Harry Charles scoops Third Place in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2022/2023 Western European League in Verona, Italy
Sunday 06 November 2022
World number one Henrik von Eckermann and his super-steed King Edward showed the pure class that helped them earn Team gold for Sweden along with the Individual title at this summer’s ECCO FEI Jumping World Championships when posting a definitive victory at the fourth leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2022/2023 Western European League in Verona, Italy today.
On a tough day at the office, when only seven of the 40 starters found the key to the 13-fence first-round track set by Italian course designer Uliano Vezzani, the Swedish duo returned a jump-off performance that was smooth as silk to clinch it.
Austria’s Gerfried Puck produced the only other double-clear of the competition when last to go with the nine-year-old Equitron Naxcel V to fill second place while young British star, Harry Charles, lined up in third with Romeo 88 who was quickest of all but left the final fence on the floor second time out.
Harry Charles was understandably disappointed that his super-fast time didn’t clinch it for him today but he was also happy about picking up valuable qualifying points on the road to the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2023 Final which will take place in Omaha, USA next April.
“When you get into the jump-off and come so close it’s a bit gutting but that’s how it goes. It’s a good start to the season and next week I go to Stuttgart with Romeo again so hopefully it will go a bit better there! I’ve got some points on the board and I’ll try to build on that”, said the talented 23-year-old who finished fourth at the 2022 Final in Leipzig and who helped Great Britain to world team bronze in Denmark this summer. He’s also been heading the U25 world rankings for the past year.
“That’s not as cool as Henrik being world number one, but maybe one day my turn will come!”, the ambitious young rider pointed out this evening.
For all the latest information about the LONGINES FEI Jumping World Cup™ season 2022/2023 check out the new Series Hub HERE
Image: ©FEI/Massimo Argenziano
