Once again, the Rolex IJRC Top 10 was a thrilling show with the best riders in the world. The Exposition Parc Paris Nord Villepinte was completely sold out and the crowd enjoyed the show from the beginning when the 10 riders were driven in the arena in carriages of the famous stuntman Mario Luraschi.
After two super rounds, the number one ranked rider, Marcus Ehning, emerged the winner on Plot Blue. The smooth riding style of the 35 year-old German made everything look easy throughout his double clear rounds. Last year’s winner, Michel Robert and Kellemoi de Pepita finished on 10th place.
The American course designer Conrad Homfeld, who will also be the course designer at the World Equestrian Games in Lexington Kentucky next year, build a very difficult and delicate course. In the first round only the Swedish Rolf-Göran Bengtsson and Marcus Ehning were clear. Olympic champion Eric Lamaze was very close with one time penalty. Edwina Alexander and Rodrigo Pessoa both had four penalties on the last fence, the Rolex vertical. European champion Kevin Stau and Marco Kutscher also finished the course with four penalties. Harry Smolders followed with 5 penalties and Michel Robert with 8. For them the battle was over.
In the second round Albert Zoer and Okidoki were clear, just like Kevin Staut with Silvana, a mare that he is riding only for 4 months. Eric Lamaze and Hickstead jumped clear and in time. Than Marcus Ehning started his demonstration with a second clear round in 44.89 on Plot Blue. Without ever giving the impression of forcing his horse he took some time at every stride. Rolf-Göran Bengtsson and his Holstein stallion Casall La Silla wasalso double clear but the Swedish rider finished O.18 seconds slower.
Marcus Ehning participated to eight of the nine Finals of the Rolex IJRC top ten and finally he won the Rolex and 43,750 Euro prize money.
Results:
1. Ehning (GER), Plot Blue, 0 pt (0+0; 44.89)
2. Bengtsson (SWE), Casall La Silla, 0 (0+0; 45.07)
3. Lamaze (CAN), Hickstead, 1 (1+0; 53.67)
4. Staut (FRA), Silvana, 4 (4+0; 45.25)
5. Zoer (HOL), Oki Doki, 4 (4+0; 45.36)
6. Kutscher (GER), Cornet Obolensky, 4 (4+0; 45.90)
7. Pessoa (BRA), Let’s Fly, 4 (4+0; 47.18)
8. Alexander (AUS), Cevo Itôt du Château, 8 (4+4; 45.56)
9. Smolders (HOL), Exquis Walnut de Muze, 9 (5+4; 53.79)
10. Robert (FRA), Kellemoi de Pépita, 12 (8+4; 48.23).
Quotes
Marcus Ehning : “It’s a great victory because the Rolex Top Ten is an important event for the riders. Conrad Homfeld, the course designer did a great job. The course was difficult and technical but fair. Two double clears in the first round of a top ten is normal. I’m very happy with the way Plot Blue jumped. We perform better and better and I’m very proud of my victory. For the future I hope to stay on first place for a long time and to win more Grand Prix’s. I also want to congratulate the organisation, it’s incredible to see such a big crowd on a new show.”
Rolf-Göran Bengtsson: “ I couldn’t go faster today. In the first round I felt that Casall was almost spooky and he really jumped very high, I really had to push him a little bit. I didn’t start the second round very well, I lost some time at the second fence. But nevertheless I’m very happy with the show.”
Eric Lamaze : “This was one of the most beautiful indoor shows of my career. Everything is great, the horses are happy, the riders are happy, it’s really the highest level. There is no better indoor show. I regret the one time penalty in the first round, I rode too much in the corners of the arena. I wanted to keep my horse quiet for the last line to the exit. Today my third place is not the fault of my horse but mine. But anyway, the number one has one and that is logical.”
Kevin Staut : “I’m only riding the mare for four months, so we need some more time to know each other perfectly. She’s almost to careful and then she doesn’t cover the big oxers. But it’s while making the errors that we both learn. Nevertheless I’m very happy with my fourth place. The Rolex IJRC Top ten was not one of my goals this year, it came faster than I hoped, but I’m happy anyway.
Rodrigo Pessoa : “My performance in the arena tonight was not important. I want to thank Rolex, because without their help this competition would never be possible. Everything Rolex does in sport is very precious. There was a lot of pressure on the organisation team in having the final during our first show in Paris. Our team did a great job. I want to wish Geneva good luck in organising the World Cup Final and the RolexTop 10 in 2010.”
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