London Olympia: Tio svenska placeringar

Eric van der Vleuten - Tomboy segrade i söndagens världscuphoppning. FOTO: Kit Houghton/FEI

Svante Johansson - Saint Amour åtta ivärldscuphoppningen. FOTO: Roland Thunholm

Edwad Gal och Totilas - två segrar och nytt världsrekord i kür. FOTO: Kit Houghton/FEI

* Svante Johansson och Malin Baryard tog totalt tio placeringar vid årets hoppningar i London Olympia, varav varsin i världscuphoppningen. Svante Johansson ligger nu på 15:e plats i tabellen.
* Edward Gal - Totilas slog sitt eget världsrekord i onsdagens världscupkür. Det nya rekordet är 92,300 procentenheter, 2,45 procentenheter högre än det tidigare rekordet! Se ritten här.

Onlinereresultat, resultat och startlistor.
Webb-TV: Edward Gals och Totilas världsrekordritt.
Webbradio: Intervju med Edward Gal (vid mitten på sidan).
Twitter från Malin Baryard.

Måndag:
* Malin Baryard - Reveur de Hurtebise fyra och Svante Johansson - Classic Lady åtta i 1,50-hopppningen.
* I Grand Prix-hoppningen fick Malin Baryard - Tornesch 13 fel och Svante Johansson - Saint Amour 9 fel. Irländaren Cian O ´Connor - Rancorrado vann.

Söndag:
* Både Malin Baryard och Svante Johansson placerade i dagens världscuphoppning.
Svante Johansson - Saint Amour kom åtta och Malin Baryard - Actrice elva av elva placerade ekipage. Svante Johansson ligger nu på 15:e plats i tabellen med 22 poäng.
- Jag tar utan vidare på mig rivningen. Jag kom för nära och han fick aldrig någon riktig chans att göra att bra språng, men jag är naturligtvis jättenöjd  med att vi tog 9 nya fräscha poäng, säger Svante Johansosn till SVT.
* Nästan lika bra såg det ut för Actrice. Visserligen rev stoet två hinder i omhoppningen, men såg mycket mer musklad och balanserad ut än förra säsongen. Hon har också stabiliserat sig betydligt och utvecklats rejält.
* Norrmannen geir Gulliksen - L´Espoir nia. Vann gjorde Eric van der Vleuten - Tomboy. Han är ny världscupledare på 57 poäng före schweizaren Pius Schwizer (48) och brasilianaren Rodrigo Pessoa (41).
- L´Espoir hoppet virkelig bra. I grunnomgangen var han helt klasse, noe av det beste han har hoppet i år. Jeg var først ut i omhoppingen og måtte satse. Det ble en litt skrå vinkel rundt en sving til en veldig smal rekk. Der falt det en bom. Men alt i alt er jeg veldig fornøyd i dag. Det ble noen viktige poeng i dag, og nå blir det forhåpentligvis videre satsing mot en verdenscupfinale, oppsummerer en smilende Gulliksen.
* Malin Baryard - Tornesch sjua i söndagkvällens 1,60-hoppning.

Söndag, världscupen från FEI:
Holland's Eric Van der Vleuten rocketed up to the top of the leaderboard after a superb victory with VDL Groep Tomboy in the sixth leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping series at Olympia, London today.  Ireland's Cian O'Connor set the target with Rancorrado in the 11-horse jump-off but was pipped at the post by the Dutchman's second-last-to-go ride, while Penelope Leprevost claimed third with Mylord Carthago.

Today's winner has amassed 57 points this season, so is already guaranteed a place at next April's Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final in Geneva, Switzerland but he had to fight hard for those maximum 20 points today.

