CSI Zurich

The CSI Zurich (also called Mercedes- CSI after the main sponsor ) was an international indoor jumping tournament ( Concours de Saut International ) that took place in Zurich from 1988 to 2018 . The tournament was held annually in January. With a total prize money of over one million Swiss francs, it was recently one of the most highly endowed, regularly held indoor jumping tournaments in the world.

At the beginning of April 2017, the organizers announced that the last CSI Zurich would take place in 2018. The reasons they cited were the “poor general conditions for organizers of show jumping tournaments”. In addition, the space around the Hallenstadion has shrunk by half, and the infrastructure has been catastrophic as a result.

history

At the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, the Theiler brothers came up with the idea of ​​a completely new equestrian event. The focus should not only be on equestrian sport, but also on entertainment.

In 1988 the CSI was held for the first time in the Oerlikon open race track . Over four days, 21,000 spectators attended the event. The tournament has been held in the Hallenstadion since 1991 and was able to steadily increase the number of spectators to 44,000 in 2003. Due to the renovation of the Hallenstadion, no CSI took place in 2005.

The event

In 2006 the tournament took place for the first time in the renovated Hallenstadion. 70 employees of Hallenstadion AG worked for the CSI. The tournament lasted four days until 2009, but the tournament was shortened to three days from 2010 to protect the horses.

A motto show was performed every year at the Mercedes-CSI. In 2006 the motto was "Switzerland", the highlight was the world record over 70 cm in jumping up a cow with a person standing on it.

The main tests were the classic big jumping competitions on Friday ("Grand Prix") and Sunday ("Classic") and on Saturday the Challenge, a test for the top 15 riders in the world against juniors and young riders. Until 2009, the “Grand Prix” was held on Thursday, on Friday, the “Swiss Master” was another major jumping competition from 1993 to 2009.

The CSI Zurich enjoyed great recognition among international top riders, with the eight best riders in the world rankings taking part in 2006. A total of 40 riders were at the start, 15 of them from Switzerland.

The budget of the Mercedes-CSI was around 6.5 million francs, 50 percent of which are borne by sponsors and 50 percent from the income from the tickets. However, the added value of the entire CSI was estimated at around 25 million francs.

Results

Grand Prix

The "Grand Prix", which was sponsored by Longines (until 2013 by Rolex ), has been held since 2010 on Friday evening. This jumping competition with jump-off over obstacles up to 1.55 meters was endowed with 100,000 Swiss francs in 2018.

Grand Prix winner

2018: Martin Fuchs on Clooney  2017: Martin Fuchs on Chaplin 2016: Grégory Wathelet on Taalex  2015: Pénélope Leprevost on Flora de Mariposa  2014: Pius Schwizer on Picsou du Chene  2013: Marcus Ehning on Nolte's kitchen girl  2012: Steve Guerdat on NASA  2011: Billy Twomey on Tinka's Serenade  2010: Ben Maher on Wonderboy III  2009: Ludger Beerbaum on All Inclusive NRW  2008: Markus Fuchs on La Toya III  2007: Christian Ahlmann on Cöster  2006: Jessica Kürten on Quibell  2005: canceled 2004: Marcus Ehning on For Pleasure  2003: Robert Smith on Mister Springfield  2002: Rolf-Göran Bengtsson on Pialotta  2001: Ludo Philippaerts on Otterongo van de Kopshoeve  2000: Marcus Ehning on For Pleasure  1999: Franke Sloothaak on country lady FRH

1998: Beat Mändli on Poor Boy  1997: Ludger Beerbaum on Ratina Z  1996: Markus Fuchs on Goldlights  1995: Markus Fuchs on Goldlights 1994: Markus Fuchs on Goldlights 1993: John Whitaker on Milton  1992: Eric Navet in Quito de Baussy  1991: Nick Skelton on Grand Slam  1990: Joe Fargis on Mill Pearl  1989: Franke Sloothaak on Waltz King  1988: John Whitaker on Milton

Mercedes Classic

The “Mercedes Classic” test, which was carried out on Sunday afternoons, was the highest endowed indoor grand prix in the world with 350,000 Swiss francs as prize money. From 2009 on, this test was held as a World Cup test in the Western European League.

Classic winner

2018 : Stephanie Holmén on Flip's Little Sparrow  2017 : Eduardo Álvarez Aznar on Rokfeller de Pleville  2016 : Pius Schwizer on Future  2015 : Sergio Alvarez Moya on Carlo  2014 : Pius Schwizer on Toulago  2013 : Luciana Diniz on Lennox  2012 : Marco Kutscher on Cornet Obolensky  2011: Marcus Ehning on Küchengirl  2010: Steve Guerdat on the safe  2009: Jessica Kürten on Libertina  2008: Edwina Alexander on Socrates  2007: Markus Fuchs on Nirmette  2006: Marcus Ehning on Sandro Boy  2005: canceled 2004: Ludger Beerbaum on Goldfever 3  2003: Philippe Le Jeune on Maike  2002: Ludger Beerbaum on Goldfever 3  2001: Ludger Beerbaum on Goldfever 3 2000: Marcus Ehning on For Pleasure  1999: Geoff Billington on It's Otto

1998: Willi Melliger on Calvaro  1997: Hugo Simon on ET FRH  1996: Jos Lansink on Lianos  1995: Eddie Macken on Miss FAN  1994: Markus Beerbaum on Alex  1993: Hauke ​​Luther on Gaylord  1992: Jan Tops on Top Gun  1991: Franke Sloothaak on Waltz King  1990: Roger-Yves Bost on Norton de Rhuys  1989: John Whitaker on Milton  1988: Franke Sloothaak on Waltz King

Web links

• Website of the CSI Zurich
• Results since 2008 (search term: "Zurich")
• Everything about the last Mercedes-CSI - supplement to the CSI Zurich 2018 , pferdewoche.ch (PDF)
• WebTV Mercedes-CSI

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Thomas Frei: Equestrian sport: 30 years of CSI Zurich - and none more In: Neue Zürcher Zeitung of April 4, 2017
2. ↑ «I would do it again»: Interview with Urs Theiler; Peter Wyrsch in Everything about the last Mercedes-CSI - Supplement to the CSI Zurich 2018 , pferdewoche.ch (PDF), page 4 f.
3. ^ "The CSI Zurich was always a trendsetter" , Tages-Anzeiger , January 27, 2010
4. ^ Result of the Longines Grand Prix Zurich 2018