Gothenburg, Sweden – February 21, 2026 – It was a German victory in the €175,000 Gothenburg Trophy CSI 5*-W, presented by Volvo Cars when Patrick Stühlmeyer (GER) drove home with the win together on Conterno-Blue PS. The victory was Stühlmeyer’s first individual five-star triumph in over ten years.
In total, eight out of 35 crews made it to the jump-off in what was described in advance as one of the toughest classes of the weekend.
“I am really very happy. My horse jumped fantastically today, absolutely incredible. The last contests in Mechelen and Amsterdam were also good, but today was really our day, said Patrick Stühlmeyer after the victory.
The last time Stühlmeyer won individually at five-star level was in the Sopot Grand Prix in 2016. In between, he has won the German Championships and been successful in the Young Horse Championships, but this victory marks a clear return to the top.
“The jump-off with eight riders was really good. The course builder had done a very good job – the course was correct, the time was tight and we got to see great sport,” he continued.
Now Stühlmeyer only wishes for one more thing, to keep his star horse for a while longer.
Linda Heed Finishes Second – Family Happiness in Scandinavium
Behind the winner, Linda Heed (SWE) impressed, riding Crack Blue to a strong second place. For Heed, it was yet another proof that Scandinavium is an arena that suits her well. Last year she won Sunday’s World Cup.
“I would say that it is my favorite arena. It feels okay to say it now, she stated with a smile after the ride.
The day was extra memorable for Heed, as her daughter had already won the Swedish Pony in the same arena earlier in the morning.
“It is even better to see her win than to come second in this class myself. I am so incredibly proud of Isabelle. She has fought so hard and then to win here,” said Linda Heed.
Crack Blue has had a special trip back to the racing tracks. The horse last competed at a high level in 2022, was then injured and made a comeback together with Heed in 2025.
“We started very cautiously in August and have slowly built it up. With each competition, it has felt like the ceiling has gotten a little higher, she said.It was fantastic to be able to show everyone what an incredible horse I sit on.”
Before the competitions in Gothenburg, the horse had never jumped higher than 1.45 classes.
You never know until they’ve done it, but Crack Blue has a lot of quality and really wants to do the job for me.
Third place went to the Dane Lars Bak Andersen (DEN) together with Leviathan, which completed an internationally strong podium. Leviathan HS has a Swedish connection. The horse owners at Hyperion Stud bought Leviathan HS as a foal and then placed him with Anna-Clara Pettersson outside Strömsholm. He was prepared for utility tests but had to be castrated.
“We were keen to keep him in the sport,” says owner Vicky Castegren.
The new gelding eventually ended up with Lars Bak Andersen and the plan was for him to be sold.
“He is quite small and we thought that he could be a good horse at the 1.45m level, but a few years ago Lars said that he began to sense more capacity in the horse,” Vicky Castegren said.
On Saturday evening, the horse presented itself properly to the international competitors and the future looks bright.
Final Results – €175,000 Gothenburg Trophy CSI 5*-W, presented by Volvo Cars
1) Patrick Stühlmeyer (GER) & Conterno-Blue PS – 0 / 0 – 36.54
2) Linda Heed (SWE) & Crack Blue – 0 / 0 – 38.18
3) Lars Bak Andersen (DEN) & Leviathan HS – 0 / 0 – 43.60
Source: Press Release (translated) from Gothenburg Horse Show
Photos: © GHS / Kim C Lundin
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Categories: CSI 5*-W, English, Jumper News Deutschland
