Germany's Marcus Ehning will celebrate his 36th birthday today as the newly-crowned 2010 Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping champion. In the Palexpo arena in Geneva, Switzerland yesterday afternoon he kept the coolest head despite an early mistake and won through when those ahead of him faltered. This was the third time he has won the prestigious Rolex title. He said: "It's really unbelievable - I thought I was too far behind going into the last round but this is how it works out - I am so happy!"

Germany dominated the winners podium when Ludger Beerbaum produced one of just four double-clear performances in today's competition to finish joint-runner-up with Switzerland's Pius Schwizer. And the thrilling class highlighted some great characters and new arrivals, but shattered the dream of America's Mario Deslauriers who it seemed was about to re-take the title he first claimed 26 years ago in Gothenburg, only to see it slip from his grasp in the fading moments.

Course designer Rolf Ludi presented two more classic tests, but only seven of the 29 starters got it right in the first round and when Deslauriers and his brilliant nine year old Dutch gelding Urico were amongst them it further bolstered their position at the top of the leaderboard after the first two legs. The flimsy planks at fence four, the vertical following a tight left-hand bend at seven and the water-tray oxer at fence 10, ridden on a three-stride distance from the previous 1.60m FEI vertical, proved the bogeys here but when Ehning's Plot Blue clipped the very last - a wall with beautifully-carved Swiss cows decorating the top of it - then it seemed his chances were scuppered. With only four points separating the top four riders going into the final day every mistake was critical, but third-placed Schwizer lowered the bogey planks while fourth-placed Patrice Deleveau of France kicked out the oxer at fence two, so Ehning only slipped one place to third at the end of the opening round of jumping.

Ehning's 13 year old stallion was rock solid this time out however and when they crossed the line with nothing to add they threw down the gauntlet for the top two. Diniz had little room for error with only a single-point advantage over the German two-time World Cup title-holder and although she survived a good rattle at the opening vertical her luck ran out when Winningmood hit the vertical at fence 10, just two from home. Diniz slotted into fourth behind Schwizer and Beerbaum in joint-second place. The champion's glory all belonged to Ehning once again.

"After the first round I thought it was all over" he said afterwards, "but I motivated myself again and decided to fight back. I would have been very happy to have finished second and I feel very sorry for Mario who had such a great show" he added graciously. Ehning is the first-ever rider to win the World Cup title having jumped two different horses - Noltes Kuchengirl jumping in the first day's speed class and Plot Blue completing the job on Friday and again today.

Sapphire, the horse ridden by McLain Ward (USA), was eliminated from the second round and disqualified from the rest of the event following a positive hypersensitivity test. The horse was selected for thermography testing on its legs. The test involved the use of a thermography camera and a clinical examination of the legs. It was deemed that the horse was showing sensitivity in its left foreleg but that it was fit to compete at that time.

Ward and Sapphire went on to finish second in the class to take over the lead in the overall standings, but the FEI made a decision to re-examine the horse post-competition, using both thermography and clinical examination. The second test was carried out at midnight, and it was declared that, due to the level of hypersensitivity, the horse was unfit to take any further part in the competition.

Despite no indication or evidence of any malpractice by McLain Ward or any member of the team, there was no opportunity to appeal the decision.