The annual Gothenburg Horse Show in the Scandinavium Arena was held for the first time in the spring 1977. Since the start almost 1.9 million visitors have seen the world stars competing in Gothenburg in both showjumping and dressage.

Mikko and Noora compete in Gothenburg with four horses. At the same time in Lummen Ville and Matilda continues with their own horses for the second weekend on the Lente Tour. In Lummen is seen also Lara, who now jumps for the first time with her new rider Tiit Kivisild.

Monday: a succesful weekend.

The word came from Gothenburg on Wednesday that Mikko and Noora had arrived, as had their horses, which all seemed fresh and well-coped from the long journey. Mikko jumps in Gothenburg with Skybreaker and Melansa, Noora with Evli Cagliostro and Navarro, who now returns after a longer break.

The horses had a brief outing on the course already on Wednesday. On Thursday our riders first class starts at 1240, 1m40 in two phases, with Skybreaker and Navarro. In the evening, in 1m50 with jump-off against the clock, jumps Melansa and Evli Cagliostro.

Thursday

In the 1m40 class the game-plan was to make unhurried familiarizing rounds with both horses and to prepare them for forthcoming days. Skybreaker jumped well with Mikko and they took a deliberate time-fault from phase. Noora and her comeback-making Navarro went to second phase, where they had an unfortunate knockdown at fence 11, where Noora told she was too close. Otherwise Navarro was in good form and very eager on the course.

Mikko and Melansa placed on an excellent sixth place in the Thursday evening's 1m50 with jump-off against the clock. Mikko's and Melansa's time was fastest in the jump-off, but an unfortunate hind-leg error on the entry for a combination separated horse and rider from a class win.

Noora's Evli Cagliostro was not quite in peak form. Noora told that she also played a part in riding slightly inefficiently and all this resulted in two knockdowns, the first on 6b and the second on 9a.

The first class on Friday is 1m45-1m50 in two phases, and the class entitles too World Ranking points. Noora rides here with Navarro and Mikko with Melansa. On Friday eve an important World Cup -qualifier decides the possible participation for Sundays World Cup -class. Finland's quota-based participant is Sebastian Numminen and Noora's and Mikko's possible right too start is decided in this qualifier. Mikko jumps here with Skybreaker and Noora with Evli Cagliostro.

Friday - Saturday

Friday's World Cup qualifier went well for both riders. According to Noora both riders aimed for a good and even clean round, and not even try to win the class.

Mikko and Skybreaker had an otherwise clean round, but with one fault for exceeding time allowed. Noora and Evli Cagliostro had within a few spilt seconds the same time as Mikko and Sky, but with one unfortunate rail on the floor. Noora told Cagli was excellent to ride and jumped flawlessly, but she made a small riding mistake by cutting in too soon on the 9 to 10 line, resulting then in the unfortunate rail down at fence 10. Noora said it was unfortunate indeed, as the round otherwise was really good.

Both Mikko and Noora qualified with the result for Sunday's World Cup class. Mikko and Skybreaker scored also World Ranking points with the top 15 placing.

In the Friday's second class, 1m50 in two phases, Mikko and Melansa made a clean first phase, but had two rails down in the second. Melansa appeared a little tense and hurried, and Noora told the jump-off from Thursday was the obvious reason. For Sunday though, they thought Melansa would be more relaxed and the mare would jump in the 1m50 "small-GP" with jump-off.

Noora and Navarro jumped the 1m50 class on the same 0/8 result, as Mikko and Melansa. Noora told Navarro jumped very, very well, but she made an unfortunate mistake by overdoing a short appearing 11-12ab distance, which resulted in knock-downs on the both parts of the combination fence. For the remaining course Noora just secured an uneventful finish. Also Navarro is to in Sunday's "small-GP".

Saturday was a day off for the horses, which for obvious reasons couldn't jump 4 days flat. Saturday was also a bit of celebration, as it was the birthday for Noora! On Saturday eve all seemed well in the camp, with both people and horses in good form for Sunday's reaming classes.

