by Louise Parkes
Germany’s Simone Blum (29) etched her name into the record books when becoming the first woman in the 28-year history of the FEI World Equestrian Games™, and only the second female athlete in the 65-year history of the World Jumping Championships, to take the individual title in the Bank of America Championship at Tryon, USA on Sunday, September 23.
In a finale that kept spectators on the edges of their seats, she produced two more fantastic clear rounds with the extraordinary mare, DSP Alice, to put the result beyond doubt. It was a super day for the Swiss when Martin Fuchs (26) claimed silver with Clooney and Steve Guerdat (36) and Bianca bagged the bronze.
In pole position, Blum made Alan Wade’s first-round course, that caught out so many of the other 25 starters, look like a walk in the park. Guerdat was one place off the medal podium in fourth spot and just over a fence off the leader. He was on fire with the mare Bianca, never putting a foot wrong, but unable to overtake compatriot Martin Fuchs, who collected two time faults in an otherwise blissful tour of the track.
When Austria’s Max Kuhner slipped out of silver medal spot with two fences on the floor from Chardonnay, then Blum had a fence in hand and Fuchs and Guerdat were now stalking her. “Actually when I came into the course I was so focused that I wondered - can I have one down or not? Maybe I should try to ride a clear round!” and that’s exactly what she did, as the incredible Alice soared high and wide before galloping through the finish with just a single time-fault to add.
Blum, who also collected team gold on Friday, said she owes her success to her fiancee, Hansi Goskowitz because “he found Alice, and he is the most wonderful man for me in the world and it’s just because of him I am sitting here! I will marry him in the next four weeks - he will become Mr Blum!”
The jumping competition took place Wednesday, September 19 – Friday, September 21 and Sunday September 23, 2018, with team competition finishing on Friday.
Final Individual results (out of 120 competitors):
Gold: Simone Blum (GER), DSP Alice
Silver: Max Kühner (AUT), Chardonnay
Bronze: Martin Fuchs (SUI), Clooney
Fifth: McLain Ward (USA), Clinta
17th: Laura Kraut (USA) Zeremonie
20th: Adrienne Sternlicht (USA), Cristalline
24th: Devin Ryan (USA), Eddie Blue
Germany’s Simone Blum (29) etched her name into the record books when becoming the first woman in the 28-year history of the FEI World Equestrian Games™, and only the second female athlete in the 65-year history of the World Jumping Championships, to take the individual title in the Bank of America Championship at Tryon, USA on Sunday, September 23.
In a finale that kept spectators on the edges of their seats, she produced two more fantastic clear rounds with the extraordinary mare, DSP Alice, to put the result beyond doubt. It was a super day for the Swiss when Martin Fuchs (26) claimed silver with Clooney and Steve Guerdat (36) and Bianca bagged the bronze.
In pole position, Blum made Alan Wade’s first-round course, that caught out so many of the other 25 starters, look like a walk in the park. Guerdat was one place off the medal podium in fourth spot and just over a fence off the leader. He was on fire with the mare Bianca, never putting a foot wrong, but unable to overtake compatriot Martin Fuchs, who collected two time faults in an otherwise blissful tour of the track.
When Austria’s Max Kuhner slipped out of silver medal spot with two fences on the floor from Chardonnay, then Blum had a fence in hand and Fuchs and Guerdat were now stalking her. “Actually when I came into the course I was so focused that I wondered - can I have one down or not? Maybe I should try to ride a clear round!” and that’s exactly what she did, as the incredible Alice soared high and wide before galloping through the finish with just a single time-fault to add.
Blum, who also collected team gold on Friday, said she owes her success to her fiancee, Hansi Goskowitz because “he found Alice, and he is the most wonderful man for me in the world and it’s just because of him I am sitting here! I will marry him in the next four weeks - he will become Mr Blum!”
The jumping competition took place Wednesday, September 19 – Friday, September 21 and Sunday September 23, 2018, with team competition finishing on Friday.
Final Individual results (out of 120 competitors):
Gold: Simone Blum (GER), DSP Alice
Silver: Max Kühner (AUT), Chardonnay
Bronze: Martin Fuchs (SUI), Clooney
Fifth: McLain Ward (USA), Clinta
17th: Laura Kraut (USA) Zeremonie
20th: Adrienne Sternlicht (USA), Cristalline
24th: Devin Ryan (USA), Eddie Blue
