Kühner at the start of the World Cup final

Max Kühner placed eighth in the top field on Wednesday at the start of the show jumping World Cup finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The 50-year-old needed 4.95 seconds longer on EIC Up Too Jacco Blue in the hunting competition without dropping than the victorious Henrik Von Eckermann (King Edward/66.28 seconds). Peder Fredrison (Catch me not S/+1.12 sec.) ensured a Swedish double lead, with the German Hans-Dieter Dreher (Elysium/+2.21) taking third place.

There was an extra three seconds per throw. Kühner at least left three-time World Cup final winner Steve Guerdat from Switzerland one place behind. In the three-part championship, the ranking points count for the overall ranking in the first two tests – in Saudi Arabia these are the hunting jumping and the test on Thursday according to the usual format (four penalty points/faults).

For the two Saturday rounds, the ranking points will be converted into penalty points. Anyone who hasn’t been ranked in single digits twice before has to hope for numerous drops from the competition. In the points ranking, Von Eckermann has 35 points, then from Fredricson onwards it goes down from 33 point by point. Kühner holds on to 27 points.