Christian Ahlmann and Dominator 2000 Z.

© LGCT

Christian Ahlmann wins Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Stockholm

Christian Ahlmann and Dominator 2000 Z won their second Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of the season after the most legendary jump-off in the Olympic Stadium of Stockholm.

Home hero Henrik von Eckermann had to settle for second place in the LGCT Grand Prix of Stockholm presented by Fabege by just 0.11s with King Edward after winning all three other CSI5* classes so far this weekend. However, he doesn’t go home empty-handed as Ahlmann has already qualified for the LGCT Super Grand Prix in Prague handing the prestigious golden ticket to the Swede. Bronze place on the podium was secured by first to go in the spellbinding jump-off Marcus Ehning and his super stallion Stargold.

Crucially this win means Ahlmann extended his lead in the overall season Championship to 188 points which is 34 points clear of Ben Maher in second on 154 points. Now two time LGCT Champion Ben Maher has catapulted up the rankings, Pieter Devos is pushed down to third with 139 points and Niels Bruynseels hangs on to fourth with 124 points.

Speaking after taking the lion’s share of the €334,000 prize purse Ahlmann smiled: “It was unbelievable, all the people here you can tell are horse people and know the sport, they are behind every rider and it feels great – I am more than happy. Dominator is an absolute superstar. This win is a very big step for the overall championship. We had a great season so far but it is only half-time. I am very pleased with my horses and my whole team who work really really hard and I really hope that everything stays sound and focused and we can make it at the end of the season.”

Jokingly Ahlmann apologised to the crowd after denying them a home win as he laughed: “I feel a little bit sorry for everyone here but it felt very great today.”

It was ecstatic scenes in the centre of Stockholm as fans celebrated late into the night after an exceptional performance of top sport in front of a sell-out crowd in Sweden’s beautiful capital city. The world’s best riders and horses went into combat in the Olympic Stadium where the Olympic Games were staged in 1912.

The action got underway in the first round as riders faced Uliano Vezzani’s 1.60m course which took no prisoners and required power and precision. No one in the first half of the field could produce the all-important clear round after the last line of a short three strides to a wide oxer caught out some of the world’s best.

But Marcus Ehning raised the temperature as he punched the air and praised Stargold when he crossed the finish line clear and fast. He was shortly joined by the biggest horse and rider legends in show jumping Max Kühner and Elektric Blue P, Jens Fredricson and Markan Cosmopolit, Ben Maher and Explosion W, Christian Ahlmann and Dominator 2000 Z and Henrik von Eckermann with King Edward making it the strongest 6 man jump-off this season.

With two Swedish hopes in the jump-off and three Swedes, Peder Fredricson, Evelina Tovek and Rolf-Göran Bengtsson on fast four faults it made it 50% Swedish combinations in the top 10 of the LGCT Grand Prix in Stockholm.

There was a tense silence around the arena when Marcus Ehning and Stargold entered the arena as the first to go in the jump-off. The pair set the pace making tight rollbacks and a flat-out gallop to the last to stop the clock in 35.87s.

In front of a full house Max Kühner was the first to take a risky 5 strides instead of 6 in the first related distance but it still didn’t pay off as he went clear on Elektric Blue P but in a slower time of 37.65s.

Riding in his first LGCT Grand Prix Jens Fredricson had younger brother Peder Fredricson watching on from the kiss and cry after an unlucky pole in the first round kept him out of the jump-off. Two down for Jens and Markan Cosmopolit meant it wasn’t to be today.

11 time LGCT Grand Prix winner Ben Maher brought out the big friendly giant, Explosion W for his first 5* Grand Prix of the year. The extraordinary horse produced a double clear once again but was way off the pace finishing in 37.16s

The adrenaline surged around the arena as Christian Ahlmann and Dominator 2000 Z took centre stage. It was stunning jumping as the German pushed Ehning off the top spot crossing through the timers in 35.69s and looking set to win his second LGCT Grand Prix of the season but it wasn’t over yet…

The atmosphere was electric ahead of the final rider as the Swedish crowds hoped for a re-enactment from 2019 when Peder Fredricson made it a home win as last to go.

In a nail-biting climax, Henrik von Eckermann stepped forward aiming for not only his fourth win of the weekend but the biggest one with full support from the home crowd. It was down to the wire in Sweden and the gloves were off as spectators held their breath and there was a deafening silence in the arena. Risking it all, Henrik pushed King Edward to take a stride out in the first line doing one less than Ahlmann but still just fractions of a second behind at the halfway point. He gave it everything to the last but stopped the clock 0.11s slower handing Ahlmann the win but still qualifying for the LGCT Super Grand Prix with the aim to defend his title.

Even though it wasn’t a Swedish win today the crowd were on their feet in a frenzy of delight and Ahlmann threw a triumphant wave to the fans and made a victory salute in prize giving.

