|
Flying Dutchman Does It In Helsinki
20-10-2003 Holland’s Eric Van der Vleuten claimed the first FEI World Cup honours of the 2003/2004 season at Helsinki in Finland today with a superb performance from Audi’s Jikke.
Last to go in the 12-horse jump-off the Dutchman was almost three-hundredths of a second faster than runner-up Helena Weinberg from Germany riding Kasting Horses Gavi while Frenchman Bruno Broucqsault slotted into third with Dileme de Cephe.
Toni Hassmann, winner at the Hartwall Arena in 2001 and again last year, was firm favourite to make it a hat-trick following victory in both Friday’s Pre-Qualifier and Saturday’s Grand Prix with Meurer’s Le Patron but the German rider’s luck ran out when Camirez B made just one mistake in today’s opening round.
Olympic champions Jeroen Dubbeldam and De Sjiem were pathfinders against the clock and set the target when clear in 46.31 seconds but Helena Weinberg immediately shaved almost three seconds off that when, next into the ring, she galloped through the finish with Kasting Horses Gavi in 43.39.
Malin Baryard and H&M Butterfly Flip were challenging strongly until hitting the very last fence in the fast time of 42.60, while the quickest jump-off time was recorded by Frenchman Olivier Guillon with Baladine du Mesnil who crossed the line in 41.29, but this partnership had to settle for 12th position in the final analysis having left three fences on the floor.
Helena’s target was now looking very difficult to beat. Sixth to go, Bruno Broucqsault was closest in a time of 44.14 ahead of fellow-Frenchman Michel Hecart who broke the beam with Quilano de Kalvarie in 44.56 seconds when tenth into the ring. The penultimate rider, Germany’s Franke Sloothaak, was no threat when opting for a careful clear with the 10 year old grey mare Sheila, but the best was yet to come.
"There was a TV screen in the warm-up arena so I watched and knew how much risk to take when I went into the ring" Eric Van der Vleuten said afterwards.
"I made up time over the first three fences and I really went for it - my mare is quick but sensitive – only a short time ago I could not push her so fast but she has improved even more this year so I can ask her for more– she was great today" he added.
The 12 year old Audi’s Jikke, by Concorde, raced through the finish in 43.10 seconds to claim the 25,000 Euro first prize for her 40 year old rider who is based near Eindhoven in Holland while Helena had to settle for the runner-up prize 20,000 Euro.
"It’s been a good season for myself and the mare" Eric said. "I rode her on four Super League teams – in Rotterdam where we won and in La Baule, Dublin and Barcelona and she has been very consistent. I have another horse also for the World Cup series and I am looking forward to getting a new horse in my yard over the next few weeks so I should have three to choose from and I want to do some more World Cup competitions – definitely Oslo next week. I intend to make it to the Final!" he added.
With the maximum 20 points on the leaderboard after today’s result Eric could book an early ticket to Milan next April if he can do the double and win again in Oslo next Sunday.
RESULT: 1, Audi’s Jikke (Eric Van der Vleuten) Ned 0/0 43.10; 2, Kasting Horses Gavi (Helena Weinberg) Ger 0/0 43.39; 3, Dileme de Cephe (Bruno Broucqsault) Fra 0/0 44.14; 4, Quilano de Kalvarie (Michel Hecart) Fra 0/0 44.56; 5, De Sjiem (Jeroen Dubbeldam) Ned 0/0 46.31; 6, Sheila (Franke Sloothaak) Ger 0/0 52.36; 7, Isovlas Socrates (Steve Guerdat) Sui 0/4 42.24; 8, H&M Butterfly Flip (Malin Baryard) Swe 0/4 42.60; 9, Hofgut Liederbach’s Ingmar (Pia-Louise Aufrecht) Ger 0/4 44.97; 10, Leonardo B3 (Thomas Voss) Ger 0/4 45.00; 11, Calimbo (Karl Wechselberger) Ita 0/8 47.11; 12, Baladine du Mesnil (Olivier Guillon) Fra 0/12 41.29; 13, Controe (Marco Kutscher) Ger 1flt 86.33; equal 14, Equest Carnute (Thomas Velin) Den 4 flts 80.53, Diamant du Gaty (Camilla Enemark) Den 4 flts 81.95, Kilian (Guiseppe Rolli) Ita 4 flts 82.94, Questro 2 (Oleg Krasyuk) Ukr 4 flts 83.96, Qualite (Robert Whitaker) GB 4 flts 81.52, A La Ballerina (Katharina Offel) Ger 4 flts 81.49, Richmond Park (Royne Zetterman) Swe 4 flts 81.60, Camirez B (Toni Hassmann) Ger 79.44, Marius Claudius (Robert Smith) GB 4 flts 84.68, Gustel 11 (Eliza Shuford) USA 4 flts 81.16.
