Sweden’s Rolf-Goran Bengtsson and Casall La Silla galloped to victory in the third leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping Western European League 2011/2012 series in Lyon, France (26-30 October). Michael Whitaker was the best of the Brits, finishing in ninth place. 

Golden boy

Rolf-Goran, who won Individual gold at the FEI European Jumping Championships in Madrid earlier this summer, snatched the lead at the halfway stage of the nine horse jump-off and couldn’t be caught 

The Ukraine’s Katharina Offel claimed runner-up spot, ahead of Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat with Nino des Buissonnets in third.

"We came close in Oslo, but it was much better today” said Rolf-Goran Bengtsson, who collected his first Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping points in Norway two weeks ago when finishing in tenth. “It has a been a four-fault weekend, so I didn’t go too fast in the first round but with Steve and Katharina in the jump-off I understood I had to go for it,” he added.

Michael Whitaker was the highest placed British rