Scandinavian carnival in Göteborg leg of Rolex World Cup

No big names, just big favourites were heading the prize giving ceremony of the Rolex FEI World Cup™ qualification in Göteborg. The roof of the Scandinavium, much tested on many previous occasions, once again proved its solidity when 12000 Swedish enthusiasts cheered their favourites on. Three Scandinavian idols were in the jump off of four combinations, two of them were from Sweden. The crowd went wild when Svante Johansson and his small, energetic stallion Saint Amour came out best and pressed Thomas Velin into second position. Rolf-Göran Bengtsson completed the Scandinavian carnival in third place, Alvaro Miranda gave the Swedish leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup™ competition a touch of Brazilian temperament, delivering the fastest time, but knocking down two fences.

Not many people had Svante Johansson’s name on their list. Yet the ambitious Swede and his very competitive horse already had shown their ability to win a big class. “No famous names of horses and riders today”, said the winner after receiving the coveted Rolex watch. “I have no idea why a lot of top combinations didn’t make it to the jump off. This was what I really have been hoping and training for! Winning a World Cup qualifier in front of my home crowd, that’s one of the best things that can happen to me.”

The Swiss course designer Rolf Lüdi had built a really big class today, there were a lot of jumps coming from a turn and some of the oxers were really wide. “But I was not at all worried about the size of the jumps”, said Johansson. “My horse is only small, but he has more scope and a bigger stride than people would think. We won the Stockholm Grand Prix last year, we were third in the Riders Tour in Hanover, so I knew Saint Amour can jump a tough 1.60 meter class.”

Happy and confident

To Svante Johansson the Rolex FEI World Cup™ competition in Göteborg was the focus of his indoor season, not the final in Las Vegas. “I went to a small competition in Zwolle, Holland, in the beginning of January, because I wanted to go to Amsterdam and after that I wanted to do well in Göteborg. Saint Amour is a small horse, he can’t jump the biggest classes every weekend. I want to keep him happy and confident, so I have to vary his agenda. I never intended to try and qualify for Las Vegas, the European championships in Windsor are my goal for 2009.”

Two winners

In fact, there were two winners today. Being 17^th in the Rolex FEI World Cup™ competition so far, Thomas Velin was dangling between going and not going to Las Vegas. “And I desperately wanted to go to the final!”, said the Danish rider. “So I’m very happy with these 17 points. They bring me into fourth position, I’m safe now!”

Thomas Velin just brought one horse to the Scandinavium, only focusing on the World Cup points securing him of a place in the final. “I only jumped two classes, so I have been watching the show a lot. I thoroughly enjoyed the way Rolf Lüdi designs his classes. Even when he builds big and technical courses, he’s always fair.”

Velin took Godsend du Reverdy to Göteborg for a reason. “He is equally good as Grim st Clair, but he likes to gallop more. Grim st Clair can cope with a small arena, so I will take him to Las Vegas.”

Thrilling jump off

In a small, but absolutely thrilling jump off, Thomas Velin had to set the pace. Straight after him, without having seen his opponent, came in Svante Johansson, aboard a steaming stallion. Saint Amour, a true son of the famous Grand Prix sire Stakkato, fiercely fought his way through the jump off, attacking every fence, improving the result of Velin and Godsend du Reverdy. The pressure was too much for Alvaro Miranda, who gave everything with Ad Picolien Zeldenrust, but ended up with eight faults. The second Swedish favourite, Rolf-Göran Bengtsson, had to settle for third place when his scopy stallion Quintero la Silla had a rail down.

So, only four combinations tackled the big and tricky course leaving all poles in their positions. Being on the last part of the starting list, top riders such as Meredith Michaels, Albert Zoer and Gerco Schröder knew they would benefit even if they would have a rail down. A fast four fault round would also yield World Cup points. Strategic riding by Albert Zoer and Gerco Schröder resulted in 10, respectively 9 points, consolidating top positions for these two Dutch riders.

Edwina Alexander was overtaken by Albert Zoer, when Isovlas Late Night had two refusals in the triple combination.

Results of the Rolex FEI World Cup™ competition in Göteborg

1) Svante Johansson (SWE), Saint Amour, 0-0/35.29 sec.

2) Thomas Velin (DEN), Godsend du Reverdy, 0-0/36.23 sec

3) Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (SWE), Quintero la Silla, 0-4/36.93 sec

4) Alvaro Miranda Neto (BRA), Ad Picolien Zendenrust, 0-8/35.16 sec

5) Michael Whitaker (GBR), Portofino, 1/76.29 sec

6) Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER), Shutterfly, 4/71.74 sec

7) Albert Zoer (NED), Okidoki, 4/72.04 sec

8) Gerco Schröder (NED), Eurocommerce Pennsylvania, 4/72.44 sec

9) Ludo Philippaerts (BEL), Cavalor’s Winningmood, 4/72.67 sec

10) Jessica Kürten (IRE), Castle Forbe’s Libertina, 4/72.86 sec

Standings after 12 of 13 competitions:

1) Gerco Schröder (NED), 78

2) Albert Zoer (NED), 60

3) Edwina Alexander (AUS), 57

4) Thomas Velin (DEN), 56

5) Steve Guerdat (SUI), 51

6) Ludo Philippaerts (BEL), 49

6) Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA), 49

8) Jos Lansink (BEL), 48

8) Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER), 48 (already qualified)

10) Jessica Kürten (IRE), 47

10) Lars Nieberg (GER), 47

10) Marcus Ehning (GER), 47

13) Rutherford Latham (ESP), 46

14) Daniel Etter (SUI), 45

14) Mikael Forsten (FIN), 45

14) Helena Lundbäck (SWE), 45

17) Ben Maher (GBR), 43

18) Marco Kutscher (GER) 41