Marcus Ehning wins Rolex World Cup Final in Geneva

German rider Marcus Ehning put up a top class display in Geneva to win his third Rolex FEI World Cup showjumping final.

The current world number three earned the title in 2003 and 2006 and was helped this time by Noltes Kuchengirl and Plot Blue, his 13-year-old mount for the final rounds.

“After the first competition, I thought that the final was gone,” said Marcus, who finished 10th in the first of the three legs, held over four days. “Then the motivation came back for the second competition and with Plot Blue, we really wanted to fight.”

Marcus’s fellow countryman Ludger Beerbaum (Gotha) finished equal second with world number one, Pius Schwizer (Carlina) for the home nation.

Ireland’s former world champion Dermott Lennon finished a very creditable fifth riding Hallmark Elite.

Britain’s sole representative Michael Whitaker retired in the first round of the final day’s competition with GIG Amai.

Leader after the first two legs, US rider McLain Ward’s horse Sapphire was disqualified from the competition on Friday night following a positive hypersensitivity test.

Don’t miss next week’s Horse & Hound for the full report.

Jennifer Donald

H&H showjumping editor

Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her role as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the world reporting from shows and interviewing riders, connections and those involved behind the scenes. Since joining H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on every subject across the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to stable management — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She also has first-hand experience of working in the equestrian industry as a riding instructor and yard manager.