Italy’s Zorzi surprise winner at Longines FEI World Cup Western European League opener in Oslo

Riding Fair Light van T Heike, the 27-year-old rider who lies 109th in the Longines Jumping rankings was the fastest in the jump-off decider which saw 20 horse and rider combinations battle it out after going clear in the first round.

The Telenor Arena in Oslo was the venue for the first leg of the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping 2016/2017 Western European League, which also coincided with the 25th anniversary of the Oslo Horse Show.

If the challenge of facing 13 of the top 20 riders in the world from the 39 starters was not enough for Zorzi, the Italian’s victory was made even more remarkable by the fact he was first to go in both the opening round and the jump-off.

He set the jump-off target with a clear round in 36.93 seconds, which ultimately saw none of the rest could beat him, with six jumping clear but unable to match his speed, two picking up time faults and 11 collecting fence penalties.

Of those that did jump clear, Germany’s three-time World Cup title-holder Marcus Ehning took runners-up spot riding Funky Fred, while Belgium’s Pieter Devos took third with Dream of India Greenfield.

Ehning had to settle for second when stopping the clock on 37.34 seconds ahead of Devos who broke the beam in 38.10 seconds. Defending Longines FEI World Cup Jumping double-champion, Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat, was last to go but finished equal-fourth with Italy’s Piergiorgio Bucci when the pair posted exactly the same time of 38.35 seconds.
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Zorzi who now heads for the Global Champions Tour Final at Doha, Qatar before lining out in his home leg of the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2016/2017 Western European League at Verona, Italy, next month.

Before then, the FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2016/2017 Western European League moves quickly onto Helsinki, Finland for the next leg of competition next Sunday, 23 October.
Longines FEI World Cup Jumping 2016/17 Western European League
Result: Round 1 – Oslo, Norway

1, Fair Light van T Heike (Alberto Zorzi) Italy 0/0 36.93 seconds
2, Funky Fred (Marcus Ehning) Germany 0/0 37.94
3, Dream of India Greenfield (Pieter Devos) Belgium 0/0 38.10
4, Casallo Z (Piergiorgio Bucci) Italy 0/38.35
4, Bianca (Steve Guerdat) Switzerland 0/0 38.35
6, Casall ASK (Rolf Goran Bengtsson) Sweden 0/0 38.38
7, Comanche (Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum) Germany 0/0 41.53
8, H&M Flips Little Sparrow (Peder Fredricson) Sweden 0/2 44.92
9, Cas de Liberte (Niels Bruynseels) Belgium 0/4 37.71
10, Good Luck (Cian O’Connor) Ireland 0/4 38.34

Longines FEI World Cup Jumping 2016/17 Western European League
Standings after Round 1 in Oslo, Norway

1. Alberto Zorzi Italy 20 points
2. Marcus Ehning Germany 17
3. Pieter Devos Belgium 15
4. Piergiorgio Bucci Italy 13
4. Steve Guerdat Switzerland 13
6. Rolf Goran Bengtsson Sweden 11
7. Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum Germany 10
8. Peder Fredricson Sweden 9
9. Niels Bruynseels Belgium 8
10. Cian O’Connor Ireland 7