BALOUBET DU ROUET
is himself again and
wins the GP with ease

 

On the picture, BALOUBET DU ROUET has left the CSI Geneva a great winner. But was it really just an "au revoir" ?

 

 

Fifteen years old and reported "injured" after a GP during the season 2004, BALOUBET DU ROUET surprised everybody being in absolutely top form this week-end. With his tail swishing, the beautiful chestnut covers so much ground with a tranquility that could be taken for nonchalance; and to such a point that nobody would think him capable of beating his adversaries on the stop-watch and yet.....!!! There was almost ten seconds between him and CÖSTER of Christian Ahlmann, the only competitor capable of giving him a run for his money in the clear-round category. As for Robert Smith he did everything he could to win, pushing MARIUS CLAUDIUS beyond his limits but he was not able to avoid a fault at the last fence.

The average horse age in this final of giants is still rather high, approaching 13 years-old for the first six; the top age is FOR PLEASURE (Marcus Ehning) at 18 years old ! Rather than emphasising a lack of early abilities, this state of affairs reveals the difficulty of finding a good up and coming horse among the best jumpers. In other riding disciplines, the young often reduce their elders to second class performances. But here in show ... Jumping / Dressage ... we are perhaps nearer to a ceiling of performances. If the goal of competition still remains the improvement of horse-breeding this is right !

 

Résultats techniques :
GRAND PRIX ROLEX
FEI WORLD CUP ... Jumping / Dressage ...
Barème A sans chronomètre + un barrage au chronomètre

1	BALOUBET DU ROUET	Pessoa Rodrigo	BRA	0 penalties	38.80 sec
2	CÖSTER	Ahlmann Christian	GER	0 penalties	50.49 sec
3	MARIUS CLAUDIUS	Smith Robert	GBR	4 penalties	39.39 sec
4	FOR PLEASURE	Ehning Marcus	GER	4 penalties	41.61 sec
5	MAC KINLEY	Bengtsson Rolf-Göran	SWE	4 penalties	41.90 sec
6	CIGALE DU TAILLIS	Angot Eugénie	FRA	4 penalties	42.04 sec
7	HERMINE D’AUZAY	Etter Daniel	SUI	4 penalties	42.68 sec
8	MADAME POMPADOUR M	Crotta Fabio	SUI	4 penalties	43.86 sec
9	VDL GROEP FLECHE ROUGE	van Asten Leopold	NED	4 penalties	44.81 sec
10	LOLITA H	Hassmann Toni	GER	8 penalties	42.76 sec
11	KANNAN	Hecart Michel	FRA	8 penalties	43.81 sec
38 starters

 

 

International Show ... Jumping / Dressage ...
SHUTTERFLY

Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum entered the arena spectacularly: since this 2004 season she has become the first woman in show ... Jumping / Dressage ... history to be at the head of the list of best show ... Jumping / Dressage ... riders in the world. Traditionally the most popular event of Show ... Jumping / Dressage ... at Geneva is the "Top Ten" in which only the top ten riders in the world list are invited to participate. For this reason it goes without saying that they are all top class and only the factor of chance or an extraordinary horse can make a difference between them. On this December evening in 2004, there was no doubt that the best (by far) was SHUTTERFLY who is such a precision watch "made in Hannover", that Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum could have presented it at the Salon de l'Horlogerie. When you add up the concentration, the expertise, the speed and the ease you arrive at the logical result: a total victory for SHUTTERFLY by K.O. in the second round. But to compare this elegant dark bay to a boxer is not really to do him justice. He has more of the physique of a Bolchoï Ballet dancer and when he goes round a show-... Jumping / Dressage ... course he does it so naturally and light that he demands silence and respect from the Geneva public who are normally demonstrative.

 

Swiss watchmaking and Equestrian events
complement each other

On the picture L.B. NO MERCY and Christina Liebherr are destined for greatness !!

 

 

 

As ROLEX was a generous sponsor and an attentive godfather for the CSI-W in Geneva, it is easy to see that horsemanship at this level of excellence has much in common with precision watchmaking !! And if SHUTTERFLY is the perfect example of this, other horses with extraordinary means have not yet been able to bloom at Geneva. There is notably L.B. NO MERCY who has "World Champion" potential but Christina Liebherr must still get it right. Precision work would you say ? Let the Swiss do it !

