Luke Dee and Gangster WW are ready to take on the best in the world at this week’s Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final in Basel, Switzerland.
Photo by Libby Law Photography
It was with a bundle of nerves, excitement and “absolute gratefulness” that Luke Dee, New Zealand’s representative at the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final, stood in the centre of the main stadium and took a moment to soak it all in.
He and Gangster WW are not long on the ground in Basel, Switzerland as they prepare for this week’s final and they’re both feeling fit and ready to go.
“Gangster is feeling very fresh and full of himself,” says the 31-year-old from Havelock North. “I don’t think he could be feeling any better.”
He made the call to spend a week with German trainer Sebastian Freesey rather than head to another show and says he’s confident it was the right thing to do. “It has given us a lot of confidence and I feel we can go and put in a solid effort into that first round.”
There is quite the crew on the ground to support the Kiwi combo. As well as partner Amelia Clark, Gangster’s co-owner Fiona Hall and groom Willemijn van Heel, Luke parent’s Jo and Richard Dee have also arrived.
Team Gangster drove through the night to arrive at the venue. “It was extremely well organised when we got here, as you can imagine,” says Luke. “The best thing was seeing mum and dad there when we arrived. We all wandered into the main arena and that’s when it really sunk in. Everything looked incredible. It will be pretty special.”
Gangster is stabled next to Ben Maher (GBR) and Point Break, with Julian Epaillard (FRA) and Donatello d’Auge, Marcus Ehning (GER) and Coolio 42, and world no.1 Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) and Iliana nearby too.
“It is pretty surreal to be surrounded by them,” says Luke. “I have a lot of respect for all these people. You see them on tv when you are growing up and wish that one day you would see them compete or meet them, so to be competing alongside them is very cool.”
He’s hugely proud to have made it to the final. “I am extremely grateful to have the opportunity to be here, thanks to Fiona. It is all pretty humbling.”
Tomorrow is a warm-up class with the first round of the final on Friday morning (NZ time). “It’s a speed class where four faults become four seconds, so slow and clear won’t help you at all.”
Saturday morning (NZ time) is the second class before horses and riders get a day off to prepare for the big final. The top 30 from Saturday’s class will progress to Monday’s competition.
Luke is one of 41 athletes representing 22 countries competing in the final. He is included in the 18 athletes who are on debut at the final, with 35 horses lining up for the first time. At 20, Egyptian Zain Shady Samir is the youngest in the field with Laura Kraut (USA) the oldest at 59. Amongst this year’s field, Marcus Ehning (GER) has the most starts with 21 to his credit, but Michael Whitaker (GBR) holds the most ever with his 24 starts.
Defending champion Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) returns to chase a hattrick of titles. Just five athletes have won three crowns – Hugo Simon (AUT), Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA), Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER), Marcus Ehning (GER) and Steve Guerdat (SUI) – but only Rodrigo has managed three on the trot.
Seven of the athletes who finished in the top ten at last year’s Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final in Riyadh (2023) return to battle for the title again in Basel. Six of the top 10 athletes from the current Longines World Rankings and three former Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Champions are amongst the athletes set to contest this year’s final in Basel. There is 550,000 EUR in prize money across the three classes. Gerard Lachat is the course designer, assisted by Resto Ruflin and Julien Pradervand.
The programme:
- Thursday April 3 2015hrs (SUI time) 1.6m table C – Final I
- Friday April 4 2015hrs (SUI time) 1.6m table A – one round with a jump-off – Final II
- Sunday April 6 1400hrs (SUI time) round one 1.6m table A (speed), 1630hrs round two table A (speed) – Final III
How it works:
- The top 30 (including ties) following the second competition will compete in the first round of the third Longines FEI World Cup Final competition.
- The top 20 (including ties) from that first round progress to the second alongside those who jumped clear, even if their score doesn’t place them in the top 20.
WHAT: Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final
WHERE: Basel, Switzerland
WHEN: April 3-6, 2025
For start lists and results –
https://www.longinestiming.