In Lummen the first show-day had went well, with Matilda securing a clean round with Gigi Amor in 1m20 and finishing on a 4-faulter with Jalinka in 1m25. The same one-rail finish was also true for Ville and Regent, who competed on knot higher in 1m35. Both riders had despite any errors done good courses and all were for set for the remaining two days in Lummen.

Sunday - Monday

The Sunday morning 1m50 "Small-GP" finished for Mikko and Melansa as twelfth in the results and as the fastest 4-faulter. Noora and Navarro had 6 faults in the final results.

Noora explained how extremely well Navarro was jumping, making such a good round. Unfortunately, as Noora told, she made a small mistake and made a too strong check for second last fence, with the result of the gelding to stop. Noora made a new approach and Nava jumped the remaining two fences still flawlessly. Noora was naturally disappointed, but also very pleased with her horse.

Slightly unlucky was also Mikko's and Melansa's round. Melansa jumped a really good, relaxed and easy-looking course, with an unlucky rail on the floor as Mikko cut too much for an oxer following a triple combination. Their first round time was clearly fastest overall and resulted in essential world ranking points also as a 4-faulter, something outscoring any single placing. Mikko was unhappy with his mistake, but very at ease with his well-jumping mare!

In the Gothenburg World Cup Noora and Evli Cagliostro proved to be the best Finnish horse and rider. On Friday there was three Finnish horse and riders qualifying for the Sunday's World Cup. Additionally Sebastian Numminen was automatically entitled to join based on the Finnish quota-based World Cup slot given to him. Eventually on Sunday Noora and Cagli made a flawless performance, except for one unlucky 4-faulter in first round. Mikko and Skybreaker finished on a good round, but two rails down at 9 faults. Finland's Sebastian Numminen retired and Piia Pantsu never started.

On the technical 1m60 World Cup course we saw a happy and relaxed Evli Cagliostro jumping according to Noora's instructions. Noora told it was eventually her own mistake that led to the unlucky plank on the floor, as she should have been even more passive at that fence. Otherwise it was a flawless performance from both Noora and Cagli!

Mikko's energetic Skybreaker was now better to ride than in times and by no means performed poorly, despite two mistakes. Sky showed good jumps, but erred at the same plank as Noora and Cagli and further at vertical number 9. Mikko told that Sky is has become more consistent and confident and he thinks we might see the gelding making excellent performances incoming summer season.

After the World Cup class many encouraging words was pronounced. Henk Nooren, the riders' trainer, was pleased. Praise came also from a source well familiar with Evli Cagliostro's earlier life. This Swedish lady told that it's always difficult to part from a good friend, but seeing such a happy and confident Cagli on two lovely rounds left her totally at peace; Cagli is now in the best hands!

The Gothenburg World Cup weekend was a clear success. Noora made several good performances, with the World Cup round being a very worthy finale to the weekend. Mikko's weekend brought an excellent sixth place with Melansa, but even more so, World Ranking points from three different classes.

In Lummen Monday went better than a slightly rocky ride experienced on Sunday. Matilda closed the weekend with a fine placing in 1m35 against the clock.

Incoming weekend it's back to Lummen for the whole team. A busy time is guaranteed by taking a planned 7-10 horses to the show. Even before that on Wednesday we see Melansa and Evli Cagliostro leaving the stable. They are starting their long trip to Kuala Lumpur!

The results summaries from Gothenburg and Lummen.

The official website:

• G?teborg Horse Show

Gothenburg results service LIVE:

• Sport Computer Graphics

Information about Gothenburg

• Gothenburg on Wikipedia

Mikko's and Noora's results:

• Results summary from Gothenburg

Lummen's official website:

• The Lente Tour

Results from Lummen:

• Lummen's results service

Ville's and Matilda's classes:

• Results summary from Lummen