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Federation
Equestre Internationale News
FEI/Gandini Top Ten Final Presented By Rolex: Pessoa Wins
Top Ten Final In Geneva
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A
capacity crowd enjoyed the third annual FEI/Gandini Top-Ten Final
in the Palexpo Arena in Geneva yesterday (Saturday 6 December)
where Rodrigo Pessoa claimed the 36,000 CHF first prize riding
the stallion Baloubet du Rouet.
The
Brazilian rider, who placed ninth in 2001 and seventh last year,
said "it’s a unique competition, my horse jumped very
well in both rounds and I am very happy to win it".
His
success was all the more remarkable for the fact that he had been
feeling ill on Thursday and Friday but, after his victory, Rodrigo
said "I felt it was important to stay and compete, so I rested
a lot. I’m still not 100% but I was well enough to stay on
the horse and be transported!".
Just
five riders were clear over the first course and, in the jump-off,
Marcus Ehning and For Pleasure had the best time but hit one fence
to finish in third place.
Lars
Nieberg opted for a careful clear and was rewarded with runner-up
spot with Lucie but Rodrigo was nine seconds faster to claim the
main honours.
For
the home crowd there was huge disappointment when World No. 1,
Markus Fuchs, was forced to retire in the opening round. Fuchs
has been bothered by a thigh-muscle problem since mid-summer of
this year and was feeling uncomfortable going into the ring with
Tinka’s Boy. After jumping a few fences however the pain
increased dramatically and he pulled up and left the arena to
the dismay of the spectators. "It was like a knife in my
leg" he was reported to say on his way to hospital for some
early medical attention, and it is feared that he may be out of
action for some time.
Once
again Palexpo proved a popular venue with the riders. Lars Nieberg
commented that "the course was super like last year –
it is not possible to get any better and the going is very good".
Result
– 1, Baloubet du Rouet (Rodrigo Pessoa) Bra 0/0 43.44; 2,
Lucie (Lars Nieberg) Ger 0/0 52.58; 3, For Pleasure (Marcus Ehning)
Ger 0/4 40.90; 4, Goldfever 11 (Ludger Beerbaum) Ger 0/4 44.91;
5, Lando (Otto Becker) Ger 0/4 46.26; 6, Kalusha (Robert Smith)
GB 4 49.02; 7, H&M Butterfly Flip (Malin Baryard) 8 44.15;
8, AK Caridor Z (Jos Lansink) Bel 8 47.18; 9, Authentic (Beezie
Madden) USA 12 45.37; 10, Tinka’s Boy (M Fuchs) Sui Ret.
www.horsesport.org
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