Sweden’s star jumper in the top of the world – again
Sweden’s Olympic gold-winning show jumpers are once again at the top of the world, with major awards falling in the way of the talented riders.
Double gold medalist Peder Fredericson took place as number one in October for the first time, and just a few weeks later he won the title of Best Athlete at the FEI Awards.
And his teammate Henrick von Eckermann and his individual silver and team gold Olympic horse King Edward have been crowned 1.25 million euros Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) Super Grand Prix Champions.
The couple, together with Malin Baryard-Johnsson (Indiana), helped Sweden to their first team jumping Olympic gold in almost 100 years.
The medal marked 29 years since Fredricson made his Olympic debut at the age of 20 at the Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992, when he was a skilled racer and the youngest ever Olympic equestrian for Sweden.
The 49-year-old was unable to attend the FEI Awards in Belgium, but thanked sponsor Peden Bloodstock and everyone who voted for him in a video address.
He said the award meant a lot to him, as well as to his team and owners.
“I’m also very excited to be number one in the Longines Rankings. It’s a goal I’ve had for a couple of years.
“I always try to do my best and improve myself, my team and the horses, rather than beating someone else. We all work really hard to keep the horses in shape and healthy, to achieve these goals and win many medals along the way. I am also very grateful to my horse owners who stand by me and give me this good line of horses. ”
The deal quickly and clearly seals for Henrik
A decisive round for Henrik von Eckermann and his pocket rocket King Edward who paved the way for victory in the LGCT Super Grand Prix of 1.25 million euros in Prague, when they jumped an extremely fast finish to secure pole position for the second round.
The third edition of the event featured the top 15 riders who qualified during the 2021 LGCT Championship Series.
The deal took place in front of a sold-out audience at the O2 Arena in Prague with a victory for von Eckermann who was greeted with standing ovations after the Swedish rider and his fantastic gelding took the victory.
It was not such a good night for LGCT 2021 season champion Peder Fredricson, who received a shock refusal that H&M Christian K would come home with to finish with 15 errors and right down in the order, and Malin Baryard-Johnsson, whose El Barone 111 Z hit the brakes, stopped in the middle of the Longines combination in round one.
But von Eckermann was pleased with his victory. “Being back in this atmosphere for me is fantastic, it was a special moment for me with this audience. I had a goal all the time to qualify here because I knew I would have a good chance. It is a fantastic feeling when it fits like it did today, he says.
Sergio Alvarez Moya also secured a double freeze on his talented black gelding Alamo, while the 2019 LGCT Super Grand Prix-winning combination Ben Maher and Explosion W burst under pressure with the penultimate fence falling and rounding the podium in third place.
There was huge cheering from the spectators when von Eckermann triumphantly raised the LGCT Super Grand Prix trophy in silver, which was presented by Longine’s CEO Matthias Breshan.
It was a special recognition for the grooms when they received a trophy after leading the champion horses into the arena for the final moments of the award ceremony and the amazing lap of honor.
Double celebrations for the FEI Awards
Equestrian stars were honored in the 13th edition of the FEI Awards at the FEI General Assembly in Antwerp, Belgium, last week, and the celebration also includes the winners of the 2020 awards.
More than 300 prominent guests, including local sports legends, national federations, FEI partners and stakeholders participated, with horse commentator Steven Wilde (GBR) as master of ceremonies. Also present in Antwerp were all the winners in 2020 – Ingrid Klimke, Semmieke Rothenberger, Carmen Thiemann, Angelika Trabert and Ebony Horse Club – who were invited to participate in the celebration after last year’s ceremony was canceled due to the pandemic.
This year’s winner was announced by combining 50% of the public votes on FEI.org and on the Chinese social media platform WeChat, and 50% of the judges’ votes.
The Longines FEI Rising Star Award went to 19-year-old Greta Busacker (GER), individual and team champion at this year’s FEI Eventing European Championships for Young Riders, and bronze medalist at the 2021 German National Championships for young riders. Her win made the FEI Awards a decided family affair, with her mother, Ingrid Klimke, recipient of the Peden Bloodstock FEI Best Athlete Awards 2019 and 2020.
The Cavalor FEI Best Groom Award was awarded to Sweden’s Marie Johansson, in recognition of her hard work and commitment to taking care of dressage rider Patrik Kittel’s horses. Patrik and his wife Lyndal Oatley were on hand to celebrate the win. “This award means everything to me,” she said. “It is fantastic that we grooms can also be a part of this gala. I’m so happy about everyone who voted for me, it’s such a big deal. I am super happy and super proud! Really!”
The 2021 FEI Solidarity Award went to China’s Equuleus Charity, which aims to support young, underprivileged students to achieve their equestrian dream while successfully completing their academic studies.
The prize is awarded each year to a development project for equestrian sports or an individual or organization that has shown skill, dedication and energy in expanding equestrian sports.
Founder and CEO Michelle Wang Qiang thanked the FEI, FEI Solidarity, Chinese Equestrian Association, Equuleus Partner Foundations and Alex Hua Tin and his mother Sarah Noble.
To celebrate the FEI Awards and pay tribute to China’s long-standing tradition of valuing and cherishing horses, founder and CEO Michelle Wang Qiang has written, in calligraphy, an iconic text on how to identify an exceptional horse by a 700s Tang Dynasty researcher. , poet and government official Han Yu. She has dedicated her calligraphy work to the FEI Awards Ceremony.
To take FEI Against All Odds Award was Beatrice de Lavalette (USA), who lost both legs in the terrorist attack in March 2016 at Zaventem Airport in Brussels (BEL) and went on to make her first Paralympic debut in Tokyo earlier this year in the sport of Para Dressage.
“The Against All Odds Award means everything,” de Lavalette said. “It shows me that everything I’ve done these five or six years has been seen and people have realized how big it really is.”
She said that as a result of the attack, she lost part of herself and her freedom. “It took me a while to get through my grief of losing my legs, losing my ability to walk and wake up in a completely different life. Every time I get on a horse I get back my freedom. I get to ride a horse almost like everyone else. I get to ride a horse quite well. I love to do it. Experimenting and doing different things with the horses gives a feeling of power that I often lose when I sit in a chair. So to have that feeling of freedom and that power back means everything. ”