February 23, 2025 
A rub at fence one. They stumbled on landing after fence two and felt their way over the final line, adding a stride along the way.
Linda Heed and Skylander VS made the best of chef d’equipe Henrik Ankercrona’s advice to ‘go for it’ in the jump-off and captured a career best finish in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup qualifier at Gothenburg.
Stopping the clock in 35.91 seconds, the pair topped an eight-horse jump off against the likes of world no. 1 Henrik von Eckermann on new ride Toveks Azaria Dinero as well as veteran partners Maikel van der Vleuten and Beauville N.O.P. and Max Kühner and Eic Up Too Jacco Blue.
“This is by far my biggest victory!” Heed beamed.
“My other wins come nowhere near what I have achieved today. Words can’t describe how I feel right now. The crowd here make you feel so happy and the horses jump incredibly well because they can sense the energy of the public.”
Mario Stevens and Starissa FRH took second in 36.08. Van der Vleuten was third in 36.47.
Heed took over the reins on the 11-year-old Swedish Warmblood from countryman Peder Fredricson in 2023. They’ve only made four starts at the 1.60m height prior to Sunday’s World Cup qualifier and had never jumped clear (Jumpr stats) prior to Sunday’s victory.
In doing so, Heed became the first lady rider to win a World Cup class in Gothenburg since Beezie Madden took the championship Final in 2013 with Simon and the first Swedish female athlete to win the Gothenburg leg since Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli and Mic Mac Du Tillard in 2011.
Of her plans for Skylander VS, “Tomorrow he will go in the field for some rest!”
With the 14 legs of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Western European League compete, Kevin Staut (FRA) finished atop of the leaderboard with 70 points, followed by Hans Dieter Dreher (GER) in second on 68. Peter Devos (BEL), Robert Whitaker (GBR), Max Kühner and Julien Epaillard complete the top six athletes qualified for the Final in Basel, April 2-6, 2025.
