EHNING MAKES IT FIVE FOR GERMANY AT ZURICH
Marcus Ehning brought the German tally to five wins in the 2010/2011 Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping series with a convincing victory riding Noltes Kuchengirl at the ninth leg in Zurich, Switzerland today. In an exciting seven-way jump-off against the clock, the defending champion pipped British birthday boy, 28 year old Ben Maher riding the rejunevated Robin Hood W, while Australia's Edwina Alexander and Cevo Itot du Chateau finished third.
Remarkably, two Spanish riders made the cut into the jump-off and the first of these, Pilar Cordon, slotted into fourth when double-clear with Nuage Bleu while German superstars Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and Shutterfly had to settle for fifth with a single mistake against the clock. Today's result however has promoted Michaels-Beerbaum to runner-up spot in the Western European League standings which continue to be led by World No. 1 Kevin Staut from France whose first-round double-error proved costly today.
Course designer, Frank Rothenberger, set them the toughest of tasks with a big, bold track that demanded courageous jumping and plenty of scope. However as always luck played its part too as, in particular, the planks at the triple combination chose to defy gravity in many cases while also claiming a large number of victims.
JUMP-OFF
Despite all the drama however, seven made it into the jump-off against the clock with five nations represented in the final showdown including two from both Spain and Germany. Switzerland's Janika Sprunger led the way with the 10 year old uptown Boy but with eight faults collected at the oxer at fence six - now the third fence on the new course - and at the following vertical at seven she left the door wide open for the rest. Spain's Pilar Lucrecia Cordon has proven many times before that she can cut it with the best of them, particularly when partnering her handsome stallion Herald, and steered the 10 year old Nuage Bleu home to record the first clear of the course in 42.81 seconds.
Next to go was one of the favourites, Michaels-Beerbaum with the great Shutterfly who had made the first track look very elementary indeed. But one of the dreaded planks that had caused so much heart-ache in the opening round was still standing and when the 18 year old gelding hit that for four faults then it was still all to play for. Sergio Moya then set off for Spain with the Action-Breaker and was looking very good indeed until turning to the double at fence nine which was now just three fences from home. Their round fell apart when their take-off was a good deal too early here and they finished with eight faults in 44.70 seconds so the result was, yet again, clearly hanging in the balance.
Ehning's round that followed however was cool, smooth and careful as Noltes Kuchengirl cruised home to re-set the parameters when breaking the beam in 40.03 seconds. Edwina Alexander and Itot du Chateau were quick and clean when second-last to go, but despite a great turn from the penultimate wall - a new fence introduced for the timed round - the Australian partnership were more than two seconds off Ehning's target, leaving it all up to last-man-in Maher.
The British rider could have been forgiven for holding back with the 13 year old Robin Hood who has only recently returned to action after a long layoff but he wasn't at all fazed. "Today's course was one of the biggest Grand Prix tracks I've seen for a long while and it played to my horse's advantage because that's the way he likes it" Maher said afterwards, and he was clearly giving it his best shot when racing through the finish to slot into second spot in a time of 42.10.
Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2010/2011 Western European League - Standings After Round 8 at Mechelen, Belgium:
1. Kevin Staut FRA - 87
2. Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum GER - 62
3. Rolf-Goran Bengtsson SWE - 58
4. Billy Twomey IRL - 50
5. Christian Ahlmann GER - 46
6. Harrie Smolders NED - 43
7. Marcus Ehning GER - 40
8. Sergio Alvarez Moya ESP - 40
9. Rodrigo Pessoa BRA - 36
10. Michael Whitaker GBR - 35
11. Carsten-Otto Nagel GER - 33
12. Ludger Beerbaum GER - 31
13. Pilar Cordon ESP - 31
14. Jessica Kuerten IRL - 30
15. Malin Baryard-Johnsson SWE - 29
16. Gerco Schroder NED - 28
17. Robert Whitaker GBR - 28
18. Leon Thijssen NED - 27
19. Lars Nieberg GER - 27
20. Edwina Alexander AUS - 26
