Germany's Heinrich Hermann Engemann snatched maximum points at the first qualifying round of the FEI World Cup Jumping series in Helsinki, Finland today when scoring a last-to-go victory.
Holland's Piet Raymakers slotted into runner-up spot ahead of sparkling newcomer Linnea Ericsson from Denmark while the reigning world champion, Ireland's Dermott Lennon, finished fourth of the 40 starters.
Finnish course designer Aki Yllanae presented a straight-forward first-round track that produced 18 clear rounds but two of the competition favourites, European silver medalist Christina Liebherr riding LB Tamina for Switzerland and Holland's European bronze medalists Jeroen Dubbeldam and BMC Nassau, failed to make the cut when faulting in their opening effort.
Belgium's Patrick McEntee was pathfinder in the jump-off but it was Piet Raymakers, fourth to go this time out, who set the target when crossing the line clear with the 10 year old gelding Van Schijndel's Curtis in 43.81 seconds. Some of those that followed were quicker but another five horses jumped before Denmark's Linnea Ericsson produced the next foot-perfect performance to slot temporarily into second place when stopping the clock in 48.35 seconds. Dermott Lennon is still establishing his partnership with the stallion Condios and opted for caution, breaking the beam with no faults on the board in 50.67 seconds and when the next five riders all left poles on the floor he looked likely to take third place in the line-up, but Heinrich Hermann Engemann was about to change all that.
Engemann's 11 year old gelding Aboyeur has been on form all year, winning the Grand Prix events in Aach and Balve, placing second in Arezzo where he also won the Derby and finishing second in the Grand Prix at Hachenburg. The Westphalian horse was also runner-up in the Derby at Dortmund but this versatile all-rounder who clearly enjoys the wide open spaces has quickly adapted to jumping indoors once again.
There had been problems with the arena footing earlier in the week but a lot of hard work from the ground-staff ensured that it was much-improved by today's finale and the 7,000 spectators in the Hartwall ice-hockey stadium watched avidly as the German rider set off at a strong pace and cruised home to snatch the lead and victory, with a clear round that was almost two seconds quicker than that recorded by Raymakers.
"I was going for a clear rather than for speed" Engemann said afterwards, "but I tried to take the turns a little faster. Always when there are so many in a jump-off it is easier to go at the end because you know what you have to do so I was lucky going last. I am very happy to have these points for the World Cup because now it will be easier for me to get to some of the other qualifiers" he added.
Engemann collected the winners purse of €25,000 and Raymakers had to settle for €20,000 when slotting into second place ahead of Ericsson who produced the surprise performance of the day. The talented young rider and her nine year old Robin Z gelding Pero-Z Hillock competed on the Danish teams that finished third in Copenhagen and fourth in Drammen this summer, and were also seventh in the Grand Prix at Linkoping in Sweden recently and this partnership looks to be one to keep an eye on for the future.
Ericsson intends to compete at the second FEI World Cup Jumping qualifying show in Oslo, Norway next Sunday when another good result from Engemann could leave him sitting very comfortably at this early stage of the 2005/2006 season.
