Eduardo Alvarez Aznar wins Longines FEI World Cup qualifier in Zurich

The 33-year-old rider, son of legendary six-time Olympian Luis Alvarez Cervera, did not hold back on Rokfeller de Pleville Bois Margot as the pair produced the fastest time in a nine-horse jump-off against the clock.

Runner-up was last man into the ring, Austria’s Max Kuhner with Cornet Kalua, while Colombia’s Carlos Enrique Lopez Lizarazo claimed third spot on Admara.

A total of 38 horse-and-rider combinations from 17 countries lined out in Zurich to tackle the course set by Switzerland’s Guido Balsiger, which gave the competitors plenty to think about in the first round.

As a result, only nine combinations qualified for the second-round jump-off against the clock, of which only five would go on to complete double-clear rounds.

Lizarazo set the target at 38.43 seconds when second to go against the clock, but that lead was short lived. Alvarez Aznar was fourth to go and on Rokfeller de Pleville Bois Margot his bold decision to take every risk proved a successful one as they went clear in 36.20 seconds.

Britain’s William Whitaker was a little cautious with Utamaro D’Ecaussines, going clear in 38.82 seconds for a eventual fourth place, however Belgium’s Nicola Philippaerts lost his chance when H&M Harley vd Bisschop tripped up after the second fence, which meant there were only two combinations left to deny Alvarez Aznar the win.

Last rider to go Germany’s Marco Kuhner came closest to the Spanish rider’s time but they were almost two seconds adrift when breaking the beam in 38.03 seconds.

Victory for Alvarez Aznar still leaves him outside of the top 20 placings in the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping 2016/2017 Western European League, which is still led by France Kevin Staut with 78 points. Italy’s Lorenzo de Luca remains second with 67 points, followed by Germany’s Ludger Beerbaum with 46 points, Ireland’s Denis Lynch with 45 points and Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat with 44 points.

With 40 points the benchmark figure to virtually ensure qualification to the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final – which is to be held in Omaha, Nebraska, USA in March – Alvarez Aznar would need maximum points at one of the two remaining legs in the series to stand any chance of qualifying.

The next and penultimate leg in the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping 2016/2017 Western European League series is to be held in Bordeaux, France on Saturday 4 February, before the final leg takes place in Gothenburg, Sweden on Sunday 26 February.

Longines FEI Wrld Cup Jumping 2016/2017 Western European League
Result: Round 11 – Zurich, Switzerland

1, Rokfeller de Pleville Bois Margot (Eduardo Alvarez Aznar) Spain 0/0 faults 36.20 seconds
2, Cornet Kalua (Max Kuhner) Austria 0/0 38.03
3, Admara (Carlos Enrique Lopez Lizarazo) Colombia 0/0 38.43
4, Utamaro D’Ecaussines (William Whitaker) Great Britain 0/0 38.82
5, Clenur (Marco Kutscher) Germany 0/0 43.44
6, Lord Pepsi (Paul Estermann) Switzerland 0/4 37.95
7, Vagabond de la Pomme (Penelope Leprevost) France 0/4 38.20
8, Pollendr (Werner Muff) Switzerland 0/4 38.84
9, H&M Harley vd Bisschop (Nicola Philippaerts) Belgium 0/13 52.7

Longines FEI Wrld Cup Jumping 2016/2017 Western European League
Standings after Round 11 in Zurich, Switzerland

1. Kevin Staut France 78 points
2. Lorenzo de Luca Italy 67
3. Ludger Beerbaum Germany 46
4. Denis Lynch Ireland 45
5. Steve Guerdat Switzerland 44
6. Romain Duguet Switzerland 43
7. Carlos Enrique Lopez Lizarazo Colombia 43
8. Marcus Ehning Germany 41
9. Nicola Philippaerts Belgium 39
10. Henrik von Eckermann Sweden 39