MEREDITH AND CHECKMATE STEAL THE LIMELIGHT AT LYON
Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum recorded Germany's third consecutive victory of the 2010/2011 Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping season when topping the line-up at Lyon in France this afternoon following a great performance from Checkmate. And it was a very special victory for the multiple-champion who most recently helped the German team to gold at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Kentucky, USA.
"My last World Cup ride was in Las Vegas in 2009 - I have been out of the indoor sport for almost two years now so this was a big day for me today, and a great day for me too!" pointed out the 40 year old rider. And her win wasn't easily achieved. She had the best of the draw when last to go in the nine-horse jump-off, but she had to chase the super-tight target time set by The Netherlands' Gerco Schroder in a competition that was filled with surprises. Not the least of these was the third-place finish for Colombia's Rene Lopez who nearly brought the house down with the excitement he created during his race against the clock with his brave mare Noblesse Des Tess.
Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2010/2011 Western European League - Standings After Round 3 at Lyon (FRA):
1. Christian Ahlmann GER - 40
2. Kevin Staut FRA - 32
3. Leon Thijssen NED - 27
4. Philipp Weishaupt GER - 24
5. Malin Baryard-Johnsson SWE - 23
6. Lars Nieberg GER - 22
7. Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum GER - 20
Rodrigo Pessoa BRA - 20
9. Julien Epaillard FRA - 18
10. Gerco Schroder NED - 17
Ludger Beerbaum GER - 17
12. Ludo Philippaerts BEL - 15
Rene Lopez COL - 15
14. Karina Rie Truelsen DEN - 13
Marco Kutscher GER - 13
Nina Fagerstrom FIN - 13
17. Rolf-Goran Bengtsson SWE - 12
18. Wout-Jan Van der Schans NED 11
19. Jessica Kuerten IRL - 10
Jos Lansink BEL - 10
