Federation Equestre Internationale News 10 December 2001

TOP TEN FINAL
Beerbaum Is The Undisputed World Number One

The first ever Top Ten Final in Jumping was held last Saturday 8 December in the frame of CSI-W Geneva (SUI).

The participation field was to include the first ten riders in the FEI/Gandini World Jumping Riders Rankings. The Swiss Willi Melliger (4th of the rankings), who was suffering back problems withdrew and was replaced by number 13 of the rankings, the Olympic Champion Jeroen Dubbeldam (NED).

According to the formula developed by the International Jumping Riders Club, the Final was held over two rounds, without jump-off. The starting order of the first round was from No 10 to No 1 of the rankings and reverse order of the first round results in the second round.

Seven couples went clear in the first round. Michael Whitaker, who had to change his mount at the last minute, abandoned after two fences down in the first round.

In the second round, Markus Fuchs (SUI) and Tinka’s Boy, who had the fastest time, hit the very last obstacle and finished to the consternation of his home crowd with 4 points penalties. Number One of the rankings since the beginning of 2001, Beerbaum confirmed his position and won this first ever World Top 10 Final, after two impeccable clear rounds on his 10 years old Hanoverian stallion Goldfever.

Results
1 Ludger Beerbaum GER – Goldfever III (0 pts/ 46.97 sec)
2 Ludo Philippaerts BEL – Verelst Otterongo Kopshoe (0 / 47.02)
3 Franke Sloohaak GER – Team Ericsson Gio Granno (0/49.18)
4 Jos Lansink BEL – AK Caridor Z (0/58.58)
5 Jeroen Dubbeldam NED – De Sjiem (1/60.73)
6 Markus Fuchs SUI – Team Ericsson Tinka’s Boy (4/46.56)
7 Rolf Goran Bengtsson SWE – Isovlas Pialotta (4/49.57)
8 Lars Nieberg GER – Albertino 17 (4/50.66)
9 Rodrigo Pessoa BRA – Gandini Bianca d’Amaury (8/50.99)
Ab. Michael Whitaker GBR – Pince of Wales FC

WORLD CUP
Young Swedish Star Beats The Best To Win World Cup in Geneva

The talented young Swedish rider Malin Baryard beat an impressive field including current and former World Cup Champions Markus Fuchs (SUI) and Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) and World Rankings leader Ludger Beerbaum (GER) to win her first World Cup Qualifier in round six of the series from Geneva.

Malin, who originally trained with British rider John Whitaker rode the impressive 10 year-old mare H&M Butterfly Flip in the eight horse jump-off. Malin has already had success this year when she helped Sweden to win team silver medal at the European Jumping Championships in Arnhem in June\July

Of the eight to go through to the jump-off only four managed clear rounds. Malin’s time of 39.91 looked unbeatable but with the Rodrigo Pessoa last to go and riding his World Cup horse Baloubet de Rouet nothing was certain.

But Rodrigo, despite having the advantage of being last to go was unable to beat the time set by Malin, missing out by less that three tenths of a second.

Results
1 Malin Baryard SWE – H&M Butterfly Flip 0 39.64
2 Rodrigo Pessoa BRA – Baloubet de Rouet 0 39.91
3 Roberto Arioldi ITA – 0 40.11
4 Jan Tops NED – Grand Dame 0 46.36
5 Lars Nieberg GER – Esprit FRH 4 40.64
6 Jessica Kurten IRE – Paavo 4 41.08
7 Rolf Goran Bengtsson SWE – Opstalans Chanell 4 45.45
8 Ludger Beerbaum GER – Gladdys S 8 39.14
9 Peter Charles IRE – Carnavelley 4 82.73
9 Stanny van Paesschen BEL – O de Pomme 4 79.5
9 Markus Fuchs SUI – Team Ericsson Granie V 4 80.96
9 Wout Jan Van Der Schans NED – Broere VDL Corland 4 82.25


Toni Hassmann (GER) leads the World Cup standings of the Western European League with 62 points, followed by Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (SWE) with 46 points and Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) with 42 points).

Visit new FEI World Cup section (under news) in FEI website www.horsesport.org

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FEDERATION EQUESTRE INTERNATIONALE
www.horsesport.org