More than a first place for Henrik von Eckermann in Africa

“It’s two days, two wins. So really, it couldn’t be better!” Henrik von Eckermann, World Number 1

Mdmar – Rabat – LGCT

World number one Henrik von Eckermann and Iliana claim the top spot in 1.55m Qatar’s Years of Culture as Part of the Qatar-Morocco 2024 Year of Culture Prix at the Longines Global Champions Tour of Rabat. This momentous win marks not only a personal triumph for von Eckermann but also the biggest individual five-star (CSI5*) victory on African soil ever. The pair were fresh from their win yesterday on the debut day of the first-ever CSI5* in Africa.
Riding the exceptional mare, Iliana, von Eckermann delivered a flawless round against the world’s elite competitors just beating Maikel van der Vleuten and Elwikke by 0.21 seconds. Third place saw Belgium’s Celine Schoonbroodt- De Azevedo and Deesse des Embruns put the pedal to the metal with the top 3 all finishing within a second of each other.

The brand new event, held at the heart of Morocco’s capital saw a sold out crowd created an immense atmosphere for the 15 rider jump-off setting the scene for the ultimate show down in tomorrow’s Longines Global Champions Tour title decider.
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Analysing his performance, Henrik said “I left the door a little open to the last jump, but I was happy that Maikel did go for eight to the last as he would’ve been faster – everything went my way today and Iliana jumped really well.

He went on to add, “I knew that the eight to the last was there, but for my plan today, it didn’t suit. She is a very fast horse in general, so I was hoping that it was all on my side today.”
38 international combinations came forward to tackle the course that Uliano Vezzani set in Rabat. It was a straightforward but technical track with lots of clears at the start, a little tight on time allowed but 15 combinations managed it to perfection, providing star-studded jump-off. Huge names were knocked out with the likes of Scott Brash, 2022 LGCT Super Grand Prix winner Daniel Deusser and 2024 LGCT Grand Prix of Valkenswaard winner Lorenzo de Luca all retiring as it wasn’t their day.

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First into the ring in the fifteen-strong jump off saw Michael Duffy enter with a plan. Releasing the handbrake through the starting flags aboard Calypso de Beaufour, the duo posted a time of 41.25, but with an agonizing rail at the final fence, they were beatable pathfinders.   
All posting ultra-competitive times, single rails also followed for the likes of David Will aboard Zaccorado Blue, Kyle Timm on Candar Mail, and the two LGCT Championship contenders who are set to battle it out in the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Rabat tomorrow – Christian Kukuk and 9 year old Chageorge, and Max Kühner on mr consistent, Eic Julius Caesar.
Setting the standard Eduardo Alvarez Aznar was the first double clear of the day on Made In’t Ruytershof in 41.62 seconds but proved by riders before him the time was beatable so all he could do was wait to see if it was good enough.

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With a LGCT Grand Prix already to his name, this year Thibeau Spits opted for all the inside turns with King van Essene but the pressure proved too much and he joined the herd of four faulters. Fresh from winning her debut GCL title yesterday with the Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames, Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann continued her flying form this time on High Level 6. Up on the clock, she slid ahead of Aznar by a fraction of a second in 41.17 seconds which was ultimately good enough for a top 5 finish.

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They kept getting faster and faster, Gilled Thomas entered the arena and cut yet another quarter of a second off the time to beat on LGCT Grand Prix of Shanghai, winning mare Luna van het Dennehof. But he didn’t hold the lead for long as world number 1, Henrik von Eckermann entered the ring, the sold out crowd fell silent. Aboard the naturally quick Ilianna, those watching in the stands, VIP and afar on GCTV could see that the duo meant business. Mid-jump off with riders to follow, they posted a slick clear in 39.92s, and left the question on everyone’s lips – who could top the time posted by the master of faster?

Just 0.21 seconds behind was eventual second-place finisher, Maikel van der Vleuten and Elwikk, who also threw caution to the wind. Doing the eight strides to the last instead of seven, the victory remained in the hands of the formidable von Eckermann.
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As crowd favourite entered the ring to whoops and cheers, Celine Schoonbroodt- De Azevedo on Deesse des Embruns were egged on by whistles as they flew round the course. A tight and tidy round pushed Gilles Thomas and the flashy Luna van het Dennehof in to fourth, and rounding out the podium with Schoonbroodt- De Azevedo on Deesse des Embruns in third!
It wasn’t to be for the Belgium teammates Pieter Devos and Olivier Philippaerts both picking up multiple faults in the lightning-fast jump-off – leaving them hoping tomorrow is their day instead.
The crowd erupted when local hero El Ghali Boukaa entered the arena on the experienced Ugolino du Clos. With everyone on the edge of their seats, they set off fast and tight but two down left them just outside the money and no historic home win today.

As the sun set on the eve of the 2024 Longines Global Champions Tour Championship decider, all eyes turn to the biggest LGCT Grand Prix of the year tomorrow. Starting at 12.45pm local – will Christian Kukuk or Max Kuhner buckle under the pressure and who will be crowned the 2024 Champion of Champions?!

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The “Mdmar” website for horse and equestrian races is keen to cover and follow all competitions related to horses, from show jumping, Horseracing, speed and endurance races, and purebred Arabian horse beauty shows, which belong to the Arab Gulf countries at home and abroad in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the State of Qatar, the State of Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, and the Kingdom of Bahrain.