Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping: 1-3 February, Bordeaux (FRA)

Dutch star Gerco Schroder scooped maximum points in the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping qualifying leg in Bordeaux, France tonight with a stunning performance from Eurocommerce Milano.

Second-last into the ten-horse jump-off he ousted Switzerland's Steve Guerdat from pole position, and Schroder said afterwards that he now has his sights firmly set on a place at the series final in Gothenburg, Sweden in April.  "Until last week I only had one point" the 29 year old World and European gold medallist explained, "but then I was second with Monaco in Amsterdam and now I have the win here with Milano so I have almost enough points - this changes my plan" he added.

The big, tough track set by Frank Rothenberger was plenty testing as competition pathfinder, the new bright star of British show jumping William Whitaker, demonstrated.  The course-designer set them a particularly difficult question with the distance between the oxer at fence three and the following triple combination and William's evening ended here.  The 18 year old rider, who grabbed the  headlines when winning the seventh round of the 2007/2008 series at Mechelen in Belgium in December, was having his first Rolex FEI World Cup™ run since then but, attempting to go down the line on four strides he arrived too far off the first element of the treble and Arielle ground to a halt for eventual elimination.

"You needed a long four strides or a very short five" said Schroder afterwards.  "This was a very difficult line because the oxer was big and it was only the third fence so the problem was very early on the course.  But Frank said before the competition that he didn't want too many clears and that, with so many good riders in the class, he didn't know what he needed to do to avoid getting too many!" the Dutch man said.

There were four retirements before the first round concluded, while the home side's Michel Robert (Mme Pompadour) and Belgium's Patrick McEntee (Ever Mury Marais Z) were left kicking themselves for having collected a single time-fault each as the 74-second time allowed proved tight.

The jump-off line-up was top-class however and it was Germany's Lars Nieberg and Lucie who led the way, leaving two fences on the floor in 36.05 seconds.  Patrice Deleveay was the first of the two French representatives in the closing stages but a pole down for his 10 year old Calvaro mare Katchina Mail drew a sigh from the home supporters so it was Britain's Tim Stockdale and Fresh Direct Corlato who set the first real target when crossing the line clear in 35.15 seconds.

Then Kevin Staut and Kraque Boom Bois Margot set off for France, also however lowering one along the way and when Switzerland's Daniel Etter and Peu a Peu did likewise then Stockdale still held the advantage at the half-way point. 

Germany's Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum would make no mistake with Le Mans, slotting in behind the Englishman when more than a half-second slower but Steve Guerdat raised the temperature dramatically when galloping home to take the lead with Jalisca Solier who stopped the clock on 33.78 seconds. 

Christian Ahlmann's clear in 35.58 seconds with Lorenzo would now put him comfortably into the ribbons without challenging the leader, but a place in the line-up was never going to satisfy Schroder who entered the arena filled with determination to win.

"I saw a bit of Steve's round and it was very fast - I thought I will try to see if I can be faster and my mare - she gave me everything!" he pointed out.

It wasn't quite over yet because last into the ring was the formidable British partnership of Michael Whitaker and Suncal Portofino, but a fence down saw them having to settle for sixth place behind Ahlmann in fifth, Michaels-Beerbaum in fourth, Stockdale in third and Guerdat in runner-up spot.

"Milano is only just back after a break and this was her first show with big classes so I am very happy with her" Schroder said, and when asked if the 14 year old is the best of his superb string of rides he answered - "Milan, Berlin, Monaco - I love them all!" 

So now with 38 points on the Western European League leaderboard he is just a few points short of a qualifying place for the final.  The top-18 will go through from this hard-fought league, but something in the region of 40 points is required to comfortably make the cut.  Guerdat's second placing today has rocketed him up to joint-third place on the leaderboard which continues to be headed by Ireland's Jessica Kuerten while Michaels-Beerbaum has now moved into second. 

For those still seeking those elusive points however time is quickly running out.  Next weekend there is another chance in the Spanish town of Vigo but then only s'Hertogenbosch in The Netherlands remains before the complete line-up for the 30th finale to the world's most exciting indoor jumping series is decided....... 

RESULT:  1, Eurocommerce Milano (Gerco Schroder) Ned 0/0 33.52; 2, Jalisca Solier (Steve Guerdat) Sui 0/0 33.78; 3, Fresh Direct Corlato (Tim Stockdale) GBR 0/0 35.15; 4, Le Mans (Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum) Ger 0/0 35.54; 5, Lorenzo (Christian Ahlmann) Ger 0/0 35.58; 6, Suncal Portofino (Michael Whitaker) GBR 0/4 35.59; 7, Katchina Mail (Patrice Deleveau) Fra 0/4 35.83; 8, Peu a Peu (Daniel Etter) Sui 0/4 35.92; 9, Kraque Boom Bois Margot (Kevin Staut) Fra 0/4 37.67; 10, Lucie (Lars Nieberg) Ger 0/8 36.05; 11, Mme Pompadour (Michel Robert) Fra 1/74.55; 12, Ever Mury Marais Z (Patrick McEntee) Bel 1/74.64;13, Jovis de Revel (Roger-Yves Bost) Fra 4/66.32; 14, Butterfly Flip (Malin Baryard-Johnsson) Swe 4/68.99; 15, Kanthaka de Petra (Julien Epaillard) Fra 4/69.35; 16, The Sixth Sense (Thomas Fruhmann) Aut 4/69.64; 17, Couleur Rubin (Ludger Beerbaum) Ger 4/69.79; 18, Gitania (Marcus Ehning) Ger 4/70.23; 19, AD Picolien (Alvara de Miranda) Bra 4/70.39; 20, Sam (Albert Zoer) Ned 4/71.11; 21, Isaac du Jonquet (Mikael Forsten) Fin 4/71.13; 22, Ilostra Dark (Eugenie Angot) Fra 4/71.19; 23, Nirmette (Markus Fuchs) Sui 4/71.91; 24, Isovlas Socrates (Edwina Alexander) Aus 4/72.27; 25, Castle Forbes Vivaldo VH Costersveld (Jessica Kuerten) Irl 8/67.96; 26, L'Espoir (Geir Gulliksen) Nor 8/72.48; 27, Jadis de Toscane (Philippe Rozier) Fra 8/73.33; 28, Meautry's Locarno (Luciana Diniz) Por 9/75.03; 29, Van Schijndel's Rascin (Piet Raijmakers Jr) Ned 9/75.10; 30, Lord du Mont Milon (Jesus Garmendia) Esp10/78.05; 31, Tinka's Serenade (Billy Twomey) Irl 13/74.38; 32, Cornet Obolensky (Marco Kutscher) Ger 15/101.79; 33, Gabelou des Ores (Stephan Lafouge) Fra 16/73.01; 34, Hamilton de Pheret (Juan Carlos Garcia) Ita 17/77.69; 35, Vodowaldo (Edouard Couperie) Fra 21/74.65; 36, Arielle (William Whitaker) GBR Elim; 37, Valentina Van't Heike (Jos Lansink) Bel, Levisto Z (Judy-Ann Melchior) Bel, Zamiro (Tina Lund) Den, King Solier (Penelope Leprovost) Fra Ret.

