Michael Whitaker flies the flag
Britain’s Michael Whitaker and Handell II, the sole British combination to challenge the World Cup Show Jumping final in Gothenburg, Sweden, narrowly missed out on clinching pole position.
The World Cup was won by Switzerland’s Markus Fuchs, riding
[[ tinka boy ]] (5 penalty points). He knocked the reigning World Champion Rodrigo Pessoa (Brazil) into second place in a jump-off in the final (third) stage.
Third overall was Britain’s Michael Whitaker, who finished with atotal of 8 penalties.
Michael went into the lead after winning the second of the three legs on Saturday evening with only three faults separating him from Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil and Markus Fuchs of Switzerland.
Markus Fuchs and Rodrigo Pessoa both finished the third day on a total of five penalties. In the jump-off Fuchs had no penalties and a time of 35.25, while Pessoa clocked up 8 penalties and a time of 33.90.
Pessoa had been World Champion for the previous three years (1998, 1999, 2000), while Fuchs had never taken the World Cup before.
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Rodrigo Pessoa has been World Champion since 1998 and will retain the title until 2002 when it will be contested once again.
Ireland’s Jessica Kurten, riding Paavo N made it to equal 12th place in the third and final stage giving her a total of 28 penalties, and 16thPlace overall.
For full results visit Gothenburg Horse Show at www.scandinavium.se
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