Germany’s Simone Blum made equestrian history as she was crowned Individual World Champion in the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Jumping Championship at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 on Sunday to conclude competition in U.S. Trust Arena at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC).
The 29-year-old from Bavaria in southern Germany became the first female Individual Jumping Gold medalist in eight FEI World Equestrian Games™ editions.
Simone Blum and DSP Alice
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No one could doubt her right to the title aboard brilliant 11-year-old chestnut mare DSP Alice, after they delivered five successive clear jumping rounds, with just one time fault, across four days of action at the U.S. Trust Arena.
Such was her dominance that Blum had a fence in hand going into the final round, but it was not required as she enjoyed a final winning margin of more than three penalties from Silver medalist Martin Fuchs and Clooney, while Fuchs’ fellow Swiss rider, London 2012 Olympic champion Steve Guerdat, finished third on Bianca.
Simone Blum and DSP Alice enjoy their winning moment after Blum becomes the first female to win an Individual World Championship Gold medal for the
Jumping discipline.
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“I cannot believe it,” said Blum, who won more than $90,000 in prize money in her FEI World Equestrian Games™ debut. “I cannot describe my feelings. It is just the perfect day.
“Alice performed the whole week without any jumping faults. She is such a careful horse with the biggest heart. I was a little bit nervous today, but I stayed focused and knew that if I rode well then she never normally touches a pole.’
“There was a bit of pressure because Martin had a clear round and I wanted to be clear or maybe with one time fault. It is unbelievable what has happened. Alice is a very special horse and this week she showed her talent.”
Blum, who will marry her fiance Hans-Gunther Goskowitz in the next four weeks and whose father Jurgen competed as an eventer at the 1996 Olympics, underlined in sensational fashion a new generation of German riders that also saw team-mate Laura Klaphake feature among the 25 riders that contested Sunday’s penultimate round.
Steve Guerdat and Bianca
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Irishman Alan Wade, who Guerdat singled out for praise afterwards, “Alan deserves a medal as well,” he said – designing two more outstanding courses, with 25 riders being whittled down to a final 12 to contest the medals.
The time allowed of 67 seconds tested every combination to the maximum, with only Guerdat, who jumped double clear, and Australia’s Rowan Willis of the final dozen going inside it, while the day’s biggest climber was Colombian Carlos Enrique Lopez Lizarazo, who moved from 25th to fifth after only gaining his chance when Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann withdrew.
Newly anointed World Champions in the United States had three riders in the last 12, with McLain Ward their highest-placed finisher in fourth.
Simone Blum, Martin Fuchs, and Steve Guerdat in their presentation ceremony.
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Fuchs, whose father Thomas and uncle Markus are both prominent former riders, completed a stunning return on Clooney after the horse underwent colic surgery earlier this year.
“It is a great feeling to be on the podium,” Fuchs said. “We won a five-star competition in Basle earlier this year, then Clooney had colic surgery. We were worried about him, but he recovered very well and we are just so happy how he came back.
“This is my first world championship, so I haven’t started too badly! I had a really good feeling with the horse all the way through.”
Guerdat, who regularly trains with Fuchs and is a close friend of the family, added, “I am really not disappointed about being third. We had an amazing day.
“My mare has jumped wonderfully all week and she showed again why she is so special. To finish on the podium with my friend Martin is a very special day. He is like a brother, we train together, we are neighbors and his family are like my second family.”
Martin Fuchs and Clooney
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