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Federation
Equestre Internationale News
FEI Eventing World Cup News
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FEI
Eventing World Cup Final: Linda Algotsson (SWE) confirms her supremacy
after Cross Country
Linda
Algotsson of Sweden riding Stand By Me scored no penalties on
today's very technical and bold 27-fence (40 jumping efforts)
Cross Country course and with an impressive result of 38 points
remains in the lead of the first FEI Eventing World Cup Final
held in Pau (FRA). She performed one of only two clear rounds
finishing at 8,43 min., 7 sec. before the end of time allowed.
When asked to comment on her ride, she said: "When I first
walked the course I thought those that don't die here have won,
but it felt much more comfortable to ride than to walk. I was
the penultimate to go and had had the whole day to gather information
and work on strategies. I was so tense that once I was out there
it felt almost too easy. My horse was great and I am very happy
with what we have achieved."
Linda
is followed by two French riders: Pascal Leroy on Eersteling du
Leou and Eddy Sans on Ecile with 49.1 and 49.4 respectively. Both
of them defended brilliantly the colours of the home nation and
were loudly cheered by an enthusiastic and abundant crowd. Eddy
Sans had remained in the lead for most of the day as he was the
third starter, had no fence penalties and had scored 6.4 points
for finishing 16 sec after the time limit. However, he had had
to leave this coveted position to Pascal, 33rd to go and who was
penalised with only 0.4 time points. Leroy's achievement is all
the more remarkable as he was held at fence 9 (The Farm) for 10
minutes as the previous rider and fellow countryman Michel Bouquet
had fallen in the first water (fence 12).
Peter
Thomsen (GER) on Bordou and Sam Griffiths (AUS) on In the Groove
are in 4th and 5th position.
The
day was less successful for the British (William Fox-Pitt, Julie
Tew, James Robinson, Clare Chamberlayne and Polly Stockton) all
five of whom retired or were eliminated.
Given
that there is only a 5.5 point difference between the 2nd (Pascal
Leroy 49.1) and the 10th rider (Matt Ryan (AUS) 54.9), the situation
remains very open and Jumping promises to be very exciting. However,
with an 11.1 point advantage, Linda Algotsson's perspectives look
bright. She will nevertheless have to remain very focused as she
go last of the 29 riders still in competition.
www.horsesport.org
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