Saturday, 06 July 2013 CSI4* Tour 1.55 m LR

Stunning – Angelica Augustsson (SWE) wins CSI4* in jump-off

Thrilling, nail-biting, breathtaking is the only way to describe the sport witnessed at today’s 1.55 m competition that counts for the Longines Ranking List. A jump-off decided the more than demanding CSI4* test – and more suspense would hardly have been possible.

Twelve of the 35 top-class horse-rider combinations mastered the challenging first round with 15 jumps and 12 obstacles without any faults and went through to the decider. The silver medallist at the 2012 London Olympics, Marc Houtzager (NED), was first to start – and it almost looked like a runaway victory. He and his 12-year-old Sterrehof’s Uppity delivered a remarkable clear round, with the clock stopping at 44.26 seconds. The question was – could anyone better the time? Yes. 

Sweden’s Angelica Augustsson, this year already victorious in the CSI3* in Pforzheim, galloped into the arena on her Mic Mac du Tillard and raced round the track as if there was no tomorrow. Guiding the large-framed chestnut mare confidently over the course, she completed each turn accurately and crossed the finishing line in a time of 44.09 seconds. “This win means an awful lot to me. Mic Mac was injured for a long time and it is only her second big event after the break. I’m very pleased and on behalf of all the riders I want to thank the Glocks for this amazing show,” she said happily at the winner’s interview.

Not even the young star from Switzerland famous for his daredevil rounds, Martin Fuchs, and his PSG Future managed to beat her time – the clock stopped at 44.28 seconds.

Best Austrian was Styria’s Simon Johann Zuchi. The owner of 64 horses he has bred himself also made his great international comeback after breaking his elbow and placed 12th after two annoying knockdowns in the jump-off.

04 | CSI4* Tour
International jumping competition with jump-off (1.55 m)
Competition counting for LONGINES Ranking List
1. Mic Mac du Tillard - Augustsson Angelica (SWE) 0 44.09 
2. Sterrehof’s Uppity - Houtzager Marc (NED) 0 44.26 
3. PSG Future - Fuchs Martin (SUI) 0 44.28 
4. Sabrina - Ehning Marcus (GER) 0 45.20 
5. Armani The Gun CH - Mallat Maiju (FIN) 0 47.56 
6. Zeus du Buisson Z - Lambre Santiago (MEX) 0 56.95 
7. Caesario 6 - Gaudiano Emanuele (ITA) 4 43.73 sec
8. Evita van de Veldbalie - Deusser Daniel (GER) 4 44.50 
9. Loro Piana Cartella - Módolo Zanotelli Marlon (BRA) 4 46.62 
10. Dakota - Vorsselmans Annelies (BEL) 4 46.70 
11. Luikka - Bettinger Marc (GER) 8 43.04 
12. Apollo v. Pachern - Zuchi Simon Johann (AUT/Styria) 8 49.28
Results link

Risked everything to win: Angelica Augustsson (SWE) and Mic Mac du Tillard. © Michael Rzepa

His opening time in the jump-off held nearly to the end: runner-up slot for Marc Houtzager (NED) and Sterrerhof's Uppity. © Nini Schäbel

His horse is called PSG Future and the young rider has a great equestrian future in front of him: Martin Fuchs (SUI) took third. © Michael Rzepa

Congratulations! Simon Johann Zuchi (AUT/Styria) with his Apollo von Pachern was the only Austrian to qualify for the jump-off and claimed twelfth here. © Michael Rzepa