The world's best show jumpers saddle up their horses for the last time at the CSI Zurich. And the show highlights of the last three decades provide exceptional entertainment.
The strong field of participants, led by the current World Cup leader Henrik von Eckermann (Sd), the world number two Harrie Smolders (Ho) and the reigning European champion Peder Fredricson (Sd), promises the best show jumping sport.
But the Swiss starters are also promising! Steve Guerdat, Martin Fuchs and Romain Duguet, the team bronze medal winners at the European Championships, will be riding. Janika Sprunger, Werner Muff, Paul Estermann, Jane Richard Phillips, Niklaus Rutschi and Bryan Balsiger, the European Young Rider Champion, will also be taking part in the World Cup tournament with the highest prize money of CHF 940,000. As a 20-year-old, Balsiger will be the youngest World Cup starter.
The 30th edition is also the last chance for the Swiss show jumping elite to claim victory in this World Cup competition in Zurich. Pius Schwizer (winner in 2016 and 2014) and Steve Guerdat (winner in 2010) already know how to do it. For Martin Fuchs, however, 5th place in 2015 was his best result.
His hunger to win this important test at the last possible opportunity is correspondingly great. This would make the 25-year-old the second winner in the family after his uncle Markus Fuchs, who won in 2007. The CSI Zurich is a matter close to Martin Fuchs' heart as a home tournament, "when I found out that this would be the last event, I got goosebumps," he admits.
Emotions are also guaranteed during the one-hour show, which brings together the best acts of the last three decades. This includes the floating carriage by Swiss magician Peter Marvey as well as Maycol Errani. Géraldine Knie's husband takes the audience into the circus world and presents the highly sophisticated carousel with 28 noble stallions.
The most important competitions at the CSI Zurich:
- Friday, January 26: Grand Prix, 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, January 27: Art on Ice Championships, 11.45 am.
- Sunday, January 28: World Cup show jumping, 2.30 pm.
MERCEDES-BENZ CSI ZURICH
January 26-28, 2018
TICKETS
