FEI World Cup Jumping Update: Geneva

Austria's Thomas Fruhmann recorded a surprise result when winning the fifth leg of the FEI World Cup Jumping season with a superb performance from his nine year old horse, The Sixth Sense. And what made the victory even more creditable was the fact that the veteran 54 year old rider has been out of top-class competition for almost five years.

From a field of 40 starters, a total of 10 went through to the second round jump-off and it was America's Peter Wylde who lined up in second place ahead of Switzerland's Beat Mandli in third, World No. 1 Marcus Ehning in fourth and Sweden's Rolf-Goran Bengtsson in fifth.

The 13-fence first round track created by Heiner Fischer and Rolf Ludi proved difficult to crack and 14 riders returned before the first clear was registerd by Bengtsson and Grandina. The time-allowed was extended after the first few rounds had been completed as, with the speed set at 375metres per minute, it proved much too tight. "We have a big arena here and it was Leopoldo Palacios who suggested that Geneva would be one of the few indoor venues that would be suitable for such a speed but it was too much today so we adjusted it" said Mr Heiner afterwards.

As so often happens, once Bengtsson went clear then others followed suit with Peter Wylde's Quo Vadis knowing exactly where he was going and leaving all the fences up despite a moment of confusion on the turn to the vertical at fence three. Then home-boy Gregoire Oberson steered Cartoflex Gazelle Beauval to a clear round for Switzerland and Italy's Juan Carlos Garcia produced a great performance from the 17 year Loro Piana Albin who seemed to be enjoying every minute of his time in the ring. Ireland's Jessica Kurten and Quibell joined the clear round club as did Marcus Ehning and Sandro boy while Beat Mandli made it two for the home side when maintaining a zero score with Indigo. European silver medallists Christina Liebherr and LB No Mercy brought the Swiss tally to three before Britain's Robert Smith, last year's Geneva World Cup winner, brought the total to ten clear rounds when last into the ring with Kalusha.

Bengtsson was first into the timed round, stopping the clock in 43.84 seconds, but it was Peter Wylde who really set the target when next in. The European-based American has an exceptionally sympathetic style of riding and, starting out in a lovely rhythm, produced a flowing tour of the seven-fence jump-off track that was a joy to watch. Fearlessly galloping down the long line between the final two fences, and never pausing to take a check of any kind, he broke the beam in 41.25 seconds and that really put it up to the rest of them.

Oberson collected eight faults and Garcia, who jumped the second oxer at an acute angle, then clipped the next for four. Kurten had her foot to the floor but an awkward turn from the third to fourth left her on a bad stride and Quibell jammed on the brakes to put them out of the running. Ehning was foot-perfect and fast with Sandro Boy but was still trailing Wylde when crossing the line in 41.57 seconds. However Mandli came dangerously close to dislodging the American, perhaps failing to match his time when taking a pull on the run to the last. LB No Mercy is never the most composed of creatures and Liebherr was forced to steady after the horse became excited when hitting the second fence but Fruhmann's Sixth Sense rose to the pressure with the greatest of ease.

The nine year old by Zorro was a real eye-catcher in the first round, with a jumping technique that most riders would envy, and Fruhmann sent him about his business in the jump-off with absolute determination. "His first World Cup competition was in Stuttgart last month" said the Austrian afterwards, "but he wasn't 100% fit that day. He was just right this afternoon however and he proved just what he can do" the delighted rider added. The Sixth Sense may be inexperienced but his ability is obvious, and without looking under any pressure at all, he easily took a stride to the last to break the beam in 39.04 seconds. It was Beat Mandli who advised Fruhmann to take out the stride on the long final gallop - "we always help each other" the two riders said at the press conference afterwards.

It was not quite over however as 2004 winner Robert Smith was left to go, and he headed off with his usual determination, looking well in touch until Kalusha stopped at the fifth fence. The British rider decided to call it a day and retired so it was celebrations all the way for the Austrian contingent.

