Dreher delights home crowd with FEI World Cup victory in Leipzig

Riding Embassy ll, the pair clinched victory from last-to-go spot in the five-way jump-off against the clock.

In what was an unexpected final line-up, Norway’s Geir Gulliksen and Edesa S Banjan finishing second ahead of Italy’s Luca Moneta and Connery in third, with Germany’s Felix Hassmann and Horse Gym’s Balzaci taking fourth.

Sweden’s Douglas Lindelow and Casello took fifth place while Frenchman Kevin Staut, was sixth with the quickest four-fault result in the first round.

Forty rider and horse combinations – including 12 from the host nation - came forward for a first round of competition on a technical course. Only five rider and horse combinations produce clear rounds and qualified for the second-round jump-off against the clock

Moneta and Connery were first to go and the Italian rider produced a great steady clear round on the shortened track in a time of 38.40 seconds, which looked very possible to beat. Gulliksen followed with Edesa S Banjan and they took over the lead with a time of 37.72 seconds.

Hassmann on Horse Gym's Balzaci and Lindelöw with Casello (Casall x Carolus) both fell out of contention as they both saw two fences fall to the ground as they chased the leading time.

It was then left to Dreher and Embassy II as the last to go to challenge and the pair produced a fine clear round in a time of 36.07 seconds to take the win and a standing ovation from the home crowds.

France’s Kevin Staut on Reveur de Hurtebise HDC was the fastest of the four faulters and ended sixth while fellow Frenchman Patrice Delavaeau with Lacrimoso HDC took the seventh place.

The result in Leipzig has now promoted Dreher to 12th in the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping 2014/2015 Western European League standings, which continues to be led by Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat.

However Staut is now also on 57 points and is only in second place by virtue of Guerdat winning one of the previous legs of the competition.

The Netherlands' Harrie Smolders, who has collected his points in the USA, is in third place with 47 points while Germany’s Marco Kutscher is in fourth with 44 points.

Fellow German Daniel Deusser is fifth with 43 points while USA’s Lucy Davis has 42 points in sixth, and Sweden’s Lindelöw has now climbed up to seventh with 41 points.

A total of 40 points is normally a benchmark to ensure qualification to the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping 2014/2015 Final, which will take place in Las Vegas, USA from 15 to 19 April 2015.

After nine of the 12 legs of the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping 2014/2015 Western European League, a total of 126 athletes have participated in the series so far with 75 of those collecting points.

There are three further legs to run where points will be eagerly sought, starting next Sunday 25 January in Zurich, Switzerland. From there, the action moves to Bordeaux, France on Saturday 7 February, before the final qualifying event in Gothenburg, Sweden on Sunday 1 March.