Steve Guerdat Clinches Gold at FEI Jumping European Championship Milano 2023
Steve Guerdat Secures Victory at FEI Jumping European Championship Milano 2023.
In front of an enthusiastic crowd that filled every seat around the competition field at the Snai San Siro Racecourse, Swiss rider Steve Guerdat emerged as the new European show jumping champion. He claimed the gold medal at Italy. Open to Wonder – FEI Jumping European Championship Milano 2023, following a thrilling and passionate competition.
Steve Guerdat’s Triumph in a Nail-Biting Contest
After navigating the challenging courses designed by course designer Uliano Vezzani, Steve Guerdat, riding Dynamix de Belheme, triumphed with a mere 0.43 penalties. He outshone German rider Philipp Weishaupt (Zinaday, 4.31) and French rider Julien Epaillard (Dubai du Cedre, 4.61) to clinch the coveted title.
Among the “Top 25” riders, only five managed to clear all 12 obstacles in the first round. Guerdat was the sole rider to maintain a flawless record after three clear rounds in the preceding days. This remarkable feat allowed him to surpass the provisional leader, Swedish rider Jens Fredricson, who had held the top spot since the first competition on the past Wednesday but encountered an error with Markan Cosmopolitan.
The Decisive Round 2 and Guerdat’s Victory
In the decisive round 2 for the “Top 12” riders, the number of clear rounds dwindled to four. Stepping into the arena as the new leader of the competition, Guerdat delivered his fifth error-free round, securing the title for Switzerland. This achievement marked Guerdat’s ninth participation in the European Championships. Previously, his best individual placement had been sixth in 2003. However, he had already earned two gold medals for Switzerland in team events in 2009 and 2021, along with a silver in 2005 and two bronzes in 2003 and 2017.
Jens Fredricson encountered another error, slipping from the podium. Consequently, the third place was claimed by Philipp Weishaupt and Julien Epaillard, both delivering flawless performances in the final round. The fourth clear round in round 2 was achieved by British rider Ben Maher with Faltic HB.
Photo credit: Massimo Argenziano – Courtesy of FEI
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