News
Ahlmann and Taloubet Z once again rule in Leipzig
Jan 20, 2013
For the ninth leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup in Leipzig, course designer Frank Rothenberger had built a nice course counting 13 obstacles and 16 fences. Jens Fredricson was the first rider to clear the course with Lunatic (Landlord x Utrillo) at start number four, and then Maikel van der Vleuten and VDL Groep Verdi (Quidam de Revel x Landgraf I) also managed to solve all Rothenberger’s difficulties as start number seven. Maikel was the first of three Dutch riders who qualified for the jump-off - both Marc Houtzager and Gerco Schröder kept up their good form and left all sixteen fences intact.
As the course was reduced to seven fences for the jump-off, ten riders were clear. Malin Baryard-Johnsson with H&M Tornesch (Lux x Libero H) and Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum with Bella Donna (Baldini II x Calido I) were both prevented from taking part of the jump-off as they had one time penalty each.
Jens and Maikel opened the jump-off with four faults each, while Luciana Diniz and Lennox (Lifestyle x Grannus) had eight faults. Then Edwina Tops-Alexander and Pius Schwizer both produced clear rounds riding Ego van Orti and Picsou du Chene (Le Tot de Semilly x Caloubet du Bois). Pius was fastest of the two as the time stopped at 40.56.
Then it was time for number one in the world, Christian Ahlmann and Taloubet Z (Galoubet A x Polydor). Christian is almost unbeatable at the moment and as they crossed the finish line they had shaved off more than four seconds of Pius’ time.
None of the remaining riders could threaten Christian. Next to go was Marc Houtzager and Sterrehof's Tamino (Numero Uno x Farmer). Marc and Tamino was the winning combination at Olympia, but today they finished at eight faults and the time 38.92.
Denis Lynch was clear aboard Abbervail van het Dingeshof (Nonstop x Jus de Pomme), and the time 38.65 placed them second. Gerco Schröder and London (Nabab de Reve x Chin Chin) were nearly a second slower than Denis which was good enough for third place, while Kevin Staut fell off Silvana HCD (Corland x Vidor) after a misunderstanding.
Christian could then celebrate yet another win in Leipzig were he also won the World Cup qualifier last year as well as the World Cup final in 2011.
Top ten;
1. Christian Ahlmann/Taloubet Z 0/0 36.45
2. Denis Lynch/Abbervail van het Dingeshof 0/0 38.65
3. Gerco Schröder/London 0/0 39.53
4. Pius Schwizer/Piscou du Chene 0/0 40.56
5. Edwina Tops-Alexander 0/0 41.21
6. Jens Fredricson/Lunatic 0/4 38.48
7. Maikel van der Vleuten/VDL Groep Verdi 0/0 39.29
8. Marc Houtzager/Sterrehof's Tamino 0/8 38.92
9. Luciana Diniz/Lennox 0/8 40.34
10. Kevin Staut/Silvana 0/elm
Click here for full results.