Roger Yves Bost ends year in style with Longines FEI World Cup Jumping qualifier win in Mechelen

Riding Sydney Une Prince, the 51-year-old rider drew upon all his experience as last-to-go in the competition to snatch pole position from 21-year-old Belgian star Jos Verlooy who finished second with Germany’s Holger Wulschner taking third place.

Forty horse-and-rider combinations coming from 16 countries competed in the 36th anniversary of the fixture that is staged in memory of the late Belgian show jumping star Eric Wauters. The starting line-up included five of the top 10 riders, and nine of the top 18 in the Longines world rankings who all came forward to tackle the last course created by world-famous international course designer Lucien Somers - who is now retiring - and compatriot Eddy Geysemans.

Only 12 combinations with clear rounds qualified for the second-round jump-off, which did not include last year’s winner at the Belgian fixture, the current world no. 1 Christian Ahlmann, who was eliminated in the first round with Aragon Z.

Seven of those 12 combinations completed double-clear rounds, the first of which was Wulschner who set a tough target of 40.08 seconds with BSC Skipper.

Verlooy was first to better Wulschner’s time, going into the lead when sixth to go with a clear round in 39.71 seconds on Caracas.

Ireland’s Bertram Allen went quicker riding Izzy by Picobello; however, they left the opening fence on the floor for four faults in 39.43 seconds.

Fourth-last into the ring, Italy’s Lorenzo de Luca and Armitages Boy looked set to go out in front until they missed their stride to the very last fence. And French star Kevin Staut, who leads the Western European League rankings and is already qualified for the Longines Final in March, then parted company with Ayade de Septon when they got into a muddle earlier on the track.

However last man Bost would make no mistake on Sydney Une Prince, the horse who carried him to team gold at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The pair swept round the course in stunning fashion, storming home clear in 38.86 seconds to seal victory.

Staut continues to lead the Western European League table with 56 points, holding a slender one-point advantage ahead of de Luca in second place. Ireland’s Denis Lynch replaces Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat in third place, with the Irishman on 45 points, one ahead of the reigning champion.

The top 18 in the Western European League qualify for the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping 2017 Final which will take place in Omaha, Nebraska, USA, from 27 March to 2 April 2017.

There are just four qualifying competitions left to go in the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping 2016/2017 Western European League series with the next leg taking place in Leipzig, Germany on Sunday 22 January.

The remaining three legs are in Zurich, Switzerland on Sunday 29 January, Bordeaux, France on Saturday 4 February, and in Gothenburg, Sweden on Sunday 26 February.

1. Sydney Une Prince (Roger Yves Bost) France 0/0 faults 38.86 seconds (jump-off)

2. Caracas (Jos Verlooy) Belgium 0/0 39.71

3. BSC Skipper (Holger Wulschner) Germany 0/0 40.08

4. Galine la Cour Zichelhof (Pilar Lucrecia Cordon) Spain0/0 41.30

5. Mary Lou (Henrik von Eckermann) Sweden 0/0 41.44

6. All Star (Denis Lynch) Ireland 0/0 41.60

7. Finishing Touch Wareslage (Juulia Jylas) Finland 0/0 42.68

8. Izzy by Picobello (Bertram Allen) Ireland 0/4 39.43

9. Don VHP Z (Harrie Smolders) Netherlands 0/4 39.77

10. Armitages Boy (Lorenzo de Luca) Italy 0/4 40.33

11. Sea Coast Atlantic (Gudrun Pateet) Belgium 0/8 40.53

12. Ayade de Septon et HDC (Kevin Staut) France 0/Eliminated

Longines FEI World Cup Jumping 2016/2017 Western European League

Standings after Round 9 at Mechelen, Belgium

1. Kevin Staut France 61 points

2. Lorenzo de Luca Italy 60

3. Denis Lynch Ireland 45

4. Steve Guerdat Switzerland 44

5. Romain Duguet Switzerland 43

6. Marcus Ehning Germany 41

7. Scott Brash Great Britain 35

8. Henrik von Eckermann Sweden 34

9. Lauren Hough USA 33

10. Simon Delestre France 31

11. Holger Wulschner Germany 31

12. Nicola Philippaerts Belgium 31