The definitive entries have all now been confirmed for a top level line-up with 12 of the top 25 riders in the world ranking
Once again this year, top show is granted by Jumping Verona and the CSI5*-W stage of the World Cup.
The list of 53 riders enrolled for the fourth stage of the Western Europe Group of the Longines FEI Show Jumping World Cup™ includes many of the top names in international show jumping circuit.
Starting with World number one Swede Henrik Von Eckermann, who scored individual and team gold medal at the Herning World Championship and firmly sits on the top of the international ranking.
Dutchman Harrie Smolders is 4th in the international ranking, while Brazilian rider Marlon Modolo Zanotelli ranks 7th. Twelve riders from the ‘top 25′ of the world ranking will be competing in Jumping Verona.
Pala Volkswagen will welcome the debut of Peter Charles’ 23 year-old son Harry (ranked 11 and bronze team medal winner for Gbr at Herming last summer).
Great Britain combines the fresh talent of Charles with the experience of iconic show jumper John Whitaker, now 67 years old but still performing as well as ever.
There are great expectations for French Simon Delestre (12) and German Daniel Deusser (13), both winners in the past (Delestre twice) in the Verona World Cup Grand Prix.
France and Germany will arrive in Verona with impressive teams. The French line-up also includes Kevin Staut, while Germany boasts two other top names: Marcus Ehning (19) and Christian Ahlmann (21).
The list of entries of top 25 riders in the world also includes Austrian Max Kühner (16), Dutch ace Jur Vrieling (22), Belgian Nicola Philippaerts (24) and Irishman Denis Lynch (23) – who has already left his signature this year in Italy, in the Rome Grand Prix in Piazza di Siena.
THE WORLD CUP IN ITALY
Fieracavalli and Verona this year host the only Italian leg of the Longines FEI Show Jumping World Cup™. The roll of honour since 2001 (2011 Grand Prix was declared null; Fieracavalli was not held in 2020), shows five victories for both Germany and Holland and, thanks to Simon Delestre’s victory in 2021 (who also won in 2015), two for France. Great Britain has also posted two victories, while Belgium, Brazil, Egypt, Ireland and Spain had one each.
Alongside Simon Delestre, only the Dutch ace Albert Zoer has managed to win twice the GP in Verona (2005 and 2007) – and, moreover, both of them on the same horses: respectively Hermes Ryan and Okidoki.
No Italian rider has so far scored victory in this event. However, five Italian riders have stood on the podium, for a total of six medals: Andrea Herholdt was third in 2004, Juan Carlos Garcia second in 2005, Omar Bonomelli third in 2008, Luca Moneta second in 2012 and third in 2013, and Alberto Zorzi second in 2017.
Before moving to Verona, the FEI Show Jumping World Cup™ had already been hosted in Italy for eight years (Milan in 1984, Birago in 1985, Bologna from 1995 to 2000), with 2 victories for France and Great Britain, 1 for Germany, Ireland, Holland and Switzerland. On those occasions, the only two-time winner was ‘iron’ John Whitaker, who will be competing at Jumping Verona again this year.
No lady rider has ever won in the arena of the GP at Fieracavalli, although Swiss Lesley McNaught Maendli did come out on top in Bologna in 1999.
French rider Bruno Broucqsault on Dileme de Chepe took the 2004 final of the FEI Show Jumping World Cup™ in Milan-Assago, .
(Henrik Von Eckermann – @ FEI / Richard Juilliart)
