21 APRIL 2014 -
Daniel Deusser steered the 11-year-old stallion
Cornet d’Amour to victory in today’s Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final 2013/2014 at Lyon, France. Deusser and Cornet came through the challenge, which was not easy, particularly since the master
Ludger Beerbaum had just run a clear round and was in prime position. In good spirit, the veteran was the first to congratulate the young rider. He even said: "I had goose-bumps seeing him win. Daniel deserved a major victory. I really admire how he withstood all the pressure on his shoulders!" A wonderful tribute, and to underline that his second place was by no means a defeat, Beerbaum added: "A week ago, I didn't even know that I would be taking part in the final. I was the last rider to make the list (following the withdrawal of the French rider Roger-Yves Bost). I was already preparing my horses for the outdoor season. I ended up coming to Lyon with my two horses and I finished second… But, it's like a victory for me!" A fantastic weekend for this great rider who had won yesterday's Grand Prix Airbus with Chaman, the horse with which he started the World Cup before switching over to Chiara, one of only four horses to manage two clear rounds in this last stage.
In third place, there was also a certain sense of victory for
Scott Brash, 26 years old, who was taking part in his first World Cup Final, and who took Great Britain to a place on the World Cup podium for the first time in 9 years: "I'm really happy to earn this place on the podium for my country. My mare, Ursula, made a little fault on the first day, but after that she put in a series of clear rounds and I'm thrilled with this result. After the fault on Friday, I really thought that I would never reach the podium, so I really have nothing to regret."
Germany’s
Marcus Ehning just missed the podium in fourth place while
Guerdat lined up fifth.
First big showHe has been riding Cornet d’Amour since June 2012, and in their first big show together at Spruce Meadows in Canada they jumped double-clear in the Nations Cup. However the horse was injured in November of that year and out of action for two months. “In the end the break was maybe good for him because he came back out in February last year to win the Grand Prix at Wellington in Florida. We had a great year in 2013 including finishing fourth in the Grand Prix of Aachen!” said Deusser about his experience with the horse that also claimed the German Championship title at Balve before taking team silver and fifth place individually at the PSI FEI European Jumping Championships in Herning, Denmark last August. Clearly this was a partnership on a mission. Yet the German hadn’t banked on going to the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final until winning the Western European leg qualifier at Mechelen in Belgium in December.
“I didn’t ride at Oslo (NOR) or Helsinki (FIN) but I started in Verona (ITA) and had one down in the jump-off. It wasn’t until I won at Mechelen (BEL) that I started to get enough points to come here, although if you told me before I came here that I would win the Final I wouldn’t have believed it! But when you have a good horse you always have a chance” said the rider who collected his last qualifying points at the World Cup qualifier in Wellington, USA. Cornet d’Amour is jointly owned by Stephan Conter of Stephex Stables in Belgium and America’s Hunter Harrison. Deusser and his girlfriend, Caroline Wauters, live in Mechelen.
Second-placed Beerbaum said tonight he was “really happy, I came here as the very, very, very last rider from the reserve list, it was a rush to get here because I only knew I was coming a week ago. My horses were planned to go outdoors and they came here with no training for indoors so it is hard to believe the way it has worked out. The whole week could not have been better, and well done to Daniel, his performance with his horse the whole way through was incredible - I have no problem to be second to that - well done!”
Third-placed Brash said “If I knew before I came here that I would finish third I would have been very happy! On the first day I had the last fence down and it really cost me, after that we would struggle to get on the podium so it’s nice to be sitting here today! Ludger and Daniel were fantastic today as usual!”
Quotes:Frank Rothenberger, course designer - “Congratulations to all the riders. Normally I need to be ahead of the riders to make a good competition, this time the competition was excellent with perfect conditions, including in the warm-up, and the feeling was great with this big arena which was like being in outdoor!”
Sylvie Robert, Event Director - “we had a full house today and I am delighted. Thank you to all our partners, the FEI who entrusted us with these Finals, and a special thanks to Longines. Also thanks to the rider and owners, to Frank (Rothenberger) and to the staff and volunteers”.
Daniel Deusser GER, talking about his horse Cornet d’Amour - “He has a good character, is easy to ride inside or outside and it’s possible to add in or take a stride out with him, he’s careful and that helps him to win a Championship like this!”
Scott Brash GBR - “It is my first World Cup Final and I wasn’t familiar with the points system but its basically the same as the European Championships and the most consistent horses and riders win. My horse jumped fantastic all week”.
Daniel Deusser GER - “I have always had a good feeling in Lyon, it is always a fantastic show, everyone wants to come back here.”
Result - Final Classification: 1, Daniel Deusser (GER) 2; 2, Ludger Beerbaum (GER) 4; 3, Scott Brash (GBR) 5; 4, Marcus Ehning (GER) 6; 5, Steve Guerdat (SUI) 8 6, Maikel van der Vleuten (NED) 10; 7, Beezie Madden (USA) 12; 8, Pius Schwizer (SUI) 12; 9, McLain Ward (USA) 17; 10, Charlie Jayne (USA) 23.
Full final standings heresource: fei.org/www.feiworldcupfinals-lyon.com