CSI5*-W Geneva : Michael Whitaker in Top Form

Victory to Michael Whitaker and Suncal Portofino 63 in the first big class of the 47th Geneva CSI-W. He was followed by the two French riders Julien Epaillard (Labrador de Brekka) and Michel Robert (Galet d'Auzay). In fourth position was the first Swiss to come placed in this class, Christina Liebherr riding Lilas de la Chaise.

The class reserved for Young horses (6 and 7 years old) saw the victory of Juan Carlos Garcia riding french-bred Mohican de Keos (7years old). Switzerland’s Werner Muff came second with Quax II and Albert Zoer from the Nethelands came 3rd with Tristan.

The speed class without a jump off was easily won by Swiss rider Werner Muff and the well named Catch Me II. He was
5 tenths of a second in front of another Swiss rider, Fabio Crotta and Kimoni du Chat Belle Vue. For the Netherlands Vincent Voorn was third riding Audi's Reflexion.

The Speed and Handy class, “En Châtillon” Prize, a Table C class with natural obstacles, was won by Swiss and World n°1 rider Markus Fuchs with his wonderful Sylver II. Mr. and Mrs Burrus were there to hand him his prize, and to second comer Theo Muff with swiss-bred mare Karonda von Schlösslihof CH, the pair being more than 2 seconds slower than Markus Fuchs. Dutch rider Leopold Van Asten finished in third place riding VDL Groep Issis du Marais.

The Implenia Six-Bar, always a very spectacular class, filled up the seats at Palexpo in Geneva bringing to an end the first of four days of competition. After a third jump-off towering at 2m10, none of the 4 horses left managed to clear that last fence. The four participants, France's Julien Epaillard and Jean-Marc Nicolas, Sweden's Helena Lundbäck and Switzerland's Daniel Etter ended up ex-aequo. But they had all cleared the previous round of a height of more than 2m in front of an extatic crowd.

Results (06.12.07)

CSI5*-W – Geneva – Switzerland

Class 1 – Young Horses 7 years – A2 – 25 combinations

1º Juan Carlos García (Ita) / Mohikan De Keos / 0 – 54,72
2º Werner Muff (Sui) / Quax II / 0 – 54,72
3º Albert Zoer (Hol) / Tristán / 0 – 55,03
4º Leopold van Asten (Hol) / Quinara / 0 – 55,83
5º Pius Schwizer (Sui) / Enzo II / 0 – 56,95
6º Steve Guerdat ( Sui ) / Querubi De Aristos / 0 – 58,01
7º Ludger Beerbaum (Ale) / Gotha / 0 – 59,66
8º Dehlia Oeuvray Smits (Sui ) / Cerano Von Hof Ch / 0 – 59,69
9º Marcus Ehning (Ale) / Fiona / 0 – 60,37
10º Jessica Kurten (Irl) / Cakoa 2 / 0 – 60,41

24º Luciana Diniz ( Por) / Corrlan / 4 – 62,93

Class 2 – Small – A2 (1,35m) – 57 combinations

1º Werner Muff (Sui) / Catch Me II / 0 – 53,3
2º Fabio Crotta (Sui) / Kimoni du Chat Belle Vue / 0 – 53,8
3º Vincent Vorn (Hol) / Reflexion / 0 – 54,41
4º Geir Gulliksen (Nor) / Lord II Z / 0 – 54,93
5º Markus Fuchs (Sui) / Granie 5 / 0 – 55,12
6º Niklaus Schurtenberger (Sui) / Rebecca X / 0 – 55,76
7º Jörg Röthlisberger (Sui) / Ploma Des Planes CH / 0 – 58,44
8º Mikael Forsten (Fin) /Vanity / 0 – 59,09
9º Pierre Kolly (Sui) /Klic Saint Clair / 0 – 60,3
10º Dehlia Oeuvray Smits (Sui) / Lord Cavalier / 0 – 60,67

12º Miguel Bravo (Por) / Cashmere / 0 – 68,59

Class 3 – Big AM5 (1,45m) – 59 combinations

1º Michael Whitaker (Gbr) / Portofino 63 / 0 / 0 – 30,81
2º Julien Epaillard (Fra) / Labrador De Brekka / 0 / 0 – 31,28
3º Michel Robert (Fra) / Galet d'Auzay / 0 / 0 – 32,4
4º Cristina Liebherr (Sui) / Lilas De La Chaise / 0 / 0 – 32,64
5º Tina Lund (Din) / Carola / 0 / 0 – 32,84
6º Jessica Kurten (Irl) / Jipey Dark / 0 / 0 – 32,96
7º Geir Gulliksen (Nor ) / L'Espoir / 0 / 0 – 34,35
8º Niall Talbot ( Irl) / Tequi D'i Ch / 0 / 0 – 34,85
9º Vincent Voorn (Hol) / Priamus Z / 0 / 0 – 35,06
10º Mikael Forsten (Fin) / Isaac du Jonquet / 0 / 0 – 36,01

57º Luciana Diniz ( Por) / Son of Marco / 10

Class 4 – Media – Speed and Handiness (1,40m) – 35 combinations

1º Markus Fuchs (Sui) / Sylver / II / 61,92
2º Theo Muff (Sui / Karonda V Schl'Hof CH / 64,56
3º Leopold van Asten (Hol) / Issis du Marais / 64,95
4º Jane Richard (Sui) / Kazop d'Ysieux / 65,22
5º Jessica Kurten (Irl) / Vivaldo VH Costersveld / 65,39
6º Dehlia Oeuvray Smits (Sui ) / Lord Cavalier / 66,07
7º Werner Muff (Sui) / Catch Me II / 62,16
8º Philippe Lejeune (Bel) / Ulysse / 66,18
9º Vincent Voorn (Hol) / Radja /66,21
10º François Mathy (Bel) / Undercover Agent / 66,35