Germany's Toni Hassmann won the third leg of the 2004/2005 FEI World Cup Jumping series in Verona, Italy today riding the promising young mare Lolita.
This result slots him into sixth position on the leaderboard which at this early stage is still headed by Holland's Wim Schroder who picked up another 12 valuable points when slotting into fifth spot today with Eurocommerce Montreal.
A total of 12 went through to the jump-off but only three produced double-clear performances. First into the timed round was Switzerland's Christophe Barbeau and Chatwin who recorded the fastest time in 37.84 seconds but at the expense of one fence on the floor.
Italy's Vincenzo Chimirri and Askoll Rosa were next but lowered two fences and Spain's Rutherford Latham and Galoubet Mondaine did likewise.
The home squad had another chance to claim the 38,000 euro top prize when Juan Carlos Garcia and Albin 111 took their turn but again a single mistake proved costly while Holland's Jan Tops and VDL Groep Grand Dame faulted twice to leave it still wide open.
Belgium's Jean Claude Vangeenberghe got it just right however, setting the first real target when clear with Osta Rugs Andiamo Z in 39.16 seconds. Michel Hecart and Kannan faulted once for France but Andrea Heroldt came very close to the leader when breaking the beam in 40.26 seconds to slot into runner-up spot temporarily.
Helsinki winners Rolf-Goran Bengtsson and MacKinley presented no threat to the leading pack when collecting eight faults in a slow time but Hassmann scorched round in 38.48 seconds and when both Wim Schroder (Eurocommerce Montreal) and Switzerland's Steve Guerdat (Isovlas Orchidee B) hit one fence the German rider relegated Vangeenberghe to second place with Heroldt having to settle for third ahead of Barbeau, Guerdat and Schroder in that order.
"There were only two clears before me and I knew they were fast but not too fast" Hassmann said afterwards.
"I started at a normal pace and then quickened later on the track but the jump-off track was not easy and you needed to be careful of the oxers they were big and wide" added the rider who is based at Hendrik Snoek's yard in Munster, Germany and who celebrated his 29th birthday last Thursday.
"Lolita is by Libero and is just eight years old. I have her 18 months and this was her first World Cup competition. She's showing great promise and I'm hoping that she is going to make a great team horse" he said.
With 20 points for today's excellent result he is now well in the race for one of those coveted starting position at next April's FEI World Cup Final in Las Vegas.
Hassmann hopes to compete in the next leg of the series which takes place in Geneva, Switzerland on 12 December.
RESULTS:
FEI WORLD CUP QUALIFIER 1, Lolita H (T Hassmann) Ger 0/0 38.48; 2, Osta Rugs Andiamo Z (J Vangeenberghe) Bel 0/0 39.16; 3, Nanta (A Heroldt) Ita 0/0 40.26; 4, Chatwin (C Barbeau) Sui 04 37.84; 5, Isovlas Orchidee B (S Guerdat) Sui 0/4 38.38; 6, Eurocommerce Montreal (W Schroder) Ned 0/4 39.03; 7, Kannan (M Hecart) Fra 0/4 39.33; 8, Albin 111 (J Garcia) Ita 0/4 39.85; 9, Galoubet Mondaine (R Latham) Esp 0/8 39.80; 10, VDL Groep Grande Dame (J Tops) Ned 0/8 40.48; 11, Askoll Rosa (V Chimirri) Ita 0/8 42.75; 12, MacKinley (R Bengtsson) Swe 0/8 45.36; 13, Kira (L Philippaerts) Bel, Esiris Isingy (A Cocconi) Ita, Ginster Noir (K Offel) Ger, Illinois (N Chiaudani) Ita, Cigale du Taillis (E Angot) Fra, Nicolette (R Whitaker) GBR, Cyrenaika FRH (P Leoni) Fra, Lohengrin di Villa Emilia (R Christofoletti) Ita, Hofgut Liederbach's Abrisca (P Aufrecht) Ger, Candy (A Pollmann-Schweckhorst) Ger 4 flts; 23, Lora Piana Imperium (J Libresti) Ita 7 flts; 23, Laguina (R Davenport) GBR, Costelli (C Pitzianti) Ita, Canturo (B Alves) Bra, Lowina (A Zoer) Ned 8 flts; 28, Fanix de Roll (B Patrese) Ita 9 flts; 29, Loro Piana Lemato (R Arioldi) Ita, VDL Groep Rolex (E Alexander) Aus, Gimini (K Svaboe) Nor, Landknecht (B Chimirri) Ita 12 flts; 33, Askoll Sweet Dream (A Marioni) Ita, Joskin (M Lobo Perez Maldonado) Mex 16flts; 35, Sails Away (S Numminen) Fin 17 flts; 36, Galet Auzay (M Robert) Fra, Coolcorron Cool Diamond (R Splaine) Irl Ret.
FEI WORLD CUP JUMPING 2004/2005 LEADERBOARD AFTER ROUND 3 AT VERONA:
Please note the corrections below to the FEI World Cup Jumping league table following the third qualifying round in Verona, Italy last weekend.
Verona winner, Germany's Toni Hassmann, lies seventh on the leaderboard and not in sixth position as previously stated. Wim Schroder continues to head the table and fellow-Dutchman Eric van der Vleuten moves into fifth place following his victory in the USA East Coast qualifier in Syracuse, New York last weekend.
Viewers in Europe can watch highlights of the action from Verona on Eurosport tonight at 20.00 hrs.
FEI WORLD CUP JUMPING 2004/2005 LEADERBOARD AFTER ROUND 3 IN VERONA:
1. Wim Schroder 46
2. Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum 32
3. Rolf-Goran Bengtsson 25
4. Steve Guerdat 25
5. Eric van der Vleuten 23
6. Philippe Leoni - 21
7. Toni Hassmann 20
8. Jean-Claude Vangeenberghe 20
9. Otto Becker 17
10. Thomas Velin 16
11. Nick Skelton and Andrea Herholdt 15.
13. Gerco Schroder 15.
14. Christophe Barbeau 13
15. James Davenport 12
16.Marco Kutscher and Beat Mandli 11.
18. Edouard Couperie and Michel Hecart 10.
20. Philippe Rozier, Franke Sloothaak and Juan Carlos Garcia 9.
The next leg of the 2004/2005 FEI World Cup series takes place in Geneva on 12 December. Sport Director is Alban Poudret email: poudret@cavalier-romand.ch, Show Secretary is Chantal Rothen email: contact@concours-hippique.ch and Press Officer is Corinne Druey email: druey@swissonline.ch, Tel: ++41213128222 and Mobile: ++41792267859. The website for CSI-W Geneva is www.concours-hippique.ch.
FEI World Cup jumping has entered its 27th year. The series, created in 1978, today comprises 13 leagues on all continents. The best riders from 116 World Cup preliminary competitions will qualify for the Final in Las Vegas, USA which takes place from 20 to 24 April 2005. The title-holder is Bruno Broucqsault (FRA).
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