Ehning Validates Ranking Once Again at La Baule
It was another exciting day in the beautiful seaside town of La Baule, France, and the equestrian competition could not have been better. Marcus Ehning of Germany on Noltes Kuchengirl lasted through two rounds of competition to claim the top prize in the 100,000 euros grand prix.
Today´s class was a Two Round, Table A against the clock class, FEI Art.
273.2.2, 3.3. The 1.60m course was designed by France´s Frederic Cottier and featured 12 numbered jumps in the first round with a strict time allowed of 83 seconds. The top 18 combinations from the first round, which included only three four-fault trips, returned for a second round over nine obstacles. Six combinations retired from the first round course while two were eliminated for refusals.
The first round saw an early clear trip from Lauren Hough (USA) and Casadora. The mare´s clean round showcased her talent, as they came in with a time of 60.86 seconds. The lead would change hands numerous times, and the crowd would cheer on eleven more clear rounds (six of which had one time fault, however). Margie Engle (USA) and Hidden Creek´s Perin set the crowd talking as the plucky rider vocally urged her 16 year old Westfalen gelding over the water jump and onto a clear round. Their lead would hold until the very last horse in the ring, despite another clear round from Great Britain´s John Whitaker and Peppermill. France proved once again that the last may prove to be the best.
Flipper d´Elle*HN and Laurent Goffinet (FRA), positively flew around the challenging course in a time of 77.59 seconds, which gave them the ultimate returning position for round two.
First to return for the second round was France´s Pierre Jarry and Haxelle Dampierre. After hard rubs at two fences, they galloped down to the final oxer and had four faults in a time of 52.73 seconds, which made their total faults eight.
The first clear second round came from France´s Julien Epaillard and Icare du Manet after a big stretch across the triple bar. Their total came to just one fault in a time of 50.99 seconds. Their lead would hold until Switzerland´s Markus Fuchs and La Toya III entered the ring.
Starting also with one time fault, Fuchs made clean turns to finish clear in a time of 50.20 seconds.
Fuchs´ lead was short-lived however, as hometown hero Michel Robert, who was double clear for France in the Nations´ Cup on Friday, attempted the course on Galet d´Auzay. They made an extremely short turn to the third fence and had to add a stride to the sixth fence. Galet d´Auzay barely fit in one stride in the combination, and they came home just ahead of Fuchs with a time of 50.17 seconds and one fault.
McLain Ward (USA) and Sapphire were the first to carry zero faults into the second round. Ward turned sharply in the air over every jump and flew home clear in a time of 45.83 seconds, a full four and a half seconds faster than Robert.
Ward´s time would not hold up for the win, but would garner him third place. German legend Ludger Beerbaum and L´Espoir 7 had a masterful second course, leaving strides out in lines for a time of 45.48 seconds with no faults.
When the world´s number one rider entered the ring, the crowd went respectfully wild. It did not matter for Marcus Ehning (GER) that he was riding a new horse. Noltes Kuchengirl, who used to be in Johannes Ehning´s barn (Marcus´ brother), has shown that she has what it takes to win at the very top level. The huge mare left strides out at every possible location and double jumped her hind end over every oxer. With the utmost care and control, Ehning guided her to a clear round in an amazing time of 43.38 seconds. Ehning was also voted as the male candidate for the Longines Press Award for Elegance.
The last combination to tackle the second course was France´s Laurent Goffinet and Flipper d´Elle*HN, an extremely quick mare that had every chance of catching Ehning´s time, provided all of the jumps stayed up. Goffinet had a bead on the lead and nearly had the win, but Flipper d´Elle*HN just hit the back rail of the last jump for a devastating four faults in a time of 43.55 seconds and a finish in ninth place.
While the three riders were happy with their results, they pointed out that the format of the class is not satisfactory. Beerbaum was especially vocal with his dislike of the two round format and lack of a jump-off for only the clear rounds. “I believe this formula for top grand prix is not ideal,” he remarked. “I really believe this is not the way it should be.” Ehning added, “The first point is to think of the horses.” Ward agreed that he is also “not fond” of the format, but said he thought a solution would be easy to find.
The German riders also discussed Cottier´s style of course designing, and that they would rather have larger jumps and more technicality than a tight time-allowed. Cottier explained, “To build a course with two rounds is not so easy. I didn´t want a four faulter in the first round to beat a clear round. The design of the second round was like a jump-off. It was good for riders and especially the public. It was a nice grand prix to watch. The first round may have been difficult with all of the angles, but that´s my way.”
Ward replied, “The first goal of a course designer is to have the very best person win and not have any horses hurt. The best rider won today, and no one fell.” Ehning agreed, “McLain is right and has a really good point. There were no crazy combinations or half distances, and that was very, very good for the horses.”
Results (07.05.06)
Grand Prix Longines Ville de La Baule
1. Noltes Kuchengirl / Marcus Ehning (GER) / 0/0 43.38
2. L´Espoir 7 / Ludger Beerbaum (GER) / 0/0 45.48
3. Sapphire / McLain Ward (USA) / 0/0 45.83
4. Oki Doki / Albert Zoer (NED) / 0/0 45.89
5. Peppermill / John Whitaker (GBR) / 0/0 47.75
6. Galet d´Auzay / Michel Robert (FRA) / 1/0 50.17
7. La Toya III / Markus Fuchs (SUI) / 1/0 50.20
8. Icare du Manet / Julien Epaillard (FRA) / 1/0 50.99
9. Flipper d´Elle*HN / Laurent Goffinet (FRA) / 0/4 43.55
10. Casadora / Lauren Hough (USA) / 0/4 46.51