A BIT OF A PUZZLE
The first-round track proved a bit of a puzzle in the early stages, the tight confines of the Victorian Grand Hall at the central London venue once again proving a challenge when the fences were raised by course-designer Frank Rothenberger.  Balance and rhythm were key to success, but Germany's Max Kuhner lost both of these when dislodged from Acantus GK at the vertical fence seven.  He found himself running alongside his horse with a look of complete surprise on his face after Acantus jumped awkwardly and he was the only rider eliminated on the track.  Two retired, but with 11 through against the clock it was always going to be a tough one to win.

Norway's Geir Gulliksen was pathfinder in the jump-off with L'Espoir but left one on the ground as did Sweden's Svante Johansson and Saint Amour.  Third into the ring this time around was Johansson's team-mate Malin Baryard-Johnsson who had produced the most immaculate clear from the volatile mare, Actrice, first time out, but the Swedish star, who gave birth to her second child, Edward, just a few short weeks ago, saw her chances disappear with two fences on the floor. 

Verona winners, Michael Whitaker and GIG Amai, were roared on by the home crowd but also fell victim to the double and it was O'Connor who returned the first zero score.  Aileen Bryan's scopey 11 year old gelding covers a lot of ground and the Irishman left out a stride between the first two fences.  He was a little careful to the double but still stopped the clock on 35.66 seconds to put it up to the rest of them.

A LITTLE CAUTIOUS
Two medal winners from this summer's Alltech FEI European Jumping Championships followed him into the ring but Italy's Natale Chiaudani was a little cautious with SNAI Seldana di Campalto while Switzerland's Pius Schwizer didn't take too many chances either with his lovely eight year old Carlina.  Britain's Ben Maher and Robin Hood looked like a real threat to O'Connor's lead but despite taking a stride out to the last they only broke the beam in 36.07 and when European individual gold medallist Kevin Staut from France left one on the ground with Le Prestige St Lois, who insisted on bucking his way around the ring, only two more stood between the Irishman and victory.

Van der Vleuten's VDL Groep Tomboy was in a silly mood too, and also threw in a few bucking moments, but this 10 year old Emilion gelding is a speed machine and scorched home regardless in 35.08 seconds to clearly stamp his authority on the class. And although Penelope Leprevost's good nine year old Mylord Cathago was quick and clear they still had to settle for third in the final analysis.

A GREAT RUN
"My horse has been great for the last six months" said the winner afterwards, "and we've had a fantastic run in the World Cup this season".  They finished eighth at the opening leg in Oslo, Denmark, third at the next leg in Helsinki, Finland and fourth at both Lyon, France and Verona, Italy over the last few weeks so today's result is not altogether a huge surprise.

Eric said he doesn't worry when Tomboy throws a buck "because it just means that he's feeling good.  He only does it when he's very fit, and when you ask him to go faster against the clock - he's not trying to be difficult, it's just his way of playing a bit.  He's a sharp kind of horse, and sometimes you might think that the bucking will lose you some time on the course but he's very fast and you don't want to stop him from enjoying himself!" the rider added.

Tomboy will now have a few weeks rest before coming back out for Amsterdam Show in the new year "and then maybe we will do a few more shows just to get ready for the final in Geneva.  I'll make the plan with our Dutch Chef d'Equipe so we can be sure we are ready - I'm looking forward to it already!"

The Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping action now moves on to Mechelen in Belgium next week.

Result:  1, VDL Groep Tomboy (Eric Van der Vleuten) Ned 0/0 35.08; 2, Rancorrado (Cian O'Connor) Irl 0/0 35.66; 3, Mylord Carthago (Penelope Leprevost) Fra 0/0 35.97; 4, Robin Hood W (Ben Maher) GBR 0/0 36.07; 5, Carlina (Pius Schwizer) Sui 0/0 36.77; 6, SNAI Seldana di Campalto (Natale Chiaudani) Ita 0/0 37.89; 7, GIG Amai (Michael Whitaker) GBR 0/4 35.16; 8, Saint Amour (Svante Johansson) Swe 0/4 36.34; 9, L'Espoir (Geir Gulliksen) Nor 0/4 37.35; 10, Le Prestige St Lois (Kevin Staut) Fra 0/4 38.06; 11, H&M Actrice (Malin Baryard-Johnsson) Swe 0/8 36.83.
FULL RESULTS at http://eventcontent.hippoonline.de/453/453zeitplanENG.htm

Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping - Standings after sixth leg at Olympia, London:
1.     Eric Van der Vleuten            -    57
2.    Pius Schwizer                -    48
3.    Rodrigo Pessoa                -    41
4.    Daniel Etter                    -    40
5.    Natale Chiaudani                -    38
6.    Kevin Staut                    -    37
7.    Ludger Beerbaum                -    34
8.    Marco Kutscher                -    34
9.    Marcus Ehning                -    31
10.    Michael Whitaker                -    30
11.    Patrice Delaveau                -    29
12.    Philipp Weishupt                -    29
13.    Ben Maher                    -    28
14.    Albert Zoer                    -    26
15.    Svante Johannson                -    22
16.    Daniel Deusser                -    22
17.    Beat Mandli                    -    21
18.    Penelope Leprevost            -    21

Facts and Figures:
11 horse and rider combinations qualified for the jump-off
The youngest horses in the competition were both 8 year olds and were both ridden by Swiss riders  -  Carlina with Pius Schwizer and  LB Rendam ridden by Christina Liebherr.
The 8 year old Carlina jumped double-clear to finish fifth.

Quotes: 
Cian O'Connor who finished second today "Rancorrado is deceptively fast - he's got a huge stride and he eats up the distances"
Frank Rothenberger, Course Designer "It was working out fine for me when the early riders had plenty of four faults but I got a bit of a surprise when there were 11 clear rounds!"
Cian O'Connor - "If you told me this morning I'd finish second today I would have been very happy!"
Ben Maher who finished fourth - "Robin Hood is not a quick jumper, so I struggle in the jump-offs.  He's been a bit off-colour for a while but he feels really well again now"
Eric Van Vleuten, today's winner - "Olympia is such a great show - its what show jumping is all about, the crowds are so enthusiastic and the place is full of excitement - I love it!"

Lördag:
* Svante Johansson - Caramell KS trea i lördagens huvudklass 1,60.
* Ytterligare en placering till Svante Johansson med Saint Amour. Den här gången blev det en tredjeplacering i en 1,40-klass knappt två sekunder bakom segraren Robert Smith - Raging Bull Vangelis S.

Fredag:
* Svante Johansson - Saint Amour 7:e placerad i 1,50.

Torsdag:
* Malin Baryard - Reveur de Hurtebise placerad åtta i första hoppstarten.
* Det blev en 10:e placering till Svante Johansson - Caramell KS i en 1,50-hoppning.

Onsdag:
* Edwards Gal - Totilas vann ohotad världscupdressyren med nya världsrekordnoteringen i GP-kur, 92,3 procent. Det tidigare rekordet, noterat vid M i somras, löd på 90,750 procent.
* Tvåa blev Adelinde Cornelissen - Parzival med 82,05 procent, alltså 10,25 procentenheter efter Gal, efter en fin ritt med lite småmissar vilket drog ner poängen. Trean Carl Hester - Liebling II hade 78,45 procent.

Tisdag:
* Edward Gal - Totilas vann världscupkvalet på 83,55 procent, 0,43 från hans eget GP-världsrekord. Tvåan Adelinde Cornelissen - Parzival hade 81,277 och trean Carl Hester - Liebling 72,213...