 

Résultats techniques :
FINALE DU TOP-TEN
Deux manches, seule la deuxième au chrono

1	SHUTTERFLY	Michaels-Beerbaum Meredith	GER	0 penalties	42.36 sec
2	CARLOT 3	Pessoa Rodrigo	BRA	0 penalties	48.13 sec
3	ANKA	Ehning Marcus	GER	4 penalties	42.16 sec
4	PORTOFINO LXIII	Whitaker Michael	GBR	5 penalties	52.77 sec
5	LANDO	Becker Otto	GER	8 penalties	49.71 sec
6	CAMIREZ B	Hassmann Toni	GER	12 penalties	45.65 sec
7	GRANIE	Fuchs Markus	SUI	12 penalties	48.17 sec
8	KALUSHA	Smith Robert	GBR	12 penalties	48.71 sec
9	GOLDFEVER	Beerbaum Ludger	GER	13 penalties	54.89 sec
10	TORNADO R	Philippaerts Ludo	BEL	15 penalties	60.50 sec

 

Steve Guerdat wins
his passport for Las Vegas

The lights of the Geneva arena have hardly been put out when already Swiss show... Jumping / Dressage ... starts to dream of a FEI WORLD CUP final relatively soon. In fact, Steve Guerdat confirmed his position among the leaders in the provisional classification, thanks to a very fine performance at the Palexpo Hall: a victory on CAMPUS which filled his fans with joy. Even if it is too soon to give a definite prediction for this Las Vegas final, which will take place from 20th to 24th April 2005, it is necessary to indicate the excellent chance of Steve Guerdat and of CAMPUS , even if there remain nine events before this American dream comes to be.

 

GP HSBC GUYERZELLER
TEN RIDERS NECK AND NECK...

...but Steve Guerdat leads by the end of his nose ! In effect ten renowned riders (such as Ludger Beerbaum, Willi Melliger, or Michel Robert) with horses in top form ended their participation at the top of the finishing list with less than a second between them; but Steve Guerdat and the grey CAMPUS took a lead of nearly a second on their inmediate follower. This shows how much this victory of the Swiss rider is deserved. It is also necessary to mention that Willi Melliger and Christina Liebherr contributed to the Swiss triumph by taking respectively the 3rd and the 4th places just behind Ludger Beerbaum. But it was only the qualifying event for Sunday's ROLEX Grand Prix.

 

Résultats techniques :
GRAND PRIX HSBC GUYERZELLER

1	CAMPUS	Guerdat Steve	SUI	0 penalties	59.64 sec
2	COULEUR RUBIN	Beerbaum Ludger	GER	0 penalties	60.45 sec
3	GOLD DU TALUS	Melliger Willi	SUI	0 penalties	60.67 sec
4	L.B. NO MERCY	Liebherr Christina	SUI	0 penalties	60.97 sec
5	MELANSA	Forsten Mikael	FIN	0 penalties	61.29 sec
6	ANKA	Ehning Marcus	GER	0 penalties	61.41 sec
7	MARIUS CLAUDIUS	Smith Robert	GBR	0 penalties	61.49 sec
8	CÖSTER	Ahlmann Christian	GER	0 penalties	61.53 sec
9	GALET D’AUZAY	Robert Michel	FRA	0 penalties	61.61 sec
10	DALOUBET D’EVORDES	Stauffer Céline	SUI	0 penalties	61.89 sec

 

FEI GANDINI WORLD ... Jumping / Dressage ... RIDERS RANKINGS
Top Ten Final participating field

The 47th edition of the FEI Gandini World ... Jumping / Dressage ... Riders Rankings decides on the participating field of the Top Ten Final to be held in Geneva (SUI) Palexpo arena on 11 December 2004 at 20.45.

The qualified riders are:
1. Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER)
2. Ludger Beerbaum (GER)
3. Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA)
4. Marcus Ehning (GER)
5. Beezie Madden (USA) (will not participate to the Final)
6. Toni Hassmann (GER)
7. Markus Fuchs (SUI)
8. Otto Becker (GER)
9. Ludo Philippaerts (BEL)
10. Robert Smith (GBR)
11. Michael Whitaker (GBR)

 

The 4th Top Ten Final, open to the best 10 riders of the FEI Gandini World ... Jumping / Dressage ... Riders Rankings, is organised with the support of Rolex and Gandini. The first two editions saw the victory of Ludger Beerbaum (GER), with Goldfever in 2001 and Gladdys S in 2002. Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) and Baloubet du Rouet won the 2003 edition.

