Markus Fuchs takes the pole position

Swiss ace Markus Fuchs was in top form to win the Prix Palais des Congrès Bordeaux last night in the brand new hall 3 of the Bordeaux Expo. This preliminary competition of the World cup qualifier decides the starting order of the Saturday’s World cup class.

It is quite important to be the last to go in a World cup qualifier or in any Grand Prix. In the World Cup, you can take your chance to gain this strategic place since being last to go in the jump-off increases then your chances to win. Thomas Frühmann was proof of this theory two weeks ago at Leipzig World cup qualifier where he defeated Ludger Beerbaum.

At Bordeaux, last night, the Austrian showed his usual consistent form being third of this preliminary class, very close to the winner: Actually Markus Fuchs, Hubert Bourdy and Frühmann finished with 19 hundredth of a second between them! A delighted Markus Fuchs said: “I definitively wanted to win this class. The course was not that difficult. My mare, Granie, needs this speed to be motivated. To morrow she will be a bit hot, it twill be easier to go over the big oxers! OK, today, I was also a bit lucky, but as Franke Sloothaak stated:” with misfortune it cannot work!”

Seven other pairs had clear-rounds, among them World #1 Marcus Ehning riding Cinderella the former mare of Swedish rider Maria Gretzer The surprise came from the brand new World #2, Ireland’s Jessica Kurten who left the arena with two fences on the ground. Nothing serious as the most important class has yet to come with the World cup qualifier to night (Saturday )at 10 pm.

After this class, Ludger Beerbaum (4 faults in this preliminary) finally won his first class ever at Bordeaux being the only one to jump over a two meters gate in the Six Bar class!

Results (03.02.06)
CSI-W de Bordeaux – 238.2.1 – 1,50m
Qualifying round for the GP World Cup

1. Granie / Markus Fuchs / Swi: 0/58.90s
2. Eve Des Etisse / Hubert Bourdy / Fran: 0/58.99
3. The Sixth Sense / Thomas Frühmann / Aust: 0/59.09
4. Mac Kinley / Rolf-Göran Bengtsson / Swe: 0/60.44
5. Cinderella / Marcus Ehning / Ger: 0/61.63
6. Loreana / Lars Nieberg / Ger: 0/61.77
7. Lolita H / Toni Hassmann / Ger: 0/62.18
8. Montreal / Wim Schröder / Hol: 0/65.16
9. Rezonanz / Vladimir Beletskiy / Rus: 0/67.94
10. Cattani / Geir Gulliksen / Nor: 0/70.70