By Sarah Eakin
The world’s number one show jumper, Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann, did not disappoint when he took the Derby Field at Equestrian Village to win with Glamour Girl at the $32,000 FEI 3* 1.45m.
“We couldn’t have a better start than today,” von Eckermann said of their first appearance at the 2025 Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington. “She always liked this field. She also won a class here four years back, also the first day, I think. In this type of ring, she’s phenomenal.”
Von Eckermann’s round epitomized the saying “save the best for last,” as they concluded the jump off in 64.4 seconds, faster than the previously leading time of 64.8 set by Egypt’s Nayel Nassar and Linguini de la Pomme. Nasser also claimed the last spot on the podium aboard Dorado de Riverland with a time of 65.82 seconds.
Von Eckermann has a string of good horses to bring out at WEF this year, not least the world-renowned 15-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding King Edward, who has already landed in Florida.
Youth triumphed over experience during Saturday Night Lights in WEF Week 2. From the time he was 11, Germany’s Tony Stormanns has been waiting in the wings, watching at WEF and hoping to compete one day in the International Arena.
The 17-year-old’s win in the $50,000 Grand Prix riding Donjon d’Asschaut ahead of one of the strongest national Grand Prix fields ever seen at Wellington International more than fulfilled his dream.
“This means a lot to me because I’ve spent nearly every winter here since I was 11 years old,” said Stormanns, who took on top caliber riders, such as the Paris Olympics gold medalist Germany’s Christian Kukuk, local hero McLain Ward of the U.S. and Olympic team gold medalist Britain’s Harry Charles. “Now I’m here winning the classes I used to watch with my friends. It hasn’t quite set in yet, but it’s really special.”
Germany continued to dominate as WEF Week 2 concluded with a repeat victory for Richard Vogel and Cydello in the $140,000 FEI 3* Grand Prix.
“Cydello is an amazing horse,” said the German rider, currently ranked ninth in the world. “He had some great success in the past year since we had him. Actually, his first Grand Prix win we had together was on this field, this class, this Grand Prix, exactly one year ago. So, we thought, you know, let’s try to repeat it, and yeah, we’re thrilled and mega happy that we succeeded here.”
It is early days for WEF, with 10 more weeks of competition coming up as the stakes increase throughout, and the standard only becomes more competitive. Britain’s Ben Maher, ranked third worldwide, finished seventh behind Vogel, aboard Dallas Vegas Batilly. Ireland’s Cian O’Connor and Bentley Du Sury were third in a time of 38.51, while Mimi Gochman of the U.S., who has found form this month, took the runners-up slot with Inclen BH in a jump off time of 38.10 seconds.
“I mean, even in this 3* Grand Prix, we saw some Olympic combinations, not just riders, but also horses,” said Vogel, whose time of 37.66 secured the win. “So that just shows you how tough the level here is. But that’s what we’re searching for. Only if you compete against the best of your competitors, you get better and you have to measure yourself with better competitors and the best of the world in order to improve.”
Read more by equestrian writer Sarah Eakin at www.paperhorsemedia.com.
