Experienced international showjumpers dominated the major classes at nine CSI 2* competitions held globally over the weekend, according to results tracked by the sport publication GRANDPRIX. While simultaneous 5* events ran in parallel, riders who have competed at major international championships secured victories in a majority of the sixteen Longines world-ranking classes offered across the 2* circuit.
Rodrigo Pessoa and Alessandra Volpi Win at North Salem
At the CSI 2* in North Salem, New York, Rodrigo Pessoa claimed victory in a 1.45m class with a jump-off aboard Ziggy Stardust, according to event results. The Athens 2004 Olympic champion and triple World Cup final winner also won a 1.40m class earlier at the venue, bringing the pair’s international win total to three. Later in the weekend at North Salem, Alessandra Volpi won the Grand Prix riding Movie Star, an eight-year-old gelding, following a third-place finish behind the Brazilian earlier in the competition, as reported by GRANDPRIX.
Olympians Dominate Classes in Williamsburg
Williamsburg hosted both a CSI 5* and a CSI 2*, where Olympians claimed the top spots in the three major 2* classes, according to official results. Kent Farrington won Thursday’s opening major class with Nikki Angel, an eight-year-old mare, recording the fastest double clear in a jump-off. Canadian Erynn Ballard placed third in that class and third in the Grand Prix with Ravallo van de Helle, while also winning a key class on New Star van de Berghoeve. On Sunday, Shane Sweetnam won the headline 2* class riding Qmusic-K van’t Kattenheye after posting the sole double-clear round, according to competition records.
Nayel Nassar Claims Both Major Classes at Calgary
At Spruce Meadows in Calgary, running concurrently with a CSIO 5*, Egyptian rider Nayel Nassar won both major classes of the CSI 2* competition, according to results data. Aided by the 13-year-old mare Ivory TCS, Nassar posted the only double-clear round in Friday’s 1.45m class. He followed that performance on Sunday by winning the Grand Prix jump-off as the final starter in the ring, bringing the partnership’s total international victories to seven, as noted by GRANDPRIX.
Marcus Ehning Takes Paderborn Grand Prix
Marcus Ehning won the Longines ranking Grand Prix at the CSI 2* in Paderborn, according to tournament reports. Aboard the 11-year-old mare Baloubets Rose Dree Boeken, the team secured their twelfth international win. The combination has recorded five international victories and ten top-ten finishes out of fifteen starts since the beginning of the summer season, according to results tracked by GRANDPRIX.