Nations Cup, serial victories & other stories of success

Always dressed in their oh-so distinctive green jackets, the Team Alpenspan Riders managed to score outstanding results once more during last weekend’s (5-8 May) international and national events. While Gerfried Puck and Leonard Platzer were busy at the CSIO4* Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Event in Linz (AUT), Gianni Govoni proved to be almost unbeatable at the CSI2* Gorla Minore (ITA) and Dieter Köfler, Gudrun and Jasmin Pirker showed off their skills in Sachendorf.

Team spirit and a proof of talent in Linz
During the Nations Cup event in Linz, our reigning Austrian double-champion Gerfried Puck proofed once more that he is not only a very successful individual, but also a highly reliable team rider. After a third place aboard the seven-year old BWP mare J’Adore du Paly (by Indorado) in Thursday’s Young Horse class (1.40 m), he was also clear in the 1.50 m competition with his capable mare Bionda and therefore nominated to be part of Austria’s Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Equipe. Together with Christian Rhomberg, Astrid Kneifel and Max Kühner he finished the „battle of the nations“ in sixth place. Gerfried finished his weekend off with two more ribbons aboard Elroyal in the youngster classes and a ninth place with Bionda in the Grand Prix of Linz (1.60 m).

The 17-year old up and coming talent Leo Platzer had some great results as well. Together with his 15-year old Selle Francais mare Nausica Tame the finalist of last years European Junior Championships secured two third and a fifth place in the European Youngster Cup U25 classes (1.35/1.40/1.45 m) and was still able to top those rounds. Riding his experienced horse Bario van’t Martendonkerf, he made himself the youngest Austrian rider of all times, who managed to place himself in a CSIO4* competition over 1.55 m with the ninth place in the Gold Tour. „A success like this would be impossible without a sponsor like Alpenspan. I am extremely happy and grateful to be part of this Team“, he said with a big smile on is face.

Gianni Govoni – the man who (almost) can’t be beaten
What more can you say to the results of Gianni Govoni besides: benissimo! The 49-year old Italian scored no less than four victories and three top-ten-placings at the CSI2* Gorla Minore. In Friday’s Young Horses competition (1.35 m) he finished second with Laoise as well as twelfth with Intrigo RS. Aboard Laoise, he even managed to win the remaining two youngster classes on Saturday and Sunday. With Devlin K and Bobolensky, he secured two more „pole positions“ in the Big (1.40 m) and Medium Tour (1.35 m) and came sixth in Saturday’s world ranking class riding Bobolensky.

Close to home – Dieter Köfler and the Pirker-Ladies on top in Sachendorf
Just about ten minutes from the Alpenspan homebase in Zeltweg, Dieter Köfler, Gudrun and Jasmin Pirker did a great job at the national show in Sachendorf. Dieter showed his young guns and had all the right to be very pleased with them. Six-year old Farah Dibah won Friday’s young horses class (1.05 m) in which Classico K (by Clarimo) finished second as well as fifth on Sunday over 1.10 m. The Holstein bred mare Candida (by Cancara) jumped very well, too and took home a fourth (1.05 m) and a twelfth (1.15 m) place.

Gudrun Pirker celebrated the second place on Friday (1.35 m), her daughter Jasmin delivered a clear round over 0.95 m with her Pony Noblesse Oblige on Saturday.

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This article was written by EQUESTRIAN WORLDWIDE – EQWO.net on behalf of Alpenspan.