Fuchs becomes best-earning rider
Markus Fuchs has become the highest-earning Swiss showjumper of all times, after riding Tinka's Boy to a second place in the World Cup and a silver in the team event at the Sydney Olympics this year.
Fuchs earned SFr580,344 ($341,378) in the year ending September 30, beating the previous record of SFr352,484 set by Willi Melliger in 1996.
He also won the owner’s championship for the first time for the horse’s owner, Stéfanie Wagishauser. Fuch’s earnings by far exceed those of the best-earning German rider, Marcus Ehning, whose prize money totalled about SFr400,000.
The Swiss bronze medallist at the World Cup, Beat Mändli, earned SFr357,164 on Pozitano, while Melliger on Calvaro was the third highest Swiss earner with SFr227,575.
The Association of Swiss Competition Riders has named Paul Freimüller “Rookie of the Year” for his successes on Himmerdor. Freimüller, a farmer, riding teacher and horse-trader from canton Zurich, managed six clear runs at national competition this year.
His biggest success was managing two runs without picking up a single penalty point at one of the most prestigious competitions of the circuit, in Calgary.
Freimüller’s performance has for the first time earned him a place on the team for next year’s European Championships in Arnheim, in The Netherlands.
swissinfo with agencies
In compliance with the JTI standards
More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.