GERMAN’Ys Hans-Dieter Dreher and the stallion, Embassy ll, produced an exhibition of spectacular jumping to win the ninth leg of the Longines FEI World Cup league series on home ground at Leipzig, Germany.
The 14-year-old horse was on top form when clinching victory from last-to-go spot in the five-way jump-off against the clock. And the spectators went wild at the end of a super-tough afternoon of sport during which Frank Rothenberger’s first-round track tested the mettle of the very best.
It was an unexpected final line-up, with Norway’s Geir Gulliksen and Edesa S Banjan finishing second ahead of Italy’s Luca Moneta and Connery in third while Germany’s Felix Hassmann and Horse Gym’s Balzaci was fourth. Sweden’s Douglas Lindelow and Casello filled fifth place while Frenchman, Kevin Staut, was sixth with the quickest four-fault result in the first round.
The blue vertical at fence three was influential, with Ireland’s Thomas Ryan eliminated with Quite Zero here, while Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann (Cantinero) and Switzerland’s Jane Richard-Philips (Quister de Guidenboom) also endured a single refusal at this one.
It was a fascinating contest from the outset, with Moneta and Connery lulling onlookers into a false sense of security with a brilliant round when first to go, but those clears would prove very elusive indeed. With the time-allowed set at 70 seconds the Italian was initially awarded a time-fault.
However when it was re-set at 72 seconds, the pair were pathfinders against the clock, and they never flinched, setting the target with another great run in 38.40. However they clearly lost a little time on the rollback to the double at fence nine when the first element didn’t come up on the perfect stride. It came up much better for Gulliksen who went into the lead in 37.72 and when Hassmann and Lindelow both left two fences on the floor, only Dreher stood between the Norwegian and a career-defining success. But the German wasn’t going to let this winning opportunity slip from his grasp.
On 36 points, Dreher now has qualification in his sights as does Gulliksen who has now accumulated 38. The next leg of the top series takes place in Zurich, Switzerland, tomorrow (Sunday, January 25th).
LYNCH GOES CLOSE
Tipperary’s Denis Lynch and Querida retired with eight faults from the first round of the World Cup Grand Prix but Lynch and Abbervail van het Dingeshof came close to victory in the 1.50m Championat of Leipzig jump-off
The Tipperary rider (38) pulled out all the stops but eventually had to settle for second in the championship showpiece (0/0 37.95), earning €8,358, behind German winner Christan Ahlmann and Aragon Z (0/0 37.48), winners of a new Volkswagen car.
One of 17 combinations through to the timed final round from a 52-strong field, the Irish rider produced a stunning turn of speed and was the first to leave all the poles standing. Lynch remained in the lead after many challengers dropped a single pole on the difficult jump-off course,
However, Ahlmann (40) and Aragon Z clipped half a second off to win in 37.48, earning the keys to a new Passat. Only six combinations managed to complete the course without jumping faults.
Third place went to Philipp Weishaupt from Riesenbeck who jumped clear with Chico. Portugal’s Luciana Diniz won the J.J. Darboven Lady’s Trophy after a sixth place finish in the Championat with her mare Apollonia.
Lynch was also seventh on Querida in a timed 1.45m class (0/57.20) behind France’s Kevin Staut and Quismy des Vaux HDC (9/53.00).