Världscupdressyr från FEI:
The Netherlands' Edward Gal and Moorlands Totillas set a new world record in the Grand Prix Freestyle for the third time this year when scoring 92.30% to win the fourth leg of the FEI World Cup™ Dressage series at the Grand Hall at Olympia in London tonight.  With another breath-taking performance that put him in an entirely different class to the rest of the 13-strong field, the nine year old stallion showed even more confidence than he displayed when taking Freestyle gold at the Alltech FEI European Championships at Windsor last August.  Stockholm winner Adelinde Cornelissen had a difficult evening with Parzival who was gripped with nervous tension and failed to give of his best, but this Dutch duo still held on for second place, while British hearts were lifted by a great third-spot finish for one of their all-time favourites, Carl Hester with Liebling 11.

SUPERLATIVES
The superlatives have already all been used up where Totillas and Gal are concerned.  They created a huge sensation when de-throning long-time Freestyle record-holder Anky Van Grunsven with an amazing test at Hickstead in July where they scored 89.50%, and then came back to raise the bar even higher when taking the European title with a mark of 90.75%.  They did that despite some irregular scores, but tonight the judges were very much in agreement about artistic merit - Gal and Totillas blended brilliantly with their musical accompaniment which perfectly compliments the stallion's enormous presence.  It is the power with which he pumps off the floor in piaffe and passage that particularly distinguishes him along with his ease of elevation.  He looks comfortable in his body even when executing the most difficult of movements.

Richard Davison led the first tranche of riders with a mark of 75.15% for Hiscox Artemis, but fellow-Briton Laura Bechtolsheimer overtook him when racking up 77.35% with a lovely ride on Andretti H.  Hester however earned 78.45% for a really accurate performance when third-last into the arena.  He was delighted with Liebling - "I didn't think he had much more to give me after Windsor so I'm really happy to put another 5% on my score from last night" he said.

In yesterday's Grand Prix his mark of 72.21% was good enough for third place, while Cornelissen and Gal were separated by just over two percentage points as Totillas again got the edge, but the difference between the latter two tonight was much more extreme.  The moment Parzival entered the arena he was electrified with fear and Cornelissen did well to persuade him to go to work despite his obvious reservations.  She is philosophical about his nervous nature, knowing that she must live for the days when he finds it possible to overcome it and show what he is truly capable of achieving.  "Yesterday he was pretty good but I knew he was going to be a handful from the minute we came in the ring today.  He was so spooky, but at least now he is getting better because he's willing to give it a try even though he's worried.  There was a time when he'd just run out of the ring. I've been riding him for seven years now and its all about trust and confidence - you have to keep building him up" she pointed out.  Her score of 82.05% was nevertheless still only just over one point below her winning result from the third leg of the FEI World Cup™ Dressage series in Stockholm two weeks ago.

REALLY RELAXED
Nerves are not something Gal has to battle with where Totillas is concerned.  "He's always really relaxed, the only problem is that he gets distracted by things going on around him but he's not worried about them, just interested, and so sometimes loses his attention" the rider explained.  He could feel how good the horse's work was tonight - "it just felt great" he said.  "In the very beginning of his training he had trouble with the changes but once he learns something you don't have to keep going over it again and again, he remembers.  It's all very easy for him and he learns very quickly" he explained after putting the record-breaking 92.30% on the board.

His plan for Totillas now is to compete at the FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final at s'Hertogenbosch in March and at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky later in the year "and that we both have fun while we are doing it!" he added.  Tonight's result sees him share the league leaderboard with Cornelissen while Van Grunsven completes the Dutch dominance in third.

Ground Jury President, Stephen Clarke, was delighted with another record-breaking night - "the judges did a great job, they reacted to what they saw.  Tonight Carl did his best Grand Prix ever, Adelinde coped really well in difficult circumstances and Edward left me speechless!" he said.

The next leg of the 2009/2010 FEI Dressage World Cup™ series takes place in Frankfurt, Germany next weekend.

