Hilton Alibi, Oaks Clovelly and Community 3 best in
The 5-, 6- and 7-year-old horses jumped their finals at the Spring MET 4 today in Oliva Nova, Spain.
A total of 26 pairs lined up to battle it out in the CSIYH1* 1.40m final for the 7-year-old horses, and a whooping number of 14 cleared their way to the jump-off. The jump-off course proved to be a challenge though as only seven went on to produce a double clear result.
Clem McMahon (IRL) on the Irish-bred mare Hilton Alibi (Pacino x Hermes de Reve) took home the win with a blazing time of 29.95 seconds in the jump-off. Jamie Wingrove (GBR) on the Anglo European Studbook-mare Heartstring (Cicero Z Van Paemel x Heartbreaker) finished as runner-up with a time of 31.64 seconds in the jump-off, and the third place went to Simon Schröder (GER) on the Holsteiner gelding Cocobongo CR (Clearway x Contender). Jaime Guerra Piedra (MEX) on the KWPN-mare Faith 13 (Chaco Blue x Glennridge) took the fourth place with a time of 33.65 seconds in the jump-off, and the fifth place went to Ferenc Szertirmai (UKR) on the Hannoveraner stallion Luniko (Lord Pezi x Landadel) with a time of 34.62 seconds.
Clem McMahon was delighted with his win: “Hilton Alibi is our own breeding, I am very happy with the result,” he said after the prize giving. “She is ultra consistent, very careful and just a fantastic jumper! We did not do too much with her as a 4-and 5-year old, and came here to Spring MET last year when she was a 6-year-old. She then jumped 16 times – and was clear at every start. Hilton Alibi also won the final for the 6-year-old horses here last year.”
McMahon feels at home in Oliva Nova: “We came here to the Spring MET for the first time in 2012, and then again last year. I must give huge credit to the people who organize the show here, seeing how much everything has improved since 2012. I think this place is as good as it gets anywhere in Europe: It is a lovely setting which makes it easy for the staff to work here and it has been a pleasure to come here again. We have had a brilliant Tour and the horses are jumping fantastic.”
Having had a good preparation for the outdoor season at the Spring MET, the Irish rider now prepares to head home as the 2017-edition of the Tour comes to a close this week. “We will first go back home to Ireland, and we have a nice two-star show coming up there. Then I think we need to sit down and make a plan for the rest of the season – we have some really exciting horses coming up. We have had a tough couple of years, but now the future looks really bright,” the delighted winner concluded.
In the CSIYH1* 1.30m final for the 6-year-old horses there were 28 starters set to compete and out of them ten jumped clear, joining the jump-off.
In the jump-off eight pairs produced double clear results. It was Lisa Cubitt (NZL) on the Australian Warmblood-mare Oaks Clovelly (Asb Conquistador x Vivant) who took the top honors with a time of 38.33 seconds in the jump-off. Jaime Gabarron Jimenez (ESP) on Mago de Quijas (Indoctro x Muguet du Manoir) placed second with a time of 38.76 while Barry Drea (IRL) with his Anglo European Studbook-mare My Lady O.L. (Armitage 2 x Landlord) took the third place with a time of 40.29 seconds. Sofie Slattery (IRL) on her KWPN-gelding Goldplay (Toulon x Corland) placed fourth with the time of 41.12 seconds in the jump-off and the fifth place went to Jamie Wingrove (GBR) on his KWPN-gelding Genesis HB (Carrera VDL x Wittinger VDL).
There were 22 pairs starting in the CSIYH1* 1.15m final for the 5-year-old horses, and six of them proceeded to the jump-off where four produced double clear results.
In the end it was Germany that came out on top: Stephi de Boer (GER) on her Oldenburger gelding Community 3 (Carrico x Cashman) took the win with a time of 38.74 seconds in the jump-off and Dirk-Heiner Strobel (GER) on his Holsteiner stallion Casallantum (Casall x Quantum) came second with a time of 39.62. Third place went to Volha Charnyshova (BLR) on her Zangersheide-mare Casall Lady Z (Casall x Contender) with a time of 43.74, Maria Östman (SWE) on Condor Hypodromo took the fourth place and Carmen Edwards (GBR) on the KWPN-mare Happy Valerie (Verdi x Dutchboy) placed fifth.