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Marcus Ehning - Best of Champions

Jul 8, 2012

Saturday evening in Aachen it was time for the Best of Champions class where six of the top female riders met six of the top male riders for a battle. In the first round the riders where divided in six pair and the best rider from each pair went on to the second round.

The first pair in was Janne-Friederike Meyer with Holiday by Solitour (Contendro x Cascavelle) against Marcus Ehning and Noltes Küchengirl (Lord Z x Cambridge Cole). Janne did not get the turn right towards fence seven and had to make a circle. In addition to this she had one pole down. Passing the finish line the riders could then choose to jump a big white oxer - by clearing this fence they could reduce their penalties by four points. Janne cleared the white oxer and ended at four faults. Marcus and Küche had one down which meant both riders finished at four points, but Marcus’ time was better and he therefore qualified for the second round.

Then it was time for Lauren Hough with Coristar (Campione x Coriall) versus Steve Guerdat and Ferrari 111 (Furioso II x Polydor). Steve had one fence down and had to jump the white oxer as well which Ferrari cleared perfectly, but Lauren’s time was better.

Meredith Michales-Beerbaum and Cantano (Cascavelle x Acord II) produced a clear round riding against Marco Kutsher and Satisfaction FRH (Stakkato x Calypso II). Marco crossed the finish line at four faults, but then cleared the white oxer and as his time was faster than Meredith’s he qualified for the second round.

Laura Kraut and Belmont (Ahorn OT x Landfriese II) had no other rider to compete against and went on to the second round at with time fault.

Katharina Offel and Pius Schwizer where both clear, but Kathy’s time was nearly two seconds faster than Pius which sent her and Phebus du Grasset (Cento x Papillion Rouge) on to the second round.

The last pair to go was Rolf-Göran Bengtsson with Ninja La Silla ( Guidam x Lys de Darmen) fighting Penelope Leprevost and Oscar Des Fontaines (by Lando). Penelope had one fence down and had to do the white oxer which she cleared, but Rolf and Ninja were also clear and on a faster time.

First to go in the jump-off was Marcus and Küche. The mare looked good and they cleared all the fences at the time 47.50. Normally it is not easy being the first one out in a jump-off, but Marco, Laura and Rolf all had one fence down and Lauren ended at eight faults. The only one who nearly sent Marcus down to second place was Pius and Verdi III (Hors la Loi x Cantus), but the clock stopped at 47.90 - 0.40 seconds slower than Marcus.

Source Worldofshowjumping.com