While riders often dissect their rounds before they’re even off their horses and have had a chance to catch their breath, some jump-off efforts simply deserve a pat on the back.
Or, a fist bump.
“Today we were smooth from the first to the last, everything went to plan and we nailed it!” said Willem Greve (NED) after taking his winning shot at the Frank Rothenberger (GER) designed track at the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup of Leipzig™ (GER) Sunday afternoon with his longtime partner, Highway TN N.O.P.
The pair brought it home in 40.52 seconds and were the only combination to break the 41-second barrier. Fast and clean, this victory was especially sweet on the heels of Jumping Mechelen where the pair’s World Cup™ ambitions were dashed after an unfortunate rail hit the ground in the jump-off.
Yet perhaps Mechelen was the dose of frustration that pushed them to the top.
Rothenberger’s first round course didn’t thin the 40 combination field as much as expected, leaving 12 riders to advance to an all-or-nothing jump-off. A conservative ride or single rail would have put Greve and the 13-year-old KWPN stallion far outside of the prize money.
“It was only our second World Cup [this season]. At Mechelen, we were close, but we didn’t start [the jump-off] quite so well…I’ve been riding Highway since he was seven, so this is our sixth year together and we know each other so well,” said Greve.
A strong partnership is often the deciding factor when the difference between top honors and untacking before the victory lap comes down to fractions of a second. Greve and Highway have that in spades, with 37 podium finishes and 6 Grand Prix wins under their belt (Jumpr stats).
“He’s always searching for the first distance and I just have to follow him,” said Greve.
Frenchman Simon Delestre and 12-year-old gelding Dexter Fontenis Z nearly had it in 41.21 seconds after shaving down Hans-Dieter Dreher’s (GER) time of 41.55 seconds with 13-year-old gelding Elysium. They finished second and third respectively.
“I did my max today, but Willem was just faster!” Delestre admitted.
“I’m really happy with Dexter. He’s so consistent and has had so many wins already. It wasn’t the plan to go to the final but if we are doing well next week in Amsterdam, perhaps we have a chance to qualify.”
The story in Jumping Amsterdam remains to be written, but in Leipzig, it’s Team Greve’s celebration. Among Greve’s many 5* achievements, this one serves as his first World Cup win, and he’s quick to pass the credit along to his team.
“I’m honored to ride such a horse for Team Nijhof…Richie [Skillen, Willem’s show groom] gives everything for the horses, so this is for him for the owners and for everyone who helps make my job very easy”.
“Very easy” is perhaps not how most of us would categorize a World Cup-winning effort, but perhaps that’s why it’s best left to the pros.