ROLEX FEI WORLD CUP™ JUMPING 2007/2008 - WESTERN EUROPEAN LEADERBOARD AFTER ROUND 10 IN BORDEAUX:

1. Jessica Kuerten - 79

2. Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum - 59

3. Rutherford Latham  - 48

Steve Guerdat - 48

5. Rolf-Goran Bengtsson - 47

6. Albert Zoer - 45

7. Ludger Beerbaum - 44

8. Helena Lundback - 41

9. William Whitaker - 39

10. Gerco Schroder - 38

11. Heinrich-Hermann Engemann - 38

12. Marcus Ehning - 37

13. Michael Whitaker - 35

14. Mikael Forsten - 34

15 Rodrigo Pessoa - 34

16 Patrick McEntee - 34

17 Tim Stockdale - 33

18 Max Kuhner - 33

19. Judy-Ann Melchior - 33

20. Malin Baryard-Johnsson - 31

PHOTO CATALOGUE - Photographs of the winning riders in high and low resolution can be downloaded from the FEI online catalogue.  To access it, please visit www.fei.org>Media>Photo Catalogue.  There is no reproduction fee, but please credit photographer (photographer's name will appear under each photo)/FEI.  Usage is strictly for editorial purposes.

For further information on the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping qualifier in Bordeaux, France from 1-3 February check WEBSITE www.jumping-bordeaux.com.  Show President at the French fixture is Marc Lecoq, Show Director is Francois-Bernard Martin, Show Secretary is Sabine Palau and Press Officer is Marie-Sol Fournier - Tel (mobile) +33 55611 9943 or email presse@bordeaux-expo.com.

The NEXT leg of the series takes place in Vigo, Spain from 8-11 February.  Show President is Manuel Fernandez de Sousa-Faro, Show Director is Marcelino Cendon Estevez, Show Secretary is Irene Gonzalez Garcia and Press Officer is Alejandra Mier Rodriguez - Tel (mobile) +34 669 004 477, Email - amie@csivigo.com.

MEDIA GUIDE - The FEI is pleased to provide you with a Media Guide for the 2007/2008 season.  The Guide is filled with useful facts, figures and statistics including the list of winners since the series began in 1978 and contact details to help you access all the information you need.  You can download it from the Media Centre on FEI website www.fei.org or order a hard copy from FEI Communications - Email o.robinson@horsesport.org.

YOU CAN SEE IT ON TV

2007/2008 ROLEX FEI WORLD CUP™ JUMPING BROADCAST SCHEDULE FOR ROUND 10 IN BORDEAUX:

Live/Delayed Live

Sport + (France)  - Saturday 2 February 21.30

Equidia (France) - Saturday 2 February 21.45, Sunday 3 February 22.45, Monday 4 February 18.30

NOS (The Netherlands) - Check local listings

SVT (Sweden) - Sunday 3 February 17.00

RAI (Italy) - Check local listings

Highlights

CBC Country (Canada) - Saturday 9 February 14.00

CNBC Asia  - Check local listings

CNBC Europe  - Check local listings

ESPN Brazil - Check local listings

ESPN Star (Pan Asia) - Friday 22 February 01.00, 19.00, Saturday 23 February 04.00, Tuesday 26 February 19.00, Wednesday 27 February 09.00, 18.00,

Friday 29 February 14.00

Eurosport  - Wednesday 6 February  20.20

Finnish Sport TV - Saturday 16 February 18.25

Fox Australia - Check local listings

Fox Middle East - Monday 25 February 18.00

M-Net (Pan Africa) - Thursday 21 February 18.00, Friday 22 February 06.00, 19.00, Saturday 23 February 09.00, Sunday 24 February 11.00,

Monday 25 February 13.00, Tuesday 26 February 15.00, Wednesday 27 February 23.00

Sport TV (Portugal) - Check local listings

WCSN (USA) - Wednesday 9 April 20.00

YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE RULES FOR FEI WORLD CUP™ JUMPING RIDERS FROM FEI WEBSITE www.feiworldcup.org

FEI World Cup™ Jumping has entered its 30th season.  The series, created in 1978, today comprises 14 leagues on all continents.  The best riders from 132 preliminary competitions will qualify for the final in Gothenburg, Sweden which takes place from 24-27 April 2008.  The title-holder is Switzerland's Beat Mandli.