the home of the rider who knows no fear: Jillian Terceira not only made history for her country by taking part in the Olympic Games and securing many international wins but also for her courage in the puissance where she effortlessly sailed over 2.10 m.

The Netherlands are sending Marc Houtzager, Jur Vrieling and Gerco Schröder, three of the top members of the Olympic squad who took team silver in London.

Northern Europe will be represented by Denmark’s best riders Linnea Ericsson and Morten Gram, Finland by shooting star Maiju Mallat, Norway by Alexander Djupvik Morten and a whole host of young hopefuls.

Flying straight in from the UK will be Robert Whitaker, a member of the famous British family of riders and himself three-time winner of the British Open.

Olympic, World and European champion Lars Nieberg and Olympic, three-time World and runner-up European champion Franke Sloothaak will be travelling from Germany together with several top riders all intent on winning.

Italy is pinning its hopes in Treffen on “Mr Speed”, Emanuele Gaudiano, who is always fast and as number 44 in the world speeds round the course like no other.

The cold does not bother Russia’s Vladimir Tuganov much, as he is used to it in his home country. He has taken part in Olympics, World and European championships and chalked up several international wins.

Switzerland has nominated Beat Mändli, Paul Estermann, Werner Muff and Martin Fuchs for the event, four riders among the top 100 in the world rankings. The latter is also the defender of the GLOCK Grand Prix title.

Austria will be countering with its number one, Stefan Eder from Salzburg, Carinthia’s local heroes Dieter Köfler, Gerfried and Robert Puck, ten-time national champion Anton Martin Bauer, European championship riders Julia Kayser and Christian Schranz and naturally Hugo Simon who even in his 70th year is just as powerful as ever in the course.

So head for the GLOCK HORSE PERFORMANCE CENTER: admission to the arena is free!