FRANCE SNATCH VICTORY IN ROTTERDAM
Saturday 20 June 2009
France came out on top after yet another edge-of-the-seat finish to the fourth leg of the 2009 Meydan FEI Nations Cup series in Rotterdam, The Netherlands today.
For the third time this season the result was decided by a two-way jump-off against the clock, and the USA was only denied a back-to-back hat-trick by a breath-taking performance from Frenchwoman Penelope Leprevost. Last to go in a third-round head-to-head against McLain Ward, the 28 year old from Normandy galloped fearlessly to clinch the result in emphatic fashion.
It was a day of real ups and downs, the Irish sharing the lead with France at the halfway stage only to drop down the order as the second round unfolded and, to the astonishment of keen Meydan FEI Nations Cup series followers, the Swiss joined the Italians when failing to make the cut into round two. Lying second on the series leaderboard going into this leg they collected 20 faults in the early stages and this proved far too costly as they joined the Italians, with 21 faults on the board, in the rider's stand instead of in the ring when the competition resumed.
The host country slotted into third ahead of Belgium in fourth and the Irish in fifth while the Swedish team was highly impressive despite eventually having to settle for sixth place. Maria Gretzer's side was reduced to just three when Lotta Schultz's gelding, Calibra, was unsound before the class began, and yet they held third place as the first round drew to a close. Germany finished seventh in the final analysis with Great Britain in eighth, but while France has now joined Switzerland to lie second on the series leaderboard, Germany remains highly competitive in fourth as the Irish and Italians continue to battle it out at the bottom of the table.
The 12-fence course designed by Louis Konickx seemed to present more difficulty instead of less as the competition progressed, and Ireland's Jessica Kuerten and Quibell were the only partnership to jump clear in both rounds. When team-mate Cameron Hanley was also foot-perfect at his first attempt with Livello, and Capt David O'Brien with Mo Chroi and Denis Lynch with Nabab's Son collected just four faults apiece, the Irish were sharing pole position with France on a four-fault score at the half-way point but only Kuerten held firm as round two progressed.
The French however added just nine more second time out - Leprevost and Jubilee D'Ouilly falling victim to the third element of the troublesome penultimate triple combination, Olivier Guillon's Lord de Theize clipping the oxer at fence nine, and Nicolas Delmotte and Luccianno caught by the water-tray at five and the triple combination also, but Kevin Staut steadying the ship with just a single time fault in an otherwise perfect round from Kraque Boom Bois Margo. Now on a total of 13 they watched the Swedes slip following eight faults from both Svante johansson (Saint Amour) and Jan Fredricson (H&M Aurora Borealis) while the Americans suddenly burst into contention when rocketing up from seventh place to challenge for the lead as Lauren Hough (Quick Study) and McLain Ward (Sapphire) both went clear, Laura Kraut and Cedric just dropped a toe in the water once again and Todd Minikus picked up only a single time fault with Pavarotti.
Yet again it would take a jump-off to decide the winners and it fell to McLain Ward to throw down the gauntlet with Sapphire. As always the great mare didn't let the American down, crossing the line to set a tough target in 32.93 seconds and really putting it up to the relatively inexperienced Leprevost. But as her Chef d'Equipe, Laurent Elias, said afterwards, Penelope is no shrinking violet. "I chose her because she's not scared or intimidated by anything - I knew she would just go for it because she knows no fear and she is a wonderful rider" he pointed out.
With her foot to the floor Leprevost and her 12 year old French-bred mare took flight and screeched around the track to break the beam in 32.59 seconds to clinch the win. "My horse loves speed!" she said afterwards. "Sometimes she is hard to control - she is very hot-blooded, but the more she jumps the better she gets!" explained thelady who only competed in her first international competition two years ago.
Today's result still leaves the USA heading the series leaderboard and with an even greater advantage. They are now eight points in front of the Swiss and French in second place while Germany lies third, 2.5 points further behind going into the fifth leg on their home turf at Aachen in two weeks' time.
RESULT:
1. FRANCE - 13 faults (won with clear round in 32.59 seconds in third-round jump-off): Jubilee D'Ouilly (Penelope Leprovost) 0/4/0/32.59, Lord De Theize (O Guillon) 0/4, Luccianno (Nicolas Delmotte) 8/8, Kraque Boom Bois Margot (Kevin Staut) 4/1.
2. USA - 13 faults (second with clear round in 32.93 seconds in third-round jump-off): Quick Study (Lauren Hough) 4/0, Pavarotti (Todd Minikus) 4/1, Cedric (L Kraut) 4/4, Sapphire (M Ward0 4/0/0/32.93.
3. THE NETHERLANDS - 16 faults: Blauwendraad's O'Brien (Angelique Hoorn) 8/4, Opium VX (Marc Houtzager) 0/4, Oki Doki (Albert Zoer) 4/0, BMC Van Grunsven Whisper (Jeroen Dubbeldam) 4/12.
4. BELGIUM - 19 faults: Vigo D'Arsouilles (Philippe Lejeune) 0/4, Sherry Mury Marais Z (Ludo Philippaerts) 8/4, Quarco De Kerambars (Rik Hemeryck) 7/13, Valentina Van'T Heike (Jos Lansink) 0/4.
5. IRELAND - 20 faults: Quibell (Jessica Kuerten) 0/0, Mo Chroi (David O'Brien) 4/12, SIEC Livello (Cameron Hanley) 0/8, Nabab's Son (Denis Lynch) 4/8.
6. SWEDEN - 23 faults: Calibra (Lotta Schultz) NS/NS, Saint Amour (Svante Johansson) 5/8, H&M Arctic Aurora Borealis (Peder Fredricson) 0/8, Montender (Henrik Von Eckermann)
7. GERMANY - 24 faults: Checkmate (Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum) 0/4, Caretello (Caroline Muller) 4/16, No Father's Girl (Gilbert Bockmann) 4/8, Leconte (Marcus Ehning) Ret/4.
8. GREAT BRITAIN - 25 faults: Insul Tech Wonami Van Den Aard (Michael Whitaker) 5/4, Rosinus (Geoff Billington) 12/4, Nemo (Nick Skelton) 8/4, Vangelis S (Robert Smith) 0/8.
9. SWITZERLAND - 20 faults in first round: LB No Mercy (Christina Liebherr) 8/, Carlina (Pius Schwizer) 8/, Campione Ch (Werner Muff) 16/, Tresor V (Steve Guerdat) 4/.
10. ITALY - 21 faults in first round: Landzeu 2 (Giuseppe D'Onofrio) 9/, Iouri du moulin (Paolo Adamo Zuvadelli) 5/, Da Zara Kanebo (Piergiorgio Bucci) 8/, SNAI Seldana (Natale Chiaudani) 8/.