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| Michel Robert and Rolex's Anthony Schaub. By Paco Rey/FEI |
French riders reigned supreme in Vigo, Spain, (12 February 2011) where Michel Robert pipped fellow-countryman Kevin Staut to win the 11th leg of the 2010/2011 Rolex FEI World Cup Western European League series.
In a contest that challenged mental strength and strategy, as well as jumping ability, it was Michel who kept the coolest head to capitalise on his late draw. And his delight in the success of his mare Kellemoi de Pepita was something he couldn't suppress.
"She jumped fantastic in both rounds," said the 62-year-old. "I'm so very happy with her, she was super."
Kevin, who continues to hold the number one spot on the Rolex World Rankings list, steered his Geneva winner Silvana de Hus into runner-up spot while Sweden's Malin Baryard-Johnsson finished third with H&M Tornesch.
Firest round
Spanish course designer Avelino Rodriguez Mirvalles got more than he bargained for when 17 of the 35 starters found the key to his first-round track. The 13 fences were big and scopey, but the distances in general were kind, although the triple combination claimed a notable number of victims. And with four of the 11 Spanish representatives through to the jump-off, the home crowd had plenty of reason to stay glued to their seats.
Jump-off
First to return to the ring was Malin, who again kept a clean sheet with her 11-year-old stallion to set the standard in 48.15 seconds. Spain's Jesus Garmendia Echevarria was next to go, but hit a vertical (number one reversed and renumbered 15) and the fifth obstacle on the new course. However team-mate Manual Anon Suarez was clear all the way with his mare Rackel Chavannaise as the clock showed 49.14 seconds while another Spanish contender Cristina Toda left just one on the floor with Cashmire.
Malin's lead looked threatened when Germany's Marco Kutscher and Cornet Obolensky produced a super-tight rollback after fence 15, but the grey stallion threw in an objection en route to the following two elements of the triple combination and returned with 12 faults.
Lars Nieberg and Lord Luis kept Germany in the frame when home without incident in the competitive time of 48.95 seconds, but Kevin Staut then burst into the lead with a great run from Silvana de Hus that bettered the target-time by just under a second.
As Switzerland's Pius Schwizer (Ulysse) and Germany's Ludger Beerbaum (Chaman) left fences on the floor it seemed the Frenchman had possibly raised the game as far as it could go. But Sergio Alvarez Moya got a thrilling run from the French bred Mme Pompadour who was well up on the clock coming to the last. The Spanish partnership angled the final oxer but caught the right-hand wing which brought the fence down with a sickening thud. The Spanish fans were aghast as their last-chance hero left the ring despondently.
Switzerland's Steve Guerdat, Great Britain's Michael Whitaker, Ireland's Denis Lynch and last weekend's winner Germany's Philipp Weishaupt all left two fences on the floor while Frenchman Simon Delestre saw his chances slip away with three down. There would be no mistake as Michel set to work, however, balancing his mare beautifully on the turn at 15 and racing through the finish in 45.88 seconds before last-man-in Jeroen Dubbeldam of The Netherlands made a mistake at the penultimate triple bar.
"That turn at fence 15 was very difficult but I felt a win today was a real possibility for my horse," said Michel.
"I tried to go quickly between the first two fences and then more carefully, I took two short turns and on the last part I was very fast. I had a good feeling about things today." he added.
For full results, click here
Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2010/2011 Western European League Standings
1. Kevin Staut FRA - 96
2. Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum GER - 73
3. Rolf-Goran Bengtsson SWE - 73
4. Billy Twomey IRL - 63
5. Sergio Alvarez Moya ESP - 61
6. Rodrigo Pessoa BRA - 56
7. Ludger Beerbaum GER - 51
8. Philipp Weishaupt GER - 50
9. Lars Nieberg GER - 47
10. Christian Ahlmann GER - 46
11. Malin Baryard-Johnsson SWE - 44
12. Harrie Smolders NED - 43
13. Simon Delestre FRA - 42
14. Marcus Ehning GER - 40
15. Michael Whitaker GBR - 37
16. Marco Kutscher GER - 34
17. Carsten-Otto Nagel GER - 33
18. Pilar Cordon ESP - 31
19 Pius Schwizer SUI - 31
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