Meredith Michaels Beerbaum strikes first World Cup blow
Friday 17 April 2009
Defending title holder Meredith Michaels Beerbaum struck the first blow last night in the first competition of the Rolex FEI World Cup™ final in Las Vegas. Winning the opening battle, the 39 year old rider from Thedinghausen, Germany, proved that she was the smartest analyst of Anthony d’Ambrosio’s brilliant speed and handiness course.
Steve Guerdat from Switzerland had already proven that the short cut to fence 5 was possible. Taking another extremely risky short turn to the Bellagio oxer, Guerdat’s horse Tresor was off balance and couldn’t prevent a rail from falling down.
Pretty much at the end of the field Meredith Michaels Beerbaum added strides in some lines, enabling her 16 year old gelding Shutterfly to skip meters and stop the clock at only 56.48 seconds. The crowd in the Thomas & Mack Center was ecstatic.
Christina Liebherr, who was seventh to go, made everybody believe that her time would be unbeatable, racing around the course aboard LB No Mercy, stopping the clock at 57.47 seconds and having to settle for the runner up spot. The USA's McLain Ward finished in third place.
Speaking after the competition Meredith Michaels Beerbaum said:
Steve Guerdat from Switzerland had already proven that the short cut to fence 5 was possible. Taking another extremely risky short turn to the Bellagio oxer, Guerdat’s horse Tresor was off balance and couldn’t prevent a rail from falling down.
Pretty much at the end of the field Meredith Michaels Beerbaum added strides in some lines, enabling her 16 year old gelding Shutterfly to skip meters and stop the clock at only 56.48 seconds. The crowd in the Thomas & Mack Center was ecstatic.
Christina Liebherr, who was seventh to go, made everybody believe that her time would be unbeatable, racing around the course aboard LB No Mercy, stopping the clock at 57.47 seconds and having to settle for the runner up spot. The USA's McLain Ward finished in third place.
Speaking after the competition Meredith Michaels Beerbaum said:
“This course was unique. Normally riders can be faster by leaving out strides. In this course I could be faster adding strides. And Shutterfly is a good adder! I was a bit surprised that I was the only one to choose these options. My horse is 16 years, we have a lot of experience and I know him very well. I made a plan and I was happy that we could execute it.”
Britain's Ben Maher riding Robin Hood W jumped a foot perfect clear round and currently holds eighth place. Michael Whitaker and Suncal Portofino 63 lowered a single fence to finish with four faults and lies in eighteenth position.
Results of the Rolex FEI World Cup™ final (first competition)
1 Meredith Michaels Beerbaum (GER), Shutterfly, 56.48 sec, 45 pnts
2 Christina Liebherr (SWI), LB No Mercy, 57.47 sec, 43 pnts
3 McLain Ward (USA), Sapphire, 57.73 sec, 42 pnts
4 Rich Fellers (USA), Flexible, 58.50 sec, 41 pnts
5 Thomas Velin (DEN), Grim st. Clair, 58.68 sec, 40 pnts
6 Albert Zoer (NED), Okidoki, 58.90 sec, 39 pnts
7 Ludger Beerbaum, Coupe de Coeur, 59.11 sec, 38 pnts
8 Ben Maher (GBR), Robin Hood W, 59.26 sec, 37 pnts
9 Steve Guerdat (SWI), Tresor, 59.61 sec, 36 pnts
10 Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA), Rufus, 60.09 sec, 35 pnts
11 Daniel Etter (SWI), Peu a Peu, 60.27 sec, 34 pnts
12 Marcus Ehning (GER), Leconte, 60.55 sec, 33 pnts
13 Lars Nieberg (GER), Lucie, 60.69 sec, 32 pnts
14 Marco Kutscher (GER), 61.02 sec, 31 pnts
15 Mandy Porter (USA), San Diego, 61.47 sec, 30 pnts
16 DarrAgh Kerins (IRE), Night Train, 61.58 sec, 29 pnts
17 Christine McCrea (USA), Vegas, 64.09 sec, 28 pnts
18 Michael Whitaker (GBR), Portofino, 64.68 sec, 27 pnts
19 Edwina AlexAnder (AUS), Isovlas Itot du Chateau, 64.74 sec, 26 pnts
20 Kent Farrington (USA), Up Chiqui, 64.96 sec., 25 pnts
21 Mkael Forsten (FIN), Isaac du Jonquet, 64.97 sec, 24 pnts
22 Hillary Dobbs (USA), Quincy B, 65.04 sec, 23 pnts