Dutch wins Samsung Super League in Lucerne

The Dutch masters did it again last Sunday (see Samsung Super League News dated 6 June 2004) when sweeping to a decisive second successive victory in the 2004 Samsung Super League in Lucerne and now stand top of the leaderboard going into the midway stage of the series which moves to their home ground in Rotterdam in two weeks time.

In a complete reversal of the inconsistent run of form they displayed during the inaugural 2003 series the Dutch riders looked confident and determined and Chef d'Equipe Bert Romp remarked afterwards "we learned a lot from our Super League experience last year and today with four good riders and horses we enjoyed another wonderful result".

Holland already held the lead at the end of the first round following clears from brothers Wim Schroder (Eurocommerce Montreal) and Gerco Schroder (Eurocommerce Monaco) and just a single time fault for Jan Tops with VDL Groep Grand Dame while Leopold Van Asten provided the discount score with a single rail down with VDL Groep Flash Rouge.

Germany, Britain, Italy and Switzerland were close behind with just four faults each at the halfway stage while USA, France and Belgium were joint-sixth ahead of the ever-struggling Irish with 12.

The footing in Lucerne was completely updated in recent years and, despite several days of very heavy rain the going was excellent. Rotterdam has had its problems in that regard on previous occasions but when the 2004 Samsung Super League moves to the Dutch venue in two weeks time the home side, winners there last year and now apparently on a roll, will be the ones to beat.

RESULT:
Netherlands - 5 faults: Wim Schroder/Eurocommerce Montreal 0/0, Jan Tops/VDL Groep Grand Dame 1/0, Leopold van Asten/VDL Groep Flash Rouge 4/4, Gerco Schroder/Eurocommerce Monaco 0/DNS.
Equal 2. Belgium - 8 faults: Philippe Le Jeune/Cashmere van Schuttershof 8/4, Dirk Demeersman/Clinton 0/0, Stanny van Paesschen/O de Pomme 0/0, Ludo Phillipaerts/Parco 8/0.
Equal 2. France - 8 faults: Florian Angot/First de Launay 4/0, Reynald Angot/Tlaloc M 5/8, Gilles Bertrand de Ballanda/Crocus Graverie 0/0, Bruno Broucqsault/Dileme de Cephe 4/0.
Equal 2. Germany - 8 faults: Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum/Shutterfly 0/0, Marco Kutscher/Montender 0/4, Lars Nieberg/Lucie 4/0, Ludger Beerbaum/Goldfever 8/4.

Complete results on www.samsungsuperleague.com

The next leg takes place in Rotterdam on Friday 18 June. Contact Press Officer Anita Lussenberg, Kralingseweg 120, PO Box 4266, 3006 AG Rotterdam, Netherlands - Telephone Office - ++ 3110 452 6729, Fax Office - ++ 3110 453 1555 or Mobile - ++ 31 621 585878, Email: info@chio.nl or Anita.lussenburg@tiscali.nl. Website address is www.chio.nl. Show Director at Rotterdam is Jan-Willem Korner.

SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE 2004 LEADERBOARD (AFTER ROUND 3 IN LUCERNE):
The Netherlands - 21.5 points
Germany - 18.3 points
France - 15.3 points
Great Britain - 13.0 points
Belgium - 10.8 points
6. USA - 9 points
7. Italy - 6 points
8. Ireland - 3.5 points.

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