Emilie Conter claims first five-star win in celebrated company

Belgium’s Emilie Conter had to pinch herself after winning her first five-star in the $500,000 CSI5* Grand Prix at Wellington International’s Saturday Night Lights.

Celebrations all round. L to r: Henrik von Eckermann, Emilie Conter and Harry Charles. Photo: Sportfot

“I’m still in disbelief,” the 24-year-old said, after taking the win aboard Portobella van de Fruitkorf, in a field of entries featuring six of the world’s top ten ranked riders. “I don’t really believe it. It hasn’t really sunk in yet.” On one side of her at the post-Grand Prix press conference sat Paris Olympics’ team gold medalist, Great Britain’s Harry Charles and on the other, world number one, Henrik von Eckermann. The fact that it was International Women’s Day was not lost on Emilie. “Someone told me that today and that it would be even nicer if a woman could win it tonight,” she said.

Emilie Conter and Portobella van de Fruitkorf took a leap of faith to win their first five-star Grand Prix. Photo: Sportfot

Emilie took a risk – in the seven-strong jump off over the Alan Wade-designed course – spurred on from a voice in the crowd. “I saw a really long [distance] to the last oxer and I heard Helena [Stormanns] scream ‘go get it!’, so I took it,” she said to give her a time of 42.43 seconds. “I didn’t think it was going to be enough to beat these other riders, but I looked up and saw that I was in first.”

Sweden’s Henrik riding his legendary 15-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding King Edward set a time of 43.88 in the jump off round before Emilie’s winning performance. Harry and the 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding Sherlock came after her, taking the runners up slot in a time of 43.33.

Harry Charles and Sherlock enjoyed jumping under the lights to take second. Photo: Sportfot

“I didn’t plan on jumping Sherlock in too many of the bigger classes under the lights,” said Harry. “He’s still quite green at night, but tonight he jumped better than I could have hoped. I thought the course builder did a great job – you saw the perfect amount in the jump-off. I’m very happy with second place.”

Emilie has had the 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare since she was seven years old. “We’ve come a long way,” she said. “We took it very slow in the beginning, because I always knew she was special. There are no words for her. When I first started riding her, she was a bit colder but always had massive scope. When she was younger, she was not so impressed with the small jumps but now the bigger the fences, the better she jumps.”

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