America’s Beezie Madden the early leader as Longines FEI World Cup Final gets underway in Paris

American and German riders dominated the top four places in tonight’s (Thursday) opening competition of the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final at the AccorHotels Arena in Paris, France.

A blistering clear round in 61.89 seconds by Beezie Madden (USA) and Breitling LS saw them take victory on the opening day while Germany’s Daniel Deusser and Cornet d’Amour are in second (62.61). Another American rider, Devin Ryan is in third with Eddie Blue, while Germany’s Marcus Ehning, who is bidding to become the first rider to with the World Cup Final on four occasions, is in fourth place with Cornado NRW.

Mark McAuley and Miebello

Co Louth’s Mark McAuley and the Eva Lundin-owned 14-year-old gelding Miebello produced one of the fastest rounds of the competition when 13th to jump, crossing the line in 63.51 seconds. However two fences down towards the end of the course left them with a total score of 71.51 in 19th place.

Denis Lynch and All Star

Tipperary’s Denis Lynch 15-year-old stallion All Star, who is owned by Thomas Straumann, also finished with two fences down in a time of 67.40 giving them a combined score of 75.40 in 27th place overall.

Faults and times from tonight’s opening competition are now converted into penalties and everything is still very much to play for in what is a very tightly-packed leaderboard.

The second round of the World Cup Final takes place in Paris tomorrow, Friday, before the new World Cup champion is crowned following the last round of jumping on Sunday.

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