Huge programme for Odile Gierech in Italy
Due to his profession, Victor Bettendorf has become something of a jetsetter: after competing in the USA, Mexico, and across Europe, he was back in action in China at the beginning of May, at the third leg of the Global Champions Tour held in Shanghai. At this five-star event, he finished among the top five twice.
Riding Qwando van de Rispen, a ten-year-old Belgian-bred gelding, he placed fourth in the first team competition on May 1, which was endowed with €105,500, finishing clear in 67.21 seconds. Two days later, in the “Grand Prix of Shanghai” on the Global Champions Tour, the pair delivered the fastest clear round to qualify for the jump-off, where they, however, had two knockdowns, finishing 14th—still within the placings.
Between these two top-level competitions, the Luxembourger even made it onto the podium in a 1.50 m class. With his twelve-year-old mare Encore toi du Linon, he again set the fastest qualifying round for the jump-off, where he ultimately took second place in 37.08 seconds, just behind Belgian rider Gilles Thomas (36.91″). Thibeau Spits, another Belgian, placed third (37.49″ on Jazzy des Dames).
35 Rounds for Gierech
Luxembourg’s Odile Gierech completed an impressive 35 show jumping rounds in Montefalco, Italy, since the last week of April. Her results were consistently strong, culminating in an outstanding second place on the final Sunday.
Her series of top-10 finishes began with a 5th place in a 1.25 m speed class for six-year-olds, riding Unlimited Edition jw de Muze.
Two days later, the 38-year-old took 7th place with Tonus d’Hepnimont in a 1.30 m class for seven-year-olds. Her first podium finish at the Italian show came shortly after, when she piloted the previously mentioned Unlimited to third place in the 1.25 m jump-off class for six-year-olds, clocking 31.94 seconds, finishing behind Italians Giorgio Socco (Fellini Fm Del, 33.56″) and Antonio Sottile (Brillante Degli Assi, 34.97″).
Further successes followed in the second week: 9th place with Tonus over 1.35 m, 10th with Unlimited over 1.25 m, and another 7th place with the latter in a 1.25 m speed class. On May 2, Unlimited again finished 9th at the same height, while Tonus d’Hepnimont took 7th place in a 1.35 m competition.
Finally, as mentioned at the start, Gierech made a real statement at a much higher level: in the Grand Prix over 1.55 m, which counted toward the Longines Ranking and offered a total of €106,000 in prize money, she finished second with her ten-year-old mare Kiss-me. Only four pairs reached the jump-off. Sweden’s Malin Baryard-Johnsson won with Indiana in 37.76 seconds, while Gierech opted for a safe round and remained the only other clear round (40.92″). Manuel Fernandez Saro of Spain took third with Baloys (four faults).
Translated from German by AI and adjusted by Paul Krier. Original article was also to be published in the “Lëtzebuerger Bauer” weekly newspaper.