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ISH stallion Flexible wins WC final for USA's Rich Fellers

Apr 22, 2012

America's Rich Fellers and the amazing Irish-bred stallion Flexible stormed to victory in a thrilling third-round jump-off at the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final in 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands today. Only Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat and his 11-year-old gelding, Nino des Buissonnets, were left to challenge the US partnership against the clock in the closing stages, but despite a superb effort, they had to yield to the pure determination of a horse and rider who, quite simply, never give up.

Flexible was all but written off twice during his career due to severe injury, but overcame the odds to return to the top of the sport each time. For the legion of fans who have followed the 16-year-old son of Cruising and his rider from Oregon (USA) who bought the chestnut stallion in Cavan, Ireland 10 years ago, today was a dream come true. Unorthodox in his movement and jumping style, and the oldest in the competition at 16 years of age, Flexible showed the same kind of spirit as his sire, Cruising, who was runner-up at the FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final 13 years ago in Gothenburg (SWE). Flexible was second at the same venue himself in 2008, and has competed at all of the last five Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping Finals, but today it was his turn to stand under the spotlight. And the courageous stallion and his rider fought every inch of the way, bringing the packed stadium at the Brabanthallen in 's-Hertogenbosch to their feet in an emotional tribute after their incredible round in the jump-off, while it was Guerdat who stood second on the podium ahead of fellow-countryman Pius Schwizer in third.

STRONGEST JUMPERS

Louis Konickx's 12-fence first-round track really pulled the strongest jumpers out of the pack of 24 final-day starters, with the home crowd unable to conceal their delight when local man, Maikel van der Vleuten, produced the first zero score when 12th into the ring with VDL Groep Verdi. Sweden's Rolf-Goran Bengtsson showed exactly why he is currently No. 1 on the Rolex Rankings as well as reigning European Champion when following suit with Casall la Silla.

The final triple combination quickly became the bogey, and Germany's Philipp Weishaupt and his winner of Friday's second competition Monte Bellini looked set for a fault-free effort only to lose momentum on the approach, and without enough power the stallion was unable to leave the final element up. It came down to the last four riders before another fault-free effort was recorded, Kevin Staut’s grey mare, Silvana HDC, giving it everything she had to leave the course intact before Guerdat (Nino des Buissonnets) and Fellers (Flexible) did likewise.

Ahead by just a single point going into the final day, Schwizer was obliged to carry a single penalty into round two however, after falling foul of the clock in his first round with Carlina, so there was nothing separating him from Guerdat and Fellers, while Staut stalked the leading pack in fourth position carrying three points, as they set off over the second-round course.

TESTING

Staut’s chances disintegrated with two fences down this time out. The distances were ultra-testing, while the 1.62m vertical at fence seven asked a serious question and the double, three from home, claimed a large number of victims. But Guerdat’s gelding was still on fire and Fellers’ stallion likewise, so, to the delight of the packed stadium, it would come down to a two-way third-round race against time. And what a thriller it was...

Konickx left them with just six fences and seven jumping efforts to decide the winner, and Guerdat set the target with one more fabulous clear, crossing the line in 26.61 seconds with his horse which appears to have unlimited scope.

The American was waiting in the wings and saw the Swiss rider go. “I hopped off and watched Steve through the curtains - I thought it was seven (strides) from the triple bar (second-last on the jump-off course) to the Rolex vertical (last fence) but he did eight. I know Flexible very well and he’s quick across the ground. I don’t know Steve’s horse but I just trusted that I could do eight to the last and be faster and be lucky.” And so he was, breaking the beam in 25.97 seconds.

Guerdat said afterwards, “my horse is very fast and I thought without taking too much risk it would be enough, but afterwards I realised I lost time turning back to the triple bar. I can only blame myself and I’ll have to do better next time,” he said.

FINAL STANDINGS : (First two riders went into third-round jump-off against the clock today) 1. Rich Fellers (Flexible) USA 0/0/0 5.97; 2, Steve Guerdat (Nino des Buissonnets) SUI 0/0/0 26.61. Remaining riders finished with the following penalty points: 3, Pius Schwizer (SUI) 5; 4, Philipp Weishaupt (GER) 10; 5, Kevin Staut (FRA) 11; 6, Rolf-Goran Bengtsson (SWE) 12; 7, Marcus Ehning (GER) 15; 7, Marcus Ehning (GER) 15; 9, Rik Hemeryck (BEL) 16; 10, Harrie Smolders (NED) 17. Full final standings here

TODAY’S COMPETITION RESULT here

FEI press release