 |
| Carsten-Otto Nagel receives his watch from Rolex's Magali Dubois Vaucher. By FEI/Tim Welland |
A superbly-judged round against the clock secured victory in the fifth leg of the 2010/2011 Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping series today for Carsten-Otto Nagel. Riding Corradina, the 48-year-old rider from Hamburg set the pace in this afternoon's 13-horse jump-off and none of the rest could match his speed despite their best efforts.
The biggest threat came from defending Rolex FEI World Cup champion and fellow German Marcus Ehning, who had to settle for runner-up spot with Noltes Kuchengirl while Ireland's Billy Twomey finished third with Tinka's Serenade.
This latest result brings Germany's impressive early-season tally to four wins from the opening five qualifying legs in the Western European League series, which will conclude with the final on its home turf in Leipzig, 27 April - 1 May 2011.
Nagel has now moved into sixth place on the leaderboard which continues to be headed by world number one Kevin Staut from France and which currently includes three Germans among the top six.
The competition
Italian course-designer Uliano Vezzani created a track that demanded big jumping, but the quality of the line-up ensured a strong entry into the second-round race against the clock. However, Uliano's clever jump-off track tested turning-capability as much as speed.
Spain's Sergio Alvarez Moya and his 10-year-old Heartbreaker stallion Action-Breaker set the standard in the timed round with a confident fault-free effort in 39.32 seconds. Sweden's Peder Fredricson and H&M Aurora Borealis followed, hitting the second fence, a vertical.
This fence proved highly influential in the final analysis as riders needed to take the shortest route to it from the opening wall. The Netherlands' Marc Houtzager and HBC Tamino mastered this curving line to re-set the target in 35.58 seconds and that was the time that Carsten-Otto was chasing as fourth into the ring.
Corradina made it all look very elementary as she smoothly weaved her way round the course to shave more than half a second off the new target and left the rest chasing her time of 35 seconds.
Norway's Nina Braaten produced a careful clear from the ever improving Blue Loyd in 41.57 seconds and, after Frenchman Patrice Deleveau left one on the floor with Katchina Mail, Thomas Muhlbauer looked competitive with Asti Spumante but was only fractionally faster than Marc.
Britain's Michael Whitaker's aptly-named Little Lady, whose diminutive stature is contrasted by a long stride and a powerful jump, had produced a great first round. The nine-year-old mare came back to go clear again, but with the clock showing 35.76 seconds, Carsten-Otto's lead remained well secured. However, Marcus Ehning's next-to-go effort was threatening indeed, Noltes Kuchengirl gave it her all as the twisted and turned her way around the course finishing just 0.10 seconds behind the target time and firmly slot into runner-up spot.
And that was where they stayed when Noblesse M hit the second-last for Switzerland's Pius Schwizer, who survived an inexplicable and heart-stopping clamber over the opening wall. The only remaining serious challengers were Ireland's Billy Twomey and Tinka's Serenade, who looked well in touch after jumping the penultimate Rolex oxer but lost a little time steadying for the last to complete in 35.38 seconds.
"It's not often you get six riders all finishing a jump-off track inside the same second," said Billy. "It was really tight, but I'm very happy with my mare."
This was good enough for third place when Switzerland's Steve Guerdat (Jalisca Solier) and Sweden's Rolf-Goran Bengtsson (Casall La Silla) both hit the first element of the Rolex double half-way round the course.
The winner
"I didn't expect to win," Carsten-Otto insisted afterwards. "I knew I needed to go fast, but I thought I'd finish maybe third or fourth - in the end the result was very close."
Carsten-Otto said he knows how lucky he is to have such a great mare as Corradina.
"She always gives me 100% over every course, she is super-brave but I'm a bit surprised with how well she's going indoors this season; normally she's much better outside than inside," he said. "Here at Stuttgart the arena is very big though, and this suits her.
"She didn't do too much during the summer because I was always thinking about keeping her right for Kentucky [Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games] and since she came home from there she hasn't done a lot.
"She did two small classes in Verona and then came here, she's in great shape and back in good form. Now I'm thinking I will do a bit more with her over the next few weeks and hopefully will rest her again early in the New Year. By then I hope I will be qualified for the final in Leipzig."
Over the past 18 months, Carsten-Otto has collected individual silver and team bronze medals from the 2009 Alltech FEI European Championships, Windsor, and team gold at this year's Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games with this mare.
For full results from Stuttgart, click here
Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2010/2011 Western European League Top 20 Standings after Stuttgart
1. Kevin Staut FRA - 43
2. Christian Ahlmann GER - 40
3. Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum GER - 37
4. Rodrigo Pessoa BRA - 36
5. Rolf-Goran Bengtsson SWE - 34
6. Carsten-Otto Nagel GER - 33
7. Harrie Smolders NED - 32
8. Gerco Schroder NED - 28
9. Robert Whitaker GBR - 28
10. Billy Twomey IRL - 27
10. Leon Thijssen NED - 27
12. Ludger Beerbaum GER - 26
13. Philipp Weishaupt GER - 24
14. Malin Baryard-Johnsson SWE - 23
15. Lars Nieberg GER - 22
16. Jeroen Dubbeldam NED - 20
17. Marcus Ehning GER - 20
18. Nina Braaten NOR - 20
19. Julien Epaillard FRA - 18
20. Sergio Alvarez Moya ESP - 18
No comments:
Post a Comment