Polish Champion wins “at home”

In the world-ranking Big Tour competition – the third stage of Perlage CAVALIADA Tour, for the prize of Raitech and under the patronage of the Polish Equestrian Federation, 76 pairs took part today. The first course, designed by Italy’s Andrea Colombo, was not a walk in the park.

“For the first world-ranking class, the course was really demanding, and the tight time allowed forced a fast pace. Poles fell practically everywhere, but the fence that claimed the most victims was the vertical number 8 with a plank on top, where horses would become slightly distracted coming out of the turn. The last line was also difficult and very compressed. The Perlage oxer, then a dynamic gallop to the Polish Equestrian Federation combination of two verticals, and finally a very wide Respect Energy oxer set on a slight angle,” – said Szymon Tarant, Perlage CAVALIADA Tour’s sport director.

Ultimately, 13 horse-and-rider combinations cleared it: three from Germany, two from the Netherlands, two from Belgium, two from Ireland, one each from Denmark and Sweden, and two from Poland. In the final jump-off, the victory belonged to none other than the Polish champion and rider of neighbouring Wechta Rosnówko club – Maksymilian Wechta, riding the 13-year-old gelding Mystique.

Fot. Marta Flatow

“I feel fantastic. The field of riders in the jump-off was strong and also everyone was very fast,” – said the winner. – “I knew I had to give it my all. Honestly, after the last fence I wasn’t sure if it would be enough to win, because I felt I rode a bit slowly to the double of verticals. I knew it was the only place where Mystique could have a knockdown, so I gave us a bit more calm there, but then the last two turns went exactly as I had planned. (…) I’m ‘at home’ here – I sleep in my own house, and i live 20 minutes from the showgrounds. That’s a big advantage because sometimes I can mentally detach from the competition atmosphere. But it is also extra pressure because my family and friends are cheering for me in the stands – but it’s positive pressure. We keep on fighting – the Medium Tour Final and the Grand Prix are still ahead.”

Second place went to Mans Thijssen from the Netherlands riding Looking For You, and third to Sweden’s Carl-Walter Fox with EKA First Navy Jack. Fifth place was taken by Poland’s Przemysław Konopacki riding Pure Pasion From Second Life Z.

In the Perlage CAVALIADA Tour ranking, today’s victory moved Maksymilian Wechta into the pole position with 35 points. Peter Szuhai sits in second with 29 points, and in third place, tied, are Marek Lewicki and Krzysztof Ludwiczak with 27 points.

Fot. Dava Palej 

The Medium Tour class, for the prize of Grupa MTP and under the patronage of Tarant Events, ended with a win for Germany’s Mathies Rüder with Flora V. Second place went to Małgorzata Ciszek-Lewicka riding Daisy, and third to Dutch rider Jur Vrieling with Coco de Knocke Z.

Fot. Dava Palej

In the Bronze category of the Respect Energy Open Tour, the best performance came from Konstancja Dziedzińska with Kullina II Z. Second place went to Zuzanna Dziak on Herb, and third to Julia Kuraszkiewicz riding Halifax.

In the Silver category, victory went to Szymon Cieślak with Con Shapo Ba. Second was Marta Wójtowicz on Calmette-P, and third – Zuzanna Cichorek with Chaccartoon W.

The Gold Tour class ended in a win for Zofia Kamińska with Pandora des Courtis Z. Second place went to Natalia Akincza on Kannan Dr Janetzko Plus S, and third to Karolina Wernerowicz with Ester.

Fot. Kamila Tworkowska

In the Small Tour of CSI1*, for the prize of Hipodrom Wola, the winner was Paulina Słoniec on Die Kleine Lady. Second was Hungary’s Peter Szuhai on Conccodello PS, and third – Matylda Lubecka on the mare Cathalaya VRS.

Program: https://poznan.cavaliada.pl/pl/kibice/program/program-wydarzenia/

Tickets: https://tobilet.pl/cavaliada-poznan-2025-1.html

More information: https://cavaliada.pl/pl/

Starting lists and results: https://livejumping.com/ap/event/15474/competitions

Livestream: https://live.cavaliada.pl/

Organiser: GRUPA MTP | Titular Partner: PERLAGE | Strategic partners: DOLINA NOTECI, RESPECT ENERGY, POZNAŃ-ŁAWICA AIRPORT | Host City: Poznań | Partners: Local government of the Wielkopolska Region, Polish Equestrian Federation