Basel, Switzerland – April 03, 2025 – The order of play for today’s opening competition of the 45th edition of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in Basel has been revealed following the draw to determine the starting order, which took place in the city’s St. Jakobshalle this evening.
It was a case of “déjà vu” for Germany’s Marcus Ehning (GER), as for the second consecutive year the three-time FEI Jumping World CupTM Champion was drawn in the unenviable position of first to go in what is his campaign to make history by becoming the first athlete to take the title four times. Julien Anquetin (FRA) follows in second draw ahead of Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqi (UAE) who starts in third.
Reigning Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Champion, Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) is another protagonist drawn early in Thursday’s first competition as he starts from fourth draw in his bid to emulate Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) by winning his third successive title. Fifth drawn is Japan’s Takamichi Mashiyama, ahead of Willem Greve (NED) in sixth, USA’s Alise Oken and Kristen Vanderveen in seventh and eighth whilst Ramzy Al Duhami (KSA) and Valeria Sokolova (KGZ) complete the first ten athletes drawn in ninth and tenth respectively.
Robert Whitaker (GBR) is the 11th athlete into the St. Jakobshalle arena and is followed by Germany’s Richard Vogel (12th) and Mario Stevens (13th). The host nation’s first athlete Edouard Schmitz is drawn 14th ahead of Longines FEI Jumping World CupTM Final first-timer Shalva Gachechiladze (GEO) in 15th, Kaitlin Campbell (USA) in 16th, Pieter Devos (BEL) 17th and Andrea Herck (ROU) 18th. Nineteenth to contest Thursday’s opening speed competition is Austria’s Max Kühner, who is followed by 20th drawn Shawn Casady (USA).
Sophie Hinners (GER), another Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final debutant is drawn 21st and is followed into the arena by Switzerland’s own World Cup Champion from 2022, Martin Fuchs (SUI) who is drawn 22nd. Julien Epaillard (FRA) starts his bid to go one place better this year having finished second in Riyadh (KSA) 12 month ago, behind the defending Champion Henrik von Eckermann (SWE). Epaillard is drawn 23rd in tomorrow’s opening competition. Twenty fourth and 25th drawn are the USA’s Katherine Dinan and McKayla Langmeier. Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet (BEL) is the 26th drawn athlete ahead of triple Olympic Gold Medallist Ben Maher (GBR) who starts 27th, Hans-Dieter Dreher (GER) in 28th, Luke Dee (NZL) in 29th and Ali Al Korafi (KUW) in 30th.
Kevin Staut (FRA) starts his campaign to give France their second ever Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final title and first since 2004, from 31st draw. Allesandra Volpi (USA) is drawn 32nd ahead of double Olympic Individual Bronze medallist, Maikel van der Vleuten (NED) who will be hoping to benefit from a late draw as he starts in 33rd. Bronwyn Meredith dos Santos (RSA) is drawn in 34th ahead of the last drawn of USA’s eight qualified athletes, Lillie Keenan in 35th.
Ales Opatrny (CZE) and Forewer are drawn 36th, and Kim Emmen (NED) with Imagine will start from 37th draw. Ireland’s Daniel Coyle (IRL) and Incredible take the penultimate spot at 38, with Vince Jarmy (HUN) and Carbon Girl Z rounding off the roster to contend tomorrow’s Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final first competition.
Source: Press Release from FEI Communications
Photo: © FEI / Ben Clark
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Categories: English, Jumper News Schweiz, Order-of-Go
