Fredrik Jönsson was fastest and error-free in the first round with the World Cup horse Cold Play and has the lead before Friday's second round. On Sunday, the top 20 crews will ride the Swedish Championship final.

- I have not always been so fast. So I have been training for the whole period now that I have not competed that much, but you have not been able to test it so much in sharp mode. So it was fun, says Jönsson.

Slowly but surely, equestrian sports have been able to start holding their competitions during the summer, but the Swedish Championships are arranged in strict forms. No audience has been admitted and there are restrictions on how many helpers the competitors can have on site.

- It's like it's in society right now, it's a little strange. It's more fun when it's a folk festival, but now you're just very happy that there are some good competitions with good resistance and facilities. So it's great fun, says Jönsson.

After Jönsson, the merited championship rider Douglas Lindelöw is second with his Cheldon and third is Peder Fredricson with Crusader Ice. Rolf-Göran Bengtsson is four with Ermindo W.

Bengtsson and Fredricson are Sweden's foremost riders of all time, including European Championship gold and Olympic silver, but neither of them has won a Swedish Championship gold.

- On a pony I have a gold. So it's fun to ride a Swedish Championship again, says Rolf-Göran Bengtsson with a smile.

ARCHIVE: Peder Fredricson third in St Tropez (July 5):

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