Daniel does the Double at Helsinki
Daniel Etter scored a back-to-back double when storming to victory in the second leg of the 2009/2010 Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping series in Helsinki, Finland this afternoon. Winners of the opening round in Oslo just a week ago, the Swiss rider and his superb 13 year old gelding Peu a Peu made it look easy when confidently setting a target in the 10-horse jump-off that none of the rest could match once again.
America's Lauren Hough didn't hold back when galloping into second place with Quick Study who was only fractionally slower, while Holland's Eric van der Vleuten finished third ahead of Sweden's Svante Johansson in fourth. This was another top-class field today, and in the tight confines of the Helsinki arena course-designer Olaf Petersen tested control, rideability and obedience to the very limit.
THE KEY
Frenchman, Patrice Deleveau, and his brave and honest mare Katchina Mail were first to find the key to the opening-round course which presented a variety of problems. Perfect planning and execution were required to meet the triple combination at fence four on a good stride, while the line from the triple-bar at fence seven to the following double at fence eight accounted for a large number of victims. “I was lucky at the double” admitted the winner afterwards, “it was four strides from the triple bar, and the vertical going into the double was big and then the stride to the second element – a wide oxer – was a very short one. It was really difficult” he added.
That tricky line was also included in the jump-off track, and Deleveau's mare clipped the back of the double for four faults as they set the pace when first against the clock. Van der Vleuten and VDL Groep Tomboy took a stride out to the Rolex oxer at fence 10 and another on the long run to the final oxer however to return clear in 38.17 seconds and that was always going to be a competitive result. Portugal's Luciana Diniz was next into the ring with the 10 year old stallion Winningmood, and although this looks like an ideal partnership in the making, they found themselves on two different wave-lengths when making the turn to the triple bar – now the third fence on the track. Confused by the angle of approach, the handsome grey horse ducked out to the right, unceremoniously dumping his rider on the floor for a very definite elimination.
With Etter and Peu a Peu however there was no misunderstanding. On a roll all season, and particularly since their great performance when part of the Swiss European gold medal winning team at the Alltech FEI European Championships this summer, they came out with all guns blazing to throw down the gauntlet when stopping the clock on 36.80 seconds. “I was the first one to do just five strides between the first two fences and after that I just followed the track. I tried not to get too excited coming down to the last fence” said Etter afterwards, “but I knew the time was good!”.
Germany's Philipp Weishaupt and CatokI followed with 12 faults before Ireland's Jessica Kuerten collected an unlucky four at the bogey second element of the double in an otherwise impressive round from the nine year old mare Castle Forbes Cosma, and then Italy's Natale Chiaudani collected eight with SNAI Seldana di Campalto to present no threat to the leader either.
Marco Kutscher's Cornet Obolensky never looked like touching a pole when third-last to go, but this stallion spends a lot of time in the air over his fences and Etter was still well in control when the German rider broke the beam in 39.87 seconds. Lauren Hough's Quick Study however is always fast and furious, and Etter had to hold his breath as the American duo set off at a blistering speed, crossing the line just short of the target time in 37.08 seconds. And, despite an excellent effort from the final partnership of Sweden's Svante Johannson and his game stallion Saint Amour, their time of 38.64 seconds was only good enough for fourth place leaving Etter king of the ring once again.
With 40 points already on the board, so almost certainly qualified for the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final in Geneva next April, Etter could easily sit back now and relax a little – but that is not his plan. He intends also competing at the next qualifying leg in Lyon, France in two weeks' time and then heading for the Global Champions Tour final in Doha. However, after that, Peu a Peu is due a break. “He's such a fantastic horse, super-sound and very happy in himself. I couldn't be happier with him” he said today.
RESULT: 1, Peu a Peu (Daniel Etter) Sui 0/0 36.80; 2, Quick Study (Lauren Hough) USA 0/0 37.08; 3, VDL Groep Tomboy (Eric Van der Vleuten) Ned 0/0 38.17; 4, Saint Amour (Svante Johansson) Swe 0/0 38.44; 5, Cornet Obolensky (Marco Kutscher) Ger 0/0 39.97; 6, Castle Forbes Cosma (Jessica Kuerten) Irl 0/4 37.60; 7, Katchina Mail (Patrice Deleveau) Fra 0/4 39.37; 8, snai Seldana Di Campalto (Natale Chiaudani) Ita 0/8 39.63; 9, Catoki (Philipp Weishaupt) Ger 0/12 40.63; 10, Winningmood (Luciana Diniz) Por 0/Elim. COMPLETE RESULTS at www.scg-nl.nl
Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2009/2010 – Western European League Standings after Round 2 at Helsinki :
1. Daniel Etter – 40
2. Marco Kutscher, Patrice Deleveau – 25
4. Eric Van der Vleuten – 24
5. Philipp Weishaupt – 18
6. Pius Schwizer – 17
7. Natale Chiaudani – 15
8. Luciana Diniz – 14
9. Leopold Van Asten, Svante Johansson – 13
11. Daniel Deusser – 12
12. Jessica Kuerten – 11
13. Robert Smith – 8
14. Timothee Anciaume – 6
15. Marcus Ehning, Penelope Leprevost – 5
17. Geir Gulliksen, Giulia Martinengo, Henk van de Pol – 4
20. Kevin Staut – 3
Riders from Other Leagues
Lauren Hough (USA) – 17
FACTS AND FIGURES
A total of 40 horses and riders competed
Three retired in the first round – Edwina Alexander (Zorro Z) Aus, Emiliano Varagnolo (LB Tamina) Ita, Steve Guerdat (Tresor) Sui
There was one rider-fall – Luciana Diniz (Winingmood) Por who fell in the jump-off
Riders from 18 nations took part
The start-list included five riders each from both Germany and Switzerland
All four members of the European gold medal winning Swiss team competed
QUOTES
Winning rider, Daniel Etter from Switzerland – “This win feels really good. I didn't think the jump-off track would suit my horse and the first course was not classic for him either because of the short turns but, as he always does, he tried everywhere to do his best for me”.
Daniel Etter “I have my horse four years now and he is special. He is very careful and a real fighter – he always gives me 150%”.