The FEI World Cup show jumping round was the drawcard of the second day at the Budapest Horse Show. It was a late night for the riders, with the two-hour competition starting at 9pm with 48 riders. France's Eduard Mathe prevailed on his nine-year-old holsteiner Cherie Lady, winning €9000 in the process.
 France's Eduard Mathe and Cherie Lady won the Central European League World Cup round in Budapest.
Hungary's Balázs Horváth was fourth on Eternally.
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The audience of more than 1000 people had to wait until the sixth rider to see the first clear round, which was produced by Germany's Jürgen Mayer, on the eight-year-old Roncador 2. The former member of the Hungarian team now represents his home country. The next clear round came quickly, with the next rider up, Mark Jespers (NED), who finished second on the previous day.
Former top Hungarian junior rider Gábor Fábiáncsics had 12 faults, and was followed by Sofia (Bulgaria) grand prix winner Mariann Hugyecz (HUN), who had one jump down.
Hungarian champion rider of 2007 Balázs Horváth rode the third clear round with his 10-year-old Eternally, and the audience showed its appreciation at having at least one home rider in the jumpoff.
The fourth rider to make the jumpoff was France's Eduard Mathe, followed by Olympic silver medalist Willi Melliger (SUI) and Germany's Matthias Raisch.
Former New Zealand rider Samantha McIntosh (BUL) and Equitta had an unfortunate fault on the second jump. McIntosh placed eighth on four faults.
 Samantha McIntosh (BUL) and Equitta
The Rippel brothers during their Guinness record attempt. |
The jumpoff for the six participants brought four clear rounds with victory for Mathe, with Germany's Matthias Raisch and Lionel 38 in second, followed by Mark Jespers on Tikila, and the best Hungarian rider was Balázs Horváth, who was fourth on Eternally.
The showjumping was preceded by a strange but exciting stunt. The famous Rippel brothers attempted their sixth Guiness World Record, by doing a double handstand on the back of a galloping four-in-hand coach.
The brothers are well known all over the world for their strength but this was the first time they had put their safety in the hands of a horse and carriage.
The spectacle ended finally in a new world record of 1 min 8 sec and with a broken finger by Ferenc Rippel, who was at the top of the handstand and fell 3m on a corner.
The performance was controlled officially by nine-time WBO world champion boxer Balázs Erdei.
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