IN a fairytale ending to the Global Champions Tour in Stockholm, world number one Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward reigned supreme in front of their home crowd.

Taking one spot better on the podium than last year, Von Eckermann beat Ireland’s Shane Breen on Haya by 0.06 of a second to secure his Golden Ticket to the Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix in Prague this year, while the electrifying jump-off captivated audiences as power duo Marcus Ehning and Stargold finished third for the second year running in Stockholm.

In the nine-horse jump-off, Breen and Haya entered the arena as the first to go. The pair set the pace making tight rollbacks and a flat-out gallop to the last to stop the clock in 46.23 second which held until the very end until Von Eckermann and his reigning world champion broke the beams in 46.17 to take the narrowest of victories and €158,000 in prize money.

Breen secured €98,000 for second place with the 11-year-old grey mare owned by Breen Equestrian and Old Lodge who was making her very first start at the level. “I’ve been using her a lot in speed [classes], so I knew she was pretty quick. But I thought to get on the podium would be amazing, to win would just be another dream. But to come second, I am absolutely over the moon. It’s her first Grand Prix ever, and it took the best combination in the world to beat us!” he commented afterwards.

Breen bought the mare from Harold Megahey in 2020 after a recommendation from his brother, Trevor. Mark McAuley was double clear with Django STE Hermelle to finish in sixth place.