Stockholm Hearts take GCL lead with mega home win

The iconic duo of Peder Fredricson and Malin Baryard-Johnsson defeated the rest of the field, not making a single mistake all weekend in a dramatic battle to crown Stockholm Hearts powered by H&M We Love Horses winners of their home leg.

In a sell-out Saturday, spectators were packed to the rafters of Sweden’s historic Olympic Stadium creating an electric atmosphere as today’s drama unfolded in GCL Stockholm presented by Fastator and the Swedes took their second win of the season.

Heartbreakingly, the Shanghai Swans were denied the win after a costly time fault in round 1 from Max Kühner. Despite Christian Ahlmann and Kühner both going clear today they handed the Hearts the win finishing with 1 on the scoreboard.

When asked what is it like to ride in the electric atmosphere, Peder pointed to the cheering crowd and said: “What do you think? Just listen to that, it is unbelievable.”

A delighted Malin said: “It is so nice to do the home win in front of this crowd, when you are on a horse like my fantastic Indiana she makes my life so much easier. But of course, the pressure makes it harder but she is in super form and we are doing amazing at the moment.”

Peder then spoke about leading the championship explaining: “We are very pleased about it and we are going to do our very best to keep the [ranking leaders] armband on this arm.”

The Stockholm Hearts put in a flawless performance, taking over as ranking leaders on 158 points and kick start their charge on the overall championship standings. Berlin Eagles powered by Fundis drop to second place with 145 points after a surprising 10th place finish today while Prague Lions cling on to third with 137 points. But after their third podium of the season, Shanghai Swans have jumped up to fourth on 135 points.

Spectators were packed into the stadium, and the arena echoed with rapturous applause and cheers with a knowledgable and appreciative crowd. As the sun started it’s slow descent across the arena, the atmosphere could be cut with a knife as the world’s best horses and riders fought with every ounce of their being for their teams.

Today’s GCL Stockholm produced another shock set of results as the tight-knit field rode under enormous pressure in the Olympic Stadium. Last week’s winners Prague Lions faced elimination and the minimum points possible after Pieter Devos fell off at the spooky final fence. Both Devos and Mom’s Coleraine des Bergeries got up straight away and walked out of the arena to a round of applause.

GCL ranking leaders Berlin Eagles powered by Fundis kept their same overnight combination of U25 rider Philipp Schulze Topphoff on Concordess Nrw and Philipp Weishaupt with Coby for the second round of action in Stockholm.

The first double clear of today came from Paris Panthers pairing Harrie Smolders on the uber-consistent Monaco and the famous Explosion W and Ben Maher. The team stayed on their overnight score of 12 faults picking up 7th place overall surprisingly one of their best placings this year.

New York Empire powered by Lugano Diamonds made just a single horse change bringing out the big guns and swapping Scott Brash onto Hello Jefferson. Entering the arena on 4 faults, Spencer Smith knew only a clear would keep them in contention but it was a costly rail mid-course from Quibelle that brought the team total up to 8. Brash and Jefferson then showed the enthusiastic fans a masterclass clear putting Empire into the lead for the time being.

In a strong position and aiming for back-to-back wins in Stockholm, Valkenswaard United meant business. Marcus Ehning let out a cheer as he crossed the finish line clear and in time on Priam du Roset. Although the pair took all the outside turns he kept the team on just the 1 time faults from Thomas yesterday. Frustrated after being too slow yesterday, Thomas set off at pace on Luna van het Dennehof unfortunately they got a little deep and added 4 to the scoreboard for the team to finish on 5 faults.

The tension could be cut with a knife as Shanghai Swans took every challenge in their stride. Knowing the team had a real shot at the win today, both team members of Max Kühner on Eic Cooley Jump the Q and Christian Ahlmann with top ride Solid Gold Z opted for risk-free rounds playing it safe and producing the clear. However, they finished on their overnight score of 1 and had to wait to see if it was good enough.

A star performance from U25 rider Zoe Conter and Davidoff de Lassus for the Rome Gladiators when it really mattered gave Fernando Martinez Sommer and Cor Bakker a chance to go into the lead. Sommer set off with pace and power but an early fault immediately knocked them behind the Swans and left him trying to beat the time allowed to clinch a podium position. He did just that and they slid in front of Valkenswaard United guaranteeing them a podium.

Home team Stockholm Hearts powered by H&M We Love Horses took centre stage as last to go and the only team able to keep a clean sheet. Power duo Malin Baryard-Johnsson and H&M Indiana had a touch at the first but it stayed up and then cleared the fences beautifully finishing clear and passing the pressure onto Peder Fredricson and H&M All In. Watched on by team owners, the experienced Swedish Olmypian put his 16 year old gelding in all the right places securing a double clear and winning GCL Stockholm much to the crowds delight.

The Championship now heads straight to the buzzing capital of France, Paris 24 – 26 June where the 9th round of action will take place under the Eiffel Tower.

Source: LGCT/GCL press releases

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