RESULTS: 1, Aboyeur (Heinrich Hermann Engemann) Ger 0/0 41.57; 2, Van Schijndel's Curtis (Piet Raymakers) Ned 0/0 43.81; 3, Pero-Z Hillock (Linnea Ericsson) Den 0/0 48.35; 4, Condios (Dermott Lennon) Irl 0/0 50.67; 5, Le Reve du Nabab (Sergio Alvarez Moya) Esp 0/4 41.37; 6, Sails Away (Sebastian Numminen) Fin 0/4 41.97; 7, Equest Carnute (Thomas Velin) Den 0/4 42.91; 8, Clausen (Holger Wulschner) Ger 0/4 43.37; 9, Paloma (Eric van der Vleuten) Ned 0/4 47.63; 10, Western Union Equinox du Mourin (Emanuele Fiorelli) Ita 0/4 49.78; 11, Cyrenaika (Philippe Leoni) Fra 0/8, 41.96; 12, H&M Royal Son Z (Malin Baryard) Swe 0/8 42.66; 14, Sherry Mury Marais Z (Patrick McEntee) Bel 0/8 43.17; 15, Nouvelle (Wout-Jan van der Schans) Ned 0/8 44.77; 16, Isovlas Pialotta (Edwina Alexander) Aus 0/8 45.40; 17, Hofgut Liederbach's Ingmar (Pia-Luise Aufrecht) Ger 0/8 49.74; 18, Eurocommerce Monaco (Gerco Schroder) Ned 0/12 41.77; 19, Calibra 11 (Lotta Schultz) Swe 4/71.97; 20, Kilian (Guiseppe Rolli) Ita 4/72.81; 21, VDL Groep Fleche Rouge (Leopold Van Asten) Ned 4/73.54; 22, BMC Nassau (Jeroen Dubbeldam) Ned 4/73.62; 23, Osta Rugs Coronation (Jean-Claude Vangeenberghe) Bel 4/74.00; 24, Florie du moulin (James Davenport) GBR 4/74.62; 25, Isaac du Jonquet (Mikael Forsten) Fin 4/75.66; 26, Novesta (Gunnar Kluttenberg) Est 4/75.88; 27, Olympic Z (Judy Ann Melchior) Bel 4/75.79; 28, VDL Groep Eve des Etisses (Hubert Bourdy) Fra 5/77.48; 29, Munsterhuis Sportscars Okometa (Jochen Munsterhuis) Ned 8/71.14; 30, ET Royal Volo (Tony Andre Hansen) Nor 8/72.75; 31, Farina (Rene Tebbel) Ger 8/75.08; 32. Laguina (Richard Davenport) GBR 8/75.22; 33, S&L 11th and Bleeker (Gerfriend Puck) Aut 8/75.30; 34, LB Tamina (Christina Liebherr) Sui 12/72.74; 35, True Illusion (Steve Guerdat) Sui 12/75.46; 36, Topic Van-T Voorhof (Bernardo Alves) Bra 13/76.29; 37, Le Mans (Markus Beerbaum) Ger 17/93.51; 38, Latania Z (Peik Andersin) Fin 24/70.85; equal 39, L'Umonia 147 NLD (Raimo Alltonen) Fin, Forsyth FRH (Toni Hassmann) Ger Ret.
FEI WORLD CUP 2005/2006 LEADERBOARD - AFTER ROUND 1 IN HELSINKI:
(16 riders are allocated points)
1. Heinrich Hermann Engemann - 20
2. Piet Raymakers - 17
3. Linnea Ericsson - 15
4. Dermott Lennon - 13
5. Sergio Alvarez Moya - 12
6. Sebastian Numminen - 11
7. Thomas Velin - 10
8. Holger Wulschner - 9
9. Eric Van der Vleuten - 8
10.Emanuele Fiorelli - 7
11. Philippe Leoni - 6
12.Malin Baryard - 5
13.Patrick McEntee - 4
14.Ludo Philippaerts - 3
15.Wout-Jan Van der Schans - 2
16.Edwina Alexander - 1
For further information on the first round of the FEI World Cup 2005/2006 series in Helsinki, Finland on Sunday 9th October contact Press officer Kati Hurme-Leikkonen, Tel (mobile) +35840 5144753 , email ati.l.hurme@kolumbus.fi. Show President is Kristian Nymman, Show Director is Tom Gordin and Show Secretary is Hanna Hurme, email hanna.hurme@helsinkihorseshow.fi. The website address is www.helsinkihorseshow.fi.
The next round takes place in Oslo, Norway on Sunday 16th October. Show President at Oslo is Kjell Christian Ulrichsen, Show Director is Morten Aasen and Show Secretary is Annhild Furfjord. Press Officer is Siri Klevaas - Tel (mobile) +47 91849703 , email sklevaas@online.no. Website www.oslohorseshow.com.
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