FEI Eventing World Cup Update

At the end of a challenging cross country, Sweden's Linda Algotsson and her exceptional mare My Fare Lady are the stars of the day. Regularity, accuracy, firm control and boundless energy were the qualities that helped the couple to complete their round with no jumping penalties. Even though the battery of her watch had gone off at the start, she incurred only 3.6 time penalties and, with a provisional result of 46.4, remains in the lead of the 2004 FEI Eventing World Cup Final. "I have an exceptional horse," a happy Linda said. She tends to get a bit long, so the twists of the course helped keeping her together. I'm enjoying my time at Pau and am looking forward to tomorrow. Happen what it may!"

Karin Donckers of Belgium was another high-spirited lady. Her 13-year old Irish thoroughbred Gormley finished only 2 seconds behind the optimum time of 7 min 34 s (0.8 time penalties) taking her to runner up position (47.5 points). "I'm very happy now," she declared at completing her cross. "Tomorrow is another day but, to tell the truth, I feel pretty confident about show jumping. I have started training with [Belgian jumping rider] Philippe Le Jeune whom I see every two or three weeks. This is very comforting for me, so tomorrow should be another good day."

Finland's Piia Pantsu on Ypaja Karuso is 3rd with 50 points, followed by 2004 team Olympic champion Jean Teulère and Bambi de Brière, his horse from Sydney, with 52.0 points.

The spectacular performance of Sonja Johnson, winner of the two Australian FEI Eventing World Cup qualifiers at Melbourne and Warwick who has travelled all the way from down under should be given special notice. She performed the competition's fastest cross country (7 min 17 s) making no jumping penalties. Her average Dressage had put her in 29th position (57.4
penalties) but thanks to today's faultless act, she is now 10th.

The full results are available on the competition's website www.event-pau.org
(direct link
http://www.worldsporttiming.com/contenu/documents/0001_000375.pdf)

Some say life is full of twists and roundabouts and so was today's 4.350 m long cross country track designed by Pierre Michelet. The 25 fences and 34 jumping efforts left no room for a leisurely ride. The course opened on three broad fences helping horses and riders to get the rhythm. The combination at 4, composed of two brush fences, was the first real difficulty especially given the rather intricate reception. A big jump over the picnic table at number 5 lead to a the four-element combination at number 6 representing a Basque village complete with its typical houses and the wall for the ball game of pelote basque. The first water jump with its panoramic jumps at 9 was a serious challenge for which, along with a quick mind, much control, balance and focus was called for. The broad fences at 10 and 11 were easier to jump from a technical point of view and gave the mounts the opportunity to regain the concentration needed for questions asked by the rather complex combinations Balcony of the Pyrenees (number 13) followed by the Vineyard and its pointed directional elements. The relatively narrow coffin at 16 was challenging where distance and rhythm were concerned leading, after a lengthy canter, to a closely framed number 17, a bold Cocarde (18), a reassuringly broad pigeon-hunting tower and the exceptionally narrow entry into the second water. Much strength and canter of exceptional quality was required by the three-element Entry into the Lake and the two-element Way out of the Lake combinations (20 and 21 respectively). The rather tricky triangle at 22 was followed by the large and cheerful Stables at fence 23. The colourful and yet complicated Farm Yard at 24 and the Box at 25 were the spectacular closing elements of this impressive track.

And last but not least, well deserved congratulations go to the French organisers for the round and beautifully built fences and the exceptionally well prepared ground are worth special attention.

The jumping test of the 2004 FEI Eventing World Cup will take place tomorrow, Sunday 24 October from 15 to 17h.