Thomas Fruhmann talked about his horse which is owned by his first wife Serena Hamberg. "Serena and I have maintained a good relationship" Fruhmann explained, "and she is pleased to be the owner of this horse". Thomas became a father for the third time two weeks ago so he has plenty to celebrate right now and he is, understandably, very excited about The Sixth Sense. He went through a long period without a top-class horse - "the last time I competed in the World Cup was in 1992 in Denmark" he pointed out and in recent years he has competed at a lower level. "I've had this horse since he was eight years old" he said "and he proved today that he could be a fantastic competitor". He is unsure now what his plans for The Sixth Sense might be and when asked if he would now focus on the FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen next summer he said "If you have only one good horse you have to be careful. You see Montender after winning the European Championships - he is not the same horse - and Championship events can be very hard on horses so I'll have to think about. My horse is finished jumping for this year - maybe he will come out at Leipzig or Zurich - we will see".Peter Wylde was delighted with Quo Vadis, by Quidam de Revel, who slotted into runner-up spot. "I've had her since she was a six year old - she's now nine - I got her at a PSI auction in Germany and she is owned by Sagamore Farms in the US. This was her first World Cup class and she was a super-star" he said. "She's very fast, and I'm learning just how good she is - I keep asking her questions and she surprises me every time" he added.

Beat Mandli said he was not disappointed when placing third because his horse was just back in work after an operation for colic - "I was very happy with the way he jumped" Mandli said. "I lost my stirrup and it was difficult after the combination so I had to ride carefully to the last fence". His horse, Indigo, won the Grand Prix in Vienna and, in his World Cup season, was second in Oslo and sixth in Stuttgart so with the extra points gained today he believes he has enough points now to be qualified for the FEI World Cup Jumping final in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia next April. With 43 points, Mandli has moved into second spot on the leaderboard behind Holland's Gerco Schroder who holds pole position with 44.

The 2005/2006 series now moves on to Olympia in London next weekend which, once again, has attracted a world-class field,

RESULTS: 1, The Sixth Sense (Thomas Fruhmann) Sui 0/0 39.04; 2, Quo Vadis (Peter Wylde) USA 0/0 41.25; 3, Indigo IX (Beat Mandli) Sui 0/0 41.39; 4, Sandro Boy (Marcus Ehning) Ger 0/0 41.57; 5, Grandina (Rolf-Goran Bendtsson) Swe 0/0 43.84; 6, Loro Piana Albin (Juan Carlos Garcia) Ita 0/4 41.79; 7, LB No Mercy (Christina Liebherr) Sui 0/4 45.56; 8, Quibell (Jessica Kurten) Ireland 0/4 51.31; 9, Cartoflex Gazelle Beauval (Gregoire Oberson) Sui 0/8 40.00; 10, Kalusha (Robert Smith) GBR 0/Elim; 11, Shutterfly (Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum) Ger 1 flts; 12, Mozart des Hayettes (Michael Whitaker) GBR 2flt; 13, Eurocommerce Montreal (Wim Schroder) Ned 4flts 70.93; 14, Verelst goliath (Marc van Dijck) Bel 4 flts 71.78; 15, Butterfly Flip (Malin Baryard-Johnsson) Swe 4 flts 72.57; 16, JPC Modesto Equifoam (Jean-Marc Nicolas) Fra 4 flts 72.68; 17, VDL Groep Eve des Etisses (Hubert Bourdy) Fra 4 flts 72.73; 18, Okidoki (Albert Zoer) Ned 4 flts 73.01; 19, Tijl van het Pallieterland (Steve Guerdat) Sui 4 flts 73.85; Equal 20, Granie (Markus Fuchs) Sui, Isovlas Pialotta (Edwina Alexander) Aus 4 flts 74.14; 22. Dobel's Cordina (Otto Becker) Germany 4 flts 74.37; 23, For Keeps (Lars Nieberg) Germany 4 flts 74.56; 24, Waterford Crystal (Cian O'Connor) Ireland 4 flts 75.79; 25, Cattani (Geir Gulliksen) Nor 5 flts 78.03; 26, Unique (Pius Schwizer) Sui 5 flts 76.60; 27, Calmero Orion (Francois Mathy) Bel 5 flts 77.26; 28, Godsend du Reverdy (Thomas Velin) Den 5 flts 77.78; 29, Riot Gun (Lesley McNaught) Sui 8 flts 73.00; 30, L'Espoir (Ludger Beerbaum) Ger 8 flts 73.95; 31, Controe (Marco Kutscher) Ger 8 flts 74.95; 32, Skybreaker (Mikael Forsten) Fin 8 flts 75.53; 33, Olanta (Katie Monahan-Prudent) Fra 9 flts 77.73; 34, Kesberoy de Saint Aubert (Cayetano Martinez de Irujo) Esp 9 flts 78.87; 35, Cavalor Cumano 9Jos Lansink) Bel 12 flts 74.46; 36, Canturo (Bernardo Alves) Bra 13 flts 93.92; 37, Ilton Daye (Hansueli Sprunger) Skui 17 flts 79.70; 38, Hermine d'Auzay (Daniel Ettter) Sui 20 flts 71.17; 39, First of Clyde (Christian Ahlmann) Ger Ret; 40, Cantus (Niklaus Schurtenberger) Sui Ret.

