News
Francois Jr Mathy won the Landrover Masters
Dec 30, 2012
Francois Jr Mathy delivered a home win in the Landrover Masters with Polinska des Isles in Mechelen. As winner he also became the owner of a Landrover! In the first round all the fences stayed on the same height for all the riders and everyone cleared that round, except Gregory Wathelet and Banda de Hus. After the first round every rider had to choose one fence that was to be raised, so the course turned more and more difficult for each rider that entered the arena. It was a good thing to have an early start!
All the remaining riders cleared the second round. In the third round it was only Nicola Philippaerts with Vadetta vh Mettenhof (Orame x Ahorn) who got four faults. Eight riders remained for the fourth round as the course kept on getting higher. In this round it was Ludo Philippaerts and Denver van't Goemanshof (Vigo d'Arsouilles x Heartbreaker) who had to leave the group while the rest of the riders went on to the fifth round.
In the fifth round the rules changed and it was time for a jump-off - full speed over enormous fences! Harrie Smolders and Exquis Walnut de Muze (Nabab de Reve x Chin Chin) was first to go and he put on a speed as if it was a 1.40 m class. It gave him the fastest time of the day at 35,68 seconds, but the second element of the combination fell. Penelope Leprevost and Quelmec du Gery (Pamphile x Jasper) had another strategy and rood a safer round, but the penultimate fence fell.
Steve Guerdat and Chips VI (Come On x Cento) jumped amazing all the rounds and were both fast and clear in the jump-off, taking over the lead at 36, 64 seconds. Then there was time for Philippe Le Jeune with Once de Kreisker (Papillon Rouge x Muguet du Manoir). His round didn't start of very well as the first fence fell as well as the b-element of the combination.
Three left to go - Scott Brash and Ursula XII (Ahorn x Papageno) were first out and after a misunderstanding in the turn to the combination they got a refusal on the a-element. They jumped the combination on their second try before Scott choose to retire. Francois Jr Mathy was next with Polinska des Isles (Diamant de Semilly x Valespoir x Malabry) and they really went for it! The crowd wouldn't stop screaming as he took over the lead with the time 36, 30 - 0,36 seconds faster than Steve Guerdat. Denis Lynch and Vedor (Indoctro x Fedor) were last to go. The Irish rider cleared the course and tried his best to chase the leading time. The time stopped at 30,69 seconds which placed him just behind Steve and Francois as number three.
Click here to see all the results.
Source World of Showjumping