In a fairytale ending to a sensational weekend of sport, Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward reigned supreme in the €480,000 Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Stockholm presented by Fabege.
Taking one spot better on the podium than last year, Von Eckermann beat Shane Breen on Haya by 0.06s to secure his Golden Ticket to the Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix in Prague this year, while the electrifying jump-off captivated audiences as power duo Marcus Ehning and Stargold finished third for the second year running in Stockholm.
After three days of intense competition and breathtaking moments, the dream weekend for Swedish fans came to a close in royal style. Ecstatic Swedish fans celebrated late into the night as the home star pulled off an epic win in a nail-biting climax to the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Stockholm.
On the form of their lives, Henrik Von Eckermann and King Edward have catapulted into the top ten, cementing their presence as real Championship contenders.
Singing the praises of the mighty King Edward, when questioned if there was more room for the partnership to get better and to turn up the heat for his champion mount, an emotional Henrik told GCTV:
I don’t need to – he’s given me more than ever he can do, and as long as we stay good and he stays healthy, I know there are going to be more good things.”
Of course when you have a good feeling and self-confidence it always helps, I felt like yesterday even though I had the greatest round from my riding point of view, the horse felt amazing… I won many things with him, but it was a long time ago that he felt like this.”
On the other side of the spectrum, Shane Breen and Haya secured an incredible second place, missing out on the top spot but just 0.06 seconds in their debut 5* and Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix as a combination.
An ecstatic Breen commented on her impressive form to GCTV:
I’ve been using her a lot in speed [classes], so I knew she was pretty quick. But I thought to get on the podium would be amazing, to win would just be another dream. But to come second, I am absolutely over the moon.”
In his typical Irish humour, Breen quipped
It’s her first Grand Prix ever, and it took the best combination in the world to beat us!”
2023 Championship Standings After Leg 7 in Stockholm:
1st Place – Maikel Van Der Vleuten – 175 points
2nd Place – Malin Baryard-Johnsson – 160.14 points
3rd Place – Christian Kukuk – 134 points
