Fridays’ highlight was the 1.45m Big Tour with a prize money of the more than €28,000. The prize and the possibility of earning Longines World Ranking Points attracted 73 starters, including the best Hungarian riders and highly experienced Austrian competitors.
The course proved challenging and only 22 rider and horse pairs completed clear rounds. However, it was the Hungarian riders who managed to take the podium. The victory went to Gábor Szabó, Jnr. on Genius Conference, bred and owned by Ferenc Koncz.
Péter Szuhai and Corbluecenta owned by Lovassport Kft. came second and the youngest Hungarian champion of all time, Rodrigo Szuhai on Cornet, finished third.
The winner of Thursday’s Big Tour, Sándor Szász on PM Quintera, just missed the podium this time and captured fourth place ahead of Slovenian Urh Bauman and Butterfly Effect. Péter Szuhai on his second horse, Casino Royal Z, also took a valuable sixth place.
Melinda Schlezák, president of the jury, congratulated the winners.
In the Medium Tour, which began in the early afternoon, eight fences with two doubles awaited the riders in the Budapest National Riding Hall. Half of the field of 55 starters completed both phases of this competition clear.
The victory was taken this time by Jannik Domaingo from Austria on his mare Cleo, followed by Henri Kovács, competing for Finland, on Tambourino.
Third place went to Borbála Burucs and her own mare, Mia Niana.
Katarina Morochovicova (SVK) on Kannan’s Girl, Krisztián Búza on Cascaya SJ and Balázs Varga on Jerico secured the following places.
Dr. Dóra Juhász, member of the jury congratulated the riders.
The tournament continues on Saturday with the 1.25m Small Tour. Admission is free.
Photo: CSIO Budapest / Krisztina Hajdu
