Today in Lido di Camaiore, a thrilled Katharina Rhomberg took first place in the Grand Prix Giorgio Armani presented by Longines, adding another ‘pink stamp’ to the Longines Versilia Horse Show presented by Giorgio Armani. Rhomberg delivered a stunning performance with Colestus Cambridge, completing a double clear course in a jump-off time of 36.54 seconds and winning her first CSI5* Grand Prix.
Katharina Rhomberg and Matteo Sovera, Longines Brand Director – ph. LVHSGA / S.Grasso
«I can’t believe it! I just won my first five-star Grand Prix at the Longines Versilia Horse Show, presented by Giorgio Armani, in Versilia,” said the 33-year-old Austrian rider, who was awarded by Longines Brand Director Matteo Sovera. – I’m just incredibly happy, my horse jumped amazing. I was last to go in the jump-off. Actually, there were very fast riders in front of me and I thought I can’t beat them, but I could and it was just amazing, I’m very, very happy. I’m also very satisfied because I took this victory with Colestus Cambridge. I’ve been riding this horse since he was six years old. We actually grew together».
Katharina Rhomberg and Colestus Cambridge – ph. LVHSGA / S.Grasso
The Grand Prix, €309,000 money-prize for a top-level course with 1.60-meter fences designed by Uliano Vezzani, featured 48 pairs. Of these, only seven achieved a clear first course and entered the jump-off. Among them there were three Italians.
The first back in the arena was Roberto Previtali with Quirinus 27, who made a mistake (0/4; 42.61). Then it was Emanuele Camilli with Chacareno PS, who instead scored the first clear double (0/0; 41.80).
Jérôme Guery of Belgium and Qartouche de la Pomme d’Or also secured a clear double, achieving an apparently unbeatable time of 39.24 seconds.
However, that wasn’t the case. Abdulrahman Alrajhi and Ventago (0/0; 38.06) were better, taking second place overall, while Katharina Rhomberg and Colestus Cambridge further improved the Saudi rider’s time by over a second.
The third Italian pairing in the jump-off, Emanuele Gaudiano and Esteban de Hus, also recorded an impressive time of 37.34 seconds, but an unlucky mistake relegated them to fifth place overall.
Top Five results
1 – Katharina Rhomberg AUT / Colestus Cambridge (0/0; 36.54)
2 – Abdulrahman Alrajhi KSA / Ventago (0/0; 38.06)
3 – Jérôme Guery BEL / Qartouche de la Pomme d’Or (0/0; 39.24)
4 – Emanuele Camilli ITA / Chacareno PS (0/0; 41.80)
5 – Emanuele Gaudiano ITA / Esteban de Hus (0/4; 37.34