RESULT: 1, Moorlands Totilas (Edward Gal) Ned 92.30%; 2, Parzival (Adelinde Cornelissen) Ned 82.05%; 3, Liebling 11 (Carl Hester) GBR 78.45%; 4, Andretti H (Laura Bectolsheimer) GBR 77.35%; 5, Hiscox Artemis (Richard Davison) GBR 75.15%; 6, Cadillac (Catherine Haddad) USA 73.60%; 7, Apollo van het Vijverhof (Jeroen Devroe) Bel 72.25%; 8, Ovation (Christa Larakkers) Ned 72.20%; 9, Louis d'Or (Henriette Andersen) GBR 70.20%; 10, Mr President (Stephanie Croxford) GBR 69.70%; 11, Whitni Star (Marc Boblet) Fra 69.65%; 12, Fitzcerraldo (Judith Harvey) GBR 69.00%; 13, Exquis Clearwater (Anne Van Olst) Den 67.85%.

FEI WORLD CUP™ DRESSAGE - STANDINGS AFTER FOURTH LEG AT OLYMPIA, LONDON:
1.    Adelinde Cornelissen, Edward Gal                    -    35
3.    Anky Van Grunsven                                -    34
4.    Matthias Alexander Rath                            -    27
5.    Jeanette Haazen, Aat Van Essen, Monica Theodorescu-    24
8.    Hubertus Schmidt                                -    23
9.    Tinne Vilhelmson                                -    20
10.    Hans Peter Minderhoud, Peter Gmoser                -    19

FACTS AND FIGURES
Edward Gal and Moorlands Totillas set a new world record in the Grand Prix Freestyle for the third time this year when scoring 92.30% in tonight's competition.
Each time Gal has re-set the target it has been on British soil - he first broke the record in Hickstead in July, then did it again at the Alltech FEI European Championships at Windsor in August and then at Olympia in London tonight.
13 riders started in today's Grand Prix Freestyle to Music
There were 5 from Great Britain, 3 from The Netherlands, and one each from Denmark, France, Belgium and the USA.
Judge at E was M. Almasy (FRA); Judge at H was W. Markowski (POL); Judge at C was S. Clarke (GBR); Judge at M was I. Wessels (GBR) and Judge at B was K. Wuest (GER)
The youngest horses in the competition were the 9 year olds Apollo van het Vijver ridden by Belgium's Jeroen Devroe and Moorlands Totilas ridden by The Netherlands' Edward Gal.
The oldest horse in the calss was the 15 year old Mr President ridden by Great Britain's Stephanie Croxford.

QUOTES
Stephen Clarke, Ground Jury President - "At Windsor we saw a new level in the sport and we wondered if we'd ever see it again, but to see it getting even better is unbelievable!"
Edward Gal, talking about his Master Class at Olympia with Sisther de Jeu "she is also a good horse but needs more time to settle in an arena like this - she is sometimes quite tense".
Adelinde Cornelissen - "I never go into the ring to come second - I always try to do my best for myself and for Parzival".
Carl Hester - "I'm aware of my horse's limitations and very happy with the scores he got - he's steadily improving all the time".
Edward Gal, when asked if Totillas knows how good he is - "No, he's not spoiled that way, he's very easy-going.  But he does like attention!"

TV-tider:
SVT:
Söndag 20 december
20.00 SVT24 - Världscuphoppning från Olympia

Måndag 21 december
12.35 SVT1 - Världscuphoppning från Olympia, repris

Eurosport:
Onsdag 16 december
19.25-20.25: World Top 10 från Paris, sammandrag
20.25-21.25: Masters från Paris, sammandrag
21.25-23.15: Världscupen i dressyr från Olympia, direkt
23.15-23.20: Rider’s Club

Fredag 18 december
22.00-23.00: Hoppning – The Christmas Puissance, direkt

Lördag 19 december
23.00-00.00: Hoppning – The Santa Stakes, eftersänt

Söndag 20 december
21.00-22.00: Hoppning – världscupkval, eftersänt
22.00-23.00: Hoppning – The Ivy Stakes, direkt

Måndag 21 december
23.00-00.30: Hoppning – The Olympia Grand Prix