Marcel Marschall and Extra Strong conclude the Autumn MET 2021 with a win in the CSI3* 1.50m Grand Prix

Sunday’s CSI3* 1.50m Grand Prix presented by Oliva Nova Beach & Golf Resort saw Germany’s Marcel Marschall and Extra Strong take the top honours, to conclude nine weeks of top sport at the 2021 autumn edition of the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour in Oliva Nova, Spain. Over the nine weeks, the tour has welcomed some of the world’s very best riders and today’s Grand Prix was yet again the scene for high-level sport – with a blue sky and a bright December sun providing the ultimate conditions.
It was a demanding 13-fence track designed by Frank Rothenberger for the conclusion of the tour, which included challenges to the very end with a triple combination at 12abc and an airy, tall, white upright as the last jump at no. 13. The line with two Liverpools at no. nine and ten claimed many victims, as did the triple combination – where poles fell again and again.
More than ten riders attempted the course before the first clear came from Marcel Marschall and the 12-year-old gelding Extra Strong (Diamant de Semilly x Colino). A jump-off was secured when Christoph Könemann (GER) on Frederiks (Carambole x Up To Date) posted the second clear of the class, and eventually Thiago Ribas De Costa (BRA) on Kinky Van’t Heike (Epleaser Van’t Heike x Grandeur) also joined in.
Opening the jump-off on this beautiful and sunny December afternoon, Marschall returned to deliver yet another clear in a time of 45.29 seconds. This would turn out to be good enough for the win; Könemann crossed the finish line a second slower, while Ribas De Costa opted to retire after having one down as last to go. With one time fault each, Dominique Hendrickx (BEL) on Floris TN (Quality Time TN x Vancouver) finished fourth and Tobias Meyer (GER) on All I Need H (Inshallah de Muze x Utrillo vd Heffinck) fifth.
REUSLTS HERE https://online.equipe.com/en/class_sections/642523
Autumn MET 2021 | Photo credit © Hervé Bonnaud/1clicphoto.com