Poland wins on home soil at Strzegom Nations Cup
It was a historic first win for the home nation in the third leg of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup at LOTTO Strzegom Horse Trials, both in the team and individual classification. Second place went to the Netherlands, and third to Austria.
Poland took the top spot from dressage leaders after cross-country and maintained it all the way to the end. Joanna Pawlak and Fantastic Frieda were the only team combination to jump clear under time on the final day but the biggest winner of them all was Mateusz Kiempa with the 13-year-old Libertina, who had four faults but ended the day on top of the leaderboard.
Małgorzata Korycka with Canvalencia and Jan Kamiński with Jard completed the home team.
Mateusz and Libertina won not only the CCIO4*-S and were art of the winning Nations Cup team but also won the Polish Championship
Mateusz Kiempa and Libertina
“I’m really really happy, it was my dream for a few years now, especially at such a big show. The cross country and jumping courses were demanding. I managed to implement my plans and it ended with a win and a gold medal” said Mateusz, who also finished in fourth place on Lassban Radovix
“Libertina jumped amazing, she did her best for me, so the congratulations and applause should also go to her.”
Małgorzata Korycka riding Canvalencia
It was a ‘dream come true’ for the Polish riders, who finished second here in 2021
“It’s an amazing feeling, we are all very happy because I think everyone has dreamt about it in the last seasons and it finally happened” added Joanna Pawlak.
“Today’s course was demanding, which you can see in the results. I think we did a good job, each of us kept the single-digit result, so I think everyone rode to the best of their abilities today” commented Małgorzata Korycka.
Second place went to the Dutch team, who kept their overnight position, and third place on the podium, only 0.3 penalties behind them, to Austria.
In the individual classification, second place went to Janneke Boonzaaijer (NED) with ACSI Campbelle WS, whose clear round moved her up from third, ahead of Austria’s Dr. Harald Ambros with Lexicon 2, who had one down today.
Nations Cup classification
- Poland - 139,6
- The Netherlands 151,1
- Austria – 151,4
Robin Godel and Global DHI
Switzerland have been on a roll lately and it continued at Strzegom with Robin Godel aboard Global DHI winning the CCI4*-L on his dressage score. 11th after the dressage, he moved into second place after a clear cross country round and secured his win with a clear round on the final day.
“Yesterday’s cross-country was a very good preparation for the world championships in Pratoni. I’m very happy with my horse, he did a fantastic job for our first 4*, so I couldn’t be happier. I have had him for four months, to win is something unbelievable.
The horse is a machine” he said of the horse, previously campaigned by Ireland’s Brian Morrison “Today’s jumping course was not easy, very technical and interesting to ride”
Tim Price (NZL) with Polystar I, leaders after the dressage, finished in second place and Italy’s Emiliano Portale riding Aracne dell’Esercito Italiano took third
Cross-country leader Jonelle Price (NZL) with Faerie Magnifico had several poles down, costing her the win to finish in fourth place
Louise Romeike and Caspian 15
Sweden’s Louise Romeike had a good day in the CC3*-L, winning on board Caspian 15 and second with Commando 3. Third went to Germany’s Pia Münker with Cascada.
The podium of the 2*-L was dominated by female riders. The winner was Germany’s Liv Elin Gunzenhäuser riding Callisto R, ahead of her compatriot Antonia Baumgart with Ris de Talm and Dutch athlete Merel Blom with Chaco 40.
The cross-country completed the 2*-S and 3*-S classes on Sunday. Louise Romeike (SWE) riding Extravagance won the 2*-S while second and third went to Germany’s Julia Krajewski with Chintonic 3 and Great Twist d’Ive Z, respectively.
The 3*-S ended with the victory of Belgium’s Lara de Liedekerke-Meier with Freya des Concessions. Simone Vinther (DEN) was second with Stenvænge Polise and Thailand’s Weerapat Pitakanonda with Carnival March finished third.
Karolina Ślązak (POL) won the Young Rider 3*-S class. Second went to another Pole – Oliwia Rapa with Kselion - and third to Leonardo Maria Fraticelli from Italy with Belamie DHI.
In the Junior 2* class the win went to Karolina Miś (POL) with Go Jack. Zuzanna Społowicz (POL) was second with Bankier, and Michał Odzioba (POL) – third riding El Sovski.
