Germany’s Marco Kutscher admitted he was very pleasantly surprised when finding himself the winner of the last qualifying round of the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping Western European League 2011/2012 series at Gothenburg, Sweden today.  “This was my first World Cup competition with this horse and my last chance to make sure that he could compete at the final in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, so I’m delighted with the way things have worked out!” the 36 year old rider said afterwards.

Second to go in a five-horse jump-off against the clock, he clinched it with the coolest of performances, and completes the 12-leg qualifying series in fourth place.  It is Frenchman, Kevin Staut, who is the leading rider at the end of the qualification season however, having competed at every event from the outset in Oslo, Norway last October and finishing third today with Le Prestige St Lois de Hus behind runner-up Ludo Philippaerts from Belgium partnering Kassini Jac.

Ukraine’s Katharina Offel filled fourth spot while Germany’s Philipp Weishaupt slotted into fifth on an afternoon when clear rounds were at a premium.

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