2003/2004 FEI WORLD CUP JUMPING SERIES
THE TOP-TEN ON THE LEADERBOARD AFTER ROUND 1 AT HELSINKI
1. Eric Van der Vleuten - 20
2. Helena Weinberg - 17
3. Bruno Broucqsault - 15
4. Michel Hecart - 13
5. Jeroen Dubbeldam - 12
6. Franke Sloothaak - 11
7. Steve Guerdat - 10
8. Malin Baryard - 9
9. Pia-Louise Aufrecht - 8
10. Thomas Voss - 7
2003/2004 FEI WORLD CUP JUMPING SERIES – CALENDAR OF EVENTS
1, Helsinki – 19 October; 2, Oslo – 26 October; 3, Verona – 9 November; 4, Berlin – 16 November; 5, Geneva – 7 December; 6, Olympia – 21 December; 7, Mechelen – 30 December; 8, Leipzig – 25 January; 9, Amsterdam – 1 February; 10, Bordeaux – 7 February; 11, Vigo – 14 February; 12, Paris – 6 March; 13, s’Hertogenbosch – 28 March; 14, Gothenburg – 11 April. Final in Milan – 21 to 25 April.
The Website www.helsinkihorseshow.fi
The next leg will be staged in Oslo, Norway on Sunday 26 October 2003.
The Website www.oslohorseshow.com
The third FEI World Cup Qualifier takes place in Verona, Italy on Sunday 9 November 2003.
The Website www.fieracavalli.com
BIOGRAPHIES on riders competing in the FEI World Cup Jumping series are available at
http://bios.horsesport.org
YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE NEWLY REVISED RULES for the World Cup for Jumping Riders from
FEI website: www.horsesport.org
FEI World Cup Jumping has entered its 26th year. The series, created in 1978, today comprises 12 leagues on all continents. The best riders from over 100 World Cup preliminary competition will qualify for the Final which will be held in Milan (ITA) from 21 to 25 April 2004. The title-holder is Markus Ehning (GER) with Anka.
SVENSK SEIER I MECHELEN
Svenske Rolf-Göran Bengtsson sørget for svensk seier i den syvende og siste World Cup runden i 2003. Med en andreplass fra CSI-W Mechelen 30. desember gikk Jos Lansink opp i sammenlagtledelsen.
Eneste norske deltaker i Mechelen, Ingrid Lærdal, gjennomførte bra med to riv som ga en delt 17. plass. Ingrid red den danskfødte vallaken Welten Z Enemærke.
Banebygger Lucien Somers ga deltakerne en tøff utfordring. Den tretten hinder lange banen bød på brede og høye oksere samtidig som avstanden mellom hinderne enkelte steder var så vrien at det var vanskelig å ri en feulfri runde. Det høye plankehinderet som avsluttet trekombinasjonen gikk i bakken for mange av ekvipasjene, blant dem Eric van der Vleuten ligger som nummer to sammenlagt. Bare fem ekvipasjer gikk videre til omhoppingen i denne World Cup kvalifiseringen.
Rolf Göran sikret seg seieren med den ni år gamle hollandske hesten Mac Kinley, som han overtok fra italienske Gerry Smit for ti måneder siden. Han arbeider nå sammen med Bo Kristoffersen i Hamburg og har for øyeblikket tre topphester som han rir i konkurranser. Går alt etter planen vil vi se mer til Rolf-Göran 25. januar i Leipzig.
Her finner du fullstendige resultatlister og status i kvalifiseringen til FEI World Cup for sprangryttere.
http://www.scg-nl.nl/events/equestrian/2003/mechelen/results/results.ws
|
|
