Thirtieth and final edition of the CSI 5*-W of Zurich

Indeed, this weekend, from January 26 to 28, the competition in Zurich will run for the last time after thirty years of elite Show Jumping action. Facing organizational and financial challenges, this last event will wrap up Sunday with the 11th of 13 World Cup Grand Prix qualifiers in the continental league.

“It’s sad but it’s unfortunately true,” commented Andy Kistler of the Swiss Riding Federation this week. “What began in 1988 will end with the 30th edition in 2018. But anyway, the last CSI 5 *-W Zurich will once again be a great event: now it’s up to us to create a party that will remain in our memories.”

Nine riders are already qualified for the Paris Final (scheduled for April 11-15 at the French capital’s AccorHotels Arena) from the league, but for the other competitors in the region, which is allocated 18 spots plus extras for the Final, everything remains up for grabs. The last two chances to qualify in Europe will be Bordeaux, France (February 1-4) and Gothenburg, Sweden (February 21-25). And one of those hoping to make it in is Spaniard Eduardo Alvarez Aznar, last year’s winner of the CSI 5 * in Switzerland. For his defence of the title, he will be relying on his leading horse, Rockefeller Pleville Bois Margot.

As expected, the home nation will be well-represented this weekend, with 16 top riders not wanting to miss out on the last Zurich event. They include Olympic champion Steve Guerdat, Romain Duguet, Paul Estermann, Niklaus Rutschi, Pius Schwizer, Janika Sprunger, European Young Riders Champion Bryan Balsiger and the recent winner of the Grand Prix CSI 5* in Basel, Martin Fuchs. The latter has brought his top horse Clooney 51, but will also compete with Cool and Easy and Dubai du Bois Pinchet.

As for the foreigners coming to the picturesque Swiss city, the recent winner of the CSI 5*-W Grand Prix of Leipzig, Christian Ahlmann, and his German compatriots Marcus Ehning and Philipp Weishaupt will be among the elite riders. Under Irish colours, 2017 European team champions Bertram Allen, Denis Lynch and Mark McAuley (reservist for the Longines European Championships in Gothenburg) are taking to the course, alongside Great Britain’s sole representative, Michael Whitaker. World No.2 Harrie Smolders of the Netherlands will be joined by compatriots Leopold van Asten and Jur Vrieling. Sweden will be able to count on Stephanie Holmén, who, under the guidance of Peder Fredricson, also in Zurich, took part in her very first World Cup Grand Prix in Leipzig last weekend. And the third Swedish rider is none other than Henrik von Eckermann.

Alongside Alvarez Aznar for Spain, Carlos Enrique Lopez Lizarazo will try to keep up the momentum after his second place in Leipzig, and a good result in the Sunday Grand Prix would help his cause for making the Parisian Final. Portugal’s Luciana Diniz is also competing in Switzerland with her faithful Fit For Fun, Camargo 2, and Isabeau.