A cheer erupted through the grandstands of Riesenbeck International as Peder Fredricson leaned forward to kiss the neck of SV Vroom de la Pomme Z, the 11-year-old superstar who carried him to victory in the CSI5* 1.45m Speed Class. The Swedish rider’s triumphant grin mirrored the exhilaration of the crowd, a perfect start to Stage 11 of the Longines Global Champions Tour.
Against a masterfully crafted course by Frank Rothenberger and Peter Schumacher, 47 of the world’s elite combinations navigated tight turns, high fences, and daring strides. Yet it was Fredricson and Vroom de la Pomme Z who lit up the arena with a flawless round of 62.66 seconds — nearly two seconds quicker than early leader Giulia Martinengo Marquet on Coynor. Their synergy was evident in every stride, the horse’s long, efficient movement allowing Peder to shave off crucial fractions of time.
“I always enjoy winning,” Fredricson said after the round, a mixture of relief and joy in his voice. “I wish it were the Grand Prix today, but this was a fantastic start.” His insight into their success was simple yet telling: “He has a long stride. We could take out strides here and there, and he doesn’t spend much time in the air.”
French rider Simon Delestre and Nascar van ’t Siamshof delivered a daring, smooth effort but had to settle for third, narrowly behind Marquet. Brazilian talent Yuri Mansur guided Incanto VDL into fourth, while Denmark’s Zascha Nygaard and Miss Kanilvia PS crossed fifth. Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann and Qasirah van de Reistenhoek rounded out the top six, finishing just fractions behind.
Not all favourites had their day. The likes of Oliver Lazarus on Miss Paris, Germany’s David Will on Xixo Borgia, and Celine Schoonbroodt-de Azevedo with Jacarta Equigenne stumbled, leaving early promise unfulfilled in a fiercely contested speed test.
The Longines Global Champions Tour now turns its attention to tomorrow’s much-anticipated GCL of Riesenbeck, with the home team, Riesenbeck International powered by Horse Gym, eager to capitalize on their home advantage in front of a packed crowd.
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