Germany’s Sophie Hinners became the first-ever female winner of the Italian leg of the FEI World Cup series when coming out on top in the fourth leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Western European League 2024/2025 at Jumping Verona 2024 today.
On an afternoon of ups and downs during which many of the early combinations struggled to deal with Uliano Vezzani’s tough and technical course – with six retirements and one elimination along the way – the 26-year-old rider and the brilliant 12-year-old gelding Iron Dames My Prins pinned British star Ben Maher into runner-up spot with Point Break, while Hinners’ compatriot and three-time World Cup champion Marcus Ehning finished third with Coolio 42.
Maher produced the first clear of the competition when ninth to go, and he was joined in the second-round decider by Sweden’s Petronella Andersson with Opaline de W&S, Liechtenstein’s Jennifer Hochstaedter and Golden Lady along with Hinners and Ehning.
Set the pace
The British star set the pace in the jump-off with a brilliant round that was, however, hampered by a stumble for his 10-year-old stallion on landing after the double that was now the third obstacle on the new course. Recovering quickly the pair turned sharp right to complete in 38.23 seconds.
Sweden’s Andersson was next to go with Opaline, but two fences down left them vulnerable. However Hockstaedter and her tall 13-year-old mare made only one mistake when clipping the last remaining part of the triple combination three fences from home in 45.04 seconds to stay competitive.
Second-last into the ring, Hinners looked threatening from the outset, My Prins completely in command as he stamped his authority on the class with a lovely clear in 37.91 seconds. The smile on Hinners’ face as she cantered a circle after racing through the finish confirmed her delight with the performance that she and her horse had just produced. Now only her compatriot, the mighty Marcus Ehning who is one of the most revered competitors in the sport, stood between her and her big moment under the spotlight.
And it seemed very possible that he would steal it away as he cruised around the track with the 11-year-old Coolio. But a cautious moment approaching the final fence saw him clock 38.85 seconds which would only be good enough for third place. «I could maybe have taken one less (stride) to the last….», Ehning admitted afterwards.
Gracious
Maher, winner of last year’s Verona World Cup qualifier with Dallas Vegas Batilly who would go on to take team gold at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games was gracious in defeat this evening.
Asked if he thought Point Break’s stumble might have cost him the class, he replied, «for sure I would like to not have the stumble – I’d like a second go actually, that would be fun or that I would have gone after Sophie or that she waited one more show (before winning!). But it’s the sport, it happens, he stumbled and we have to deal with that as riders. We made a quick recovery. I’ve had him since he was six years old but he also didn’t too many jump-offs at this level, so I’m very proud of him, and I have a very worthy winner sitting here today next to me», he said.
Hinners’ victory was remarkable in many ways. Lady riders had come close to the winner’s podium in Verona several time, with her compatriots Kendra Brinkop runner-up in 2021 and Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum also placing second with the great Shutterfly back in 2010, but until today they had never succeeded in taking that coveted pole position.
The presence of three lady riders in the jump-off was a big talking point this evening. It is a rare occurrence in modern showjumping.
Women in sport
Hinners is a member of the Irons Dames team which is designed to support women in sport.
«It was super for us today to have three girls in the jump-off. I’m proud of the Iron Dames project which is founded by Deborah Mayer….there are about 20 Iron Dames and we have a team in Motor Sport and this year also in Equestrian. We had a super season in the Global Champions Tour, we won the overall ranking this year and we were the first only-female team so it was an incredible start. Now we are very much looking forward to the next years», she explained.
And talking about the support she got from My Prins today she said, «I can be very thankful that my team colleague David (Will) used to ride him and he already did very competitive jump-offs with him. I felt that experience today, he knew exactly his job, he was so focused so it was easier for me», she pointed out.
She has only been partnered with the horse since July, and today was their very first jump-off together.
«He’s an incredible horse, he jumped an incredible two rounds and I’m so thankful – it’s a big dream come true today!», she said.
She works with Will and Richard Vogel. «Richie is also my boyfriend for the last seven years and we three together are a very strong team and it’s so much fun and joy to work with them!», she said. Vogel won last weekend’s third leg of the Western European League in Lyon last Sunday so there will be plenty of Longines watches in their home tonight.
He was not in Verona today “but he called me directly after and was super happy and proud!” she said.
Result
Today’s result has placed her in joint-11th place on the Western European League leaderboard alongside Helsinki winner Robert Whitaker from Great Britain, and Maher lies close behind in 13th spot while Ehning has moved into joint-17th spot.
Just two first-round time faults for Switzerland’s Geraldine Straumann and the wonderful Long John Silver 3, who never likes to be rushed, saw them fill sixth place today and that has lifted them to ninth in the latest rankings while seventh-placed Frenchman, Kevin Staut who produced the fastest four faults with Beau de Laubry, has taken over at the top of the League leaderboard.
Jumping Verona 2024 has produced a lot of magical moments this week, and with Hinners’ win another new page of its history has been written.
