Historic success in the “Vincenzo Muccioli Challenge” at CSI-W San Patrignano

July 21, 2003

For the first time, in the history of equestrian sports, an Israeli rider wins a top International Grand Prix: Elad Yaniv, on Dayment Dayliete achieved this important result for his country’s equestrian sports of jumping. The 25-years-old Israeli rider, who has been competing with this horse for only three months, climbed on the top place of the podium at the “Wind – Challenge Vincenzo Muccioli Grand Prix”, the last and most important competition of the San Patrignano three-day event.

In the second round – in which competed 11 riders that went clear in the first round – he preceded the Swedish rider Henrik Hankancrona, who finished second on his Candelight, and the French lady rider Dominique Robert, placed third with Auleto.

The Italian rider Gianni Govoni, first of the Italian athletes on the FEI Riders ranking list, leaded the class until the second-last fence, but went fourth at the end. Nirfan, the 8-years-old young horse, for the first time competing in a top-level event, knocked down the fence at the second-last jump. A note of regret strengthened by the excellent time scored: Govoni ended the course in 43.91, the best time among the 11 riders competing in the second round. This timed would have largely assigned him the success in the Grand Prix, unless that fault.

The Israeli rider Yaniv has been living in Europe for five years now, the last three ones in Germany, where he rode in the stud of outstanding champions such as Franke Sloothaak and Uli Kirchoff. At present, he is competing with the horses of his new stud, managed by Alois Pollman-Schwechoist.

Source: San Patrignano press release