Germany’s Ehning edges Britain’s Maher in Madrid thriller

Last weekend, German star Marcus Ehning galloped to victory with his relatively new ride Coolio 42 at the 6th leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2023/2024 Western European League in Madrid, Spain.

From a starting field of 39, a total of 10 made the cut into the second-round jump-off where the track set by Spanish course designer Javier Trenor created even more excitement. Included in the final showdown were two from Spain, Mariano Martinez Bastida who is ranked 101st in the world and Teresa Blazquez-Abascal ranked 319th, and they didn’t disappoint when filling third and ninth places in the final analysis. But it was Ehning, currently ranked 39th but holder of the number one slot on more than one occasion during his spectacular career, who would carry away the maximum 20 points when pinning reigning Olympic champion, Great Britain’s Ben Maher, into runner-up spot with Enjeu de Grisien.

Ehning is only 49, but his list of accomplishments goes back a long way including Olympic team gold at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, five European team titles and three World Cup victories, the first recorded with Anka in Las Vegas (USA) in 2003. Now, 21 years later, he looks well on his way to his 21st FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final. Madrid’s success was not his first. “Winning here for the third time means I am getting old, but I am still here! I really like the show in Madrid and I am happy to come back every year!” Marcus Ehning said. “I was very happy with my horse. It is only his second World Cup so I am very pleased with him”.

The Jumping Owners Club wants to congratulate all the owners and in particular the DeMartini Family, co-owner of Coolio 42, Charlotte Rossetter & Pamela Wright (owners of Ben Maher’s Enjeu de Grisien, 2nd), and Eveline Bettinger (owner of Mariano Martinez Bastida’s Belano vd Wijnhoeve Z, 3rd). Special mention to JOC Members Georg Kaehny and Susana Epaillard for their new rankings thanks to Calizi (5th) and Donatello d’Auge (8th).

The Western European League next leg of the series will take place in La Coruna, Spain next weekend (1-3 December).

With press release (FEI/Louise Parkes)