The World Cup Show Jumping Finals in Ryhad, Saudi Arabia, provided spectators with a truly memorable edition. Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann and his trusty King Edward (Renaissance M) were once again the stars of the show. The golden pair dominated the competition for three consecutive days, confirming themselves as champions for the second year in a row.
Henrik’s victory was the result not only of his extraordinary sporting talent, but also of his enviable ability to remain calm under pressure. Henrik and King Edward approached the match with determination and courage, challenging other big names in showjumping in a performance that demanded the best of both of them.
Henrik, Ambassador Renaissance, showed his mastery, guiding King Edward with precision and indulging him until he was able to transfer all the energy and tension of both into the horse’s hind legs, allowing King Edward to go further and confirm his supremacy over the Cup.
The arena erupted in thunderous applause at the end of the final course as Henrik let go of the reins, releasing the tension that had built up after a series of flawless performances.
Another Renaissance ambassador also made it onto the podium: Peder Fredricson, on Catch me not S (Renaissance F2 S), took a well-deserved third place, adding further glory to the Renaissance team.
A great performance also for Hans-Dieter Dreher on Elysium (X-Perience), who after being on the podium at the end of the first match, saw his position drop, but came back in the final to take an excellent fifth place.
A truly triumphant edition for our riders, especially the two Renaissance ambassadors, who proved their worth by competing against the best riders in the world and winning one of the most prestigious titles in show jumping.
Cover photo ©Helen Cruden