A respected position for any national team, but not enough for the German team, which can count, among its riders, nine out of the first twenty riders in the world. Johan Philippaerts, brother of the best known Ludo, is a constant and reliable athlete, a very experienced rider, always capable to win in any event and at any latitude. After him, Gianni Govoni, one of the most appreciated Italian rider, because of his spectacular riding and fighting spirit when competing. Fifth, another Italian rider, Jerry Smit, on Ikamorka, back from the victory at the Falsterbo Gran Prix in Sweden, on last Sunday.
Day one of the San Patrignano International show jumping closed late at night. The Belgian rider Ludo Philippaerts a true senatorâ¬ý of International equestrian sports – got on the top place of the podium scoring a double clear with the fastest time in the jump-off. In second place last years winner in the Vincenzo Muccioli Challenge, the Belgian rider Francois Mathy Jr, riding Quatro. Third place for young Argentine rider Lucas Wherteim on Vlaminck Trefle. The combination Philippaerts/Otterongo showed, in the last season, to be unbeatable. He already stepped on the top of the podium in Montecarlo, Bordeaux and Paris Grand Prix, and in Aachens CSIO Nations Cup. The strong jumper Otterongo is a son of Darco, one of the most successful sires in the world in the last decade. In its sports career Darco, under the saddle of Ludo Philippaerts, was the winner of some of the most important International show jumping Grand Prix. Mathy, son of former International rider Francois Sr (bronze medalist in 1976 Olympic Games, the only Olympic medal scored by the Belgian equestrian team), showed his skills as International top rider and confirmed his optimum form and athletic conditions of his top horse Quatro. Argentina took its first podium thanks to the good performance of young rider Wherteim, preceding, in the final jump-off, two top riders such as Willi Melliger and Michael Whitaker.