Six nationalities are represented in the Top Ten of the FEI Gandini Riders Rankings of this month. No 5 of the rankings, the American Beezie Madden will not come to Geneva, leaving her place to No 11 of the FEI Gandini World Rankings, Michael Whitakers, who already confirmed his participation. German Lars Nieberg (placed 12th) is the reserve rider.

It is the third time after 1995-96 and 2001-02, that the Geneva Horse Show has been distinguished as the "World Best Indoor Show" of the season. This title is awarded by a vote of the international riders, who select the best Indoor and Outdoor shows for the yearbook "l'Année Hippique". The Organising Committee and the 700 volunteers of CSI-W Geneva have been praised by the riders for the excellence of the installations and organisation, the diversity of the programme and their great sense of hospitality.

During a press conference in Geneva this morning, the new Director of the Organising Committee, Sophie Mottu, presented the 44th edition of CSI-W Geneva, which is being held in Geneva Palexpo exhibition halls since 1991. The size of the world's biggest indoor arena has been further increased to 88 x 51 meters (about 4500 sqm). On thousand seats have been added to bring the total capacity of the arena to 7600 seats. Fifty-nine riders from 17 nations will participate in 22 competitions, including the 4th leg of the FEI World Cup Western European League, which will take place on Sunday 12 December at 14:00.

 

Spring has brought excellent news for the Geneva International Horse Show: the confirmation that the fourth edition of the Top-10 world final will once again take place in the city at the outflow of the Rhone this December!

A wonderful reward for the organisers of the Geneva International Horse Show: The International ... Jumping / Dressage ... Riders' Club (IJRC) voted in favour of this event in Geneva organising the fourth edition of the Top-10 world final.

The Geneva International Horse Show is reaping the rewards for its efforts. In fact, the mandate to organise the Top-10 world final is not renewed by tacit agreement, and the Geneva event must demonstrate its competence on each occasion to fend off the growing competition.

This final, held once a year, permits the ten best horsemen and women on the planet to compete in the same event. The two first editions were won by Ludger Beerbaum of Germany, with Goldfever in 2001 and with Gladdys’S in 2002. Last year Rodrigo Pessoa with Baloubet du Rouet won this final.

The fourth edition of the Top-10 world final will thus assure the organisers in Geneva of the best horsemen and women on the planet being present. This will certainly delight the public at Palexpo, where the event draws always a large audience.

Like the first three editions, the 2004 Top-10 world final will be presented by the watchmaking firm Rolex and Gandini. It is noteworthy that Rolex has been sponsoring the Geneva International Horse Show since the 1996 final.

 

Les dix cavaliers du Top Ten

1	Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER)
2	Ludger Beerbaum (GER)
3	Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA)
4	Marcus Ehning (GER)
5	Beezie Madden (USA) => ne participera pas à la Finale
6	Toni Hassmann (GER)
7	Markus Fuchs (SUI)
8	Otto Becker (GER)
9	Ludo Philippaerts (BEL)
10	Robert Smith (GBR)
11	Michael Whitaker (GBR)
12	Réserviste : Lars Nieberg (GER)

 

Le classement provisoire de la FEI World Cup ... Jumping / Dressage ... 2004/2005

Après trois épreuves (Oslo, Helsinki et Vérone):

1	Wim Schröder	NED	46 pts
2	Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum	GER	32 pts
3	Rolf-Göran Bengtsson	SWE	25 pts
4	Steve Guerdat	SUI	25 pts
5	Eric Van der Vleuten	NED	23 pts
6	Philippe Leoni	FRA	21 pts
7	Toni Hassmann	GER	20 pts
8	Jean-Claude Vangeenberghe	BEL	20 pts
9	Otto Becker	GER	17 pts
10	Thomas Velin	DEN	16 pts
11	Nick Skelton	GBR	15 pts
12	Andrea herholdt	ITA	15 pts
13	Gerco Schröder	NED	15 pts
14	Christophe Barbeau	SUI	13 pts
15	James Davenport	GBR	12 pts
16	Marco Kutscher	GER	11 pts
17	Beat Mändli	SUI	12 pts
18	Edouard Couperie	FRA	10 pts
19	Michel Hécart	FRA	10 pts
20	Philippe Rozier	FRA	9 pts
21	Franke Sloothaak	GER	9 pts
22	Juan Carlos Garcia	ITA	9 pts
23	Christian Ahlmann	GER	9 pts
24	Rutherford Latham	ESP	8 pts
25	Robert Splaine	IRL	8 pts