FEI WORLD CUP LEADERBOARD AFTER ROUND 5 IN GENEVA :

1. Gerco Schroder - 44
2. Beat Mandli - 43
3. Nick Skelton - 34
4. Marcus Ehning - 33
5. Juan Carlos Garcia - 28
6. Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum - 28
7. Piet Raymakers - 26
8. Robert Smith - 26
9. Harry Smolders - 25
10. Thomas Velin - 23
11. Linnea Ericsson - 22
12. Jean-Marc Nicolas - 21
13. Heinrich-Hermann Engemann - 20
13. Thomas Fruhmann - 20
13. Albert Zoer - 20
16. Eric Van der Vleuten - 20
17. Wim Schroder - 19
18. Franke Sloothaak - 19
19. Peter Wylde - 17
20. Michael Whitaker - 16.

The next leg of the FEI World Cup Jumping series takes place at Olympia in London, England from 8 to 11 December. WEBSITE: www.olympiahorseshow.com. Show President is Lord Vestey, Show Director is Simon Brooks-Ward, LVO and Show Secretary is Penny Henderson - email pennyh@hpower.co.uk. Press Officer is Candy Burnyeat, email candyb.hpim.easynet.co.uk, Tel (mobile) ++44 1753 847 900.

For further information about the FEI World Cup at Geneva visit WEBSITE - www.concours-hippique.ch. Event Director is Sophie Mottu, Sport Director is Alban Poudret, Show Secretary is Chantal Rothen and Press Officer is Corinne Druey - Tel: ++41213128222, Mobile: ++41792267859, Email: druey@syntagme-lausanne.ch.

For all information about the FEI World Cup Jumping final in Kuala Lumpur (26-30 April) check out the WEBSITE www.klworldcupfinal.com or contact Press Officer Lo Wai Fai at email waifai@asiapromote.net or Tel (mobile)             +6012 209 0068      . Show Director is Peter Winton, email paw@asiapromote.net.

2005/2006 FEI WORLD CUP JUMPING SERIES - CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
1, Helsinki (Finland) - 6/9 October; 2, Oslo (Norway) - 14/16 October; 3, Verona (Italy) - 4/6 November; 4, Stuttgart (Ger) - 16/20 November; 5, Geneva (Switzerland) - 8/11 December; 6, London-Olympia (Great Britain) - 13-19 December; 7, Mechelen (Belgium) - 26/30 December; 8, Leipzig (Germany) 19/22 January; 9, Amsterdam (The Netherlands) - 26/29 January; 10, Bordeaux (France) - 3/5 February; 11, Vigo (Spain) - 9/12 February; 12, 's-Hertogenbosch (The Netherlands) - 23/26 March; 13, Goteborg (Sweden) - 13/16 April. Final Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 26/30 April.

BIOGRAPHIES of riders competing in the FEI World Cup Jumping series are available at www.horsesport.org.

YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE RULES for World Cup Jumping riders from FEI website www.feiworldcup.org.

FEI World Cup Jumping has entered its 28th 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 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia which takes place from 26 to 30 April 2006. The title-holder is Germany's Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum.

The Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), founded in 1921, is the international body governing equestrian sport recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and includes 133 National Federations.

Equestrian sport has been on the Olympic programme since 1912 with three disciplines - Jumping, Dressage and Eventing. It is one of the very few sports in which men and women compete on equal terms. It is also the only sport which involves two athletes - horse and rider - and the FEI has relentlessly concerned itself with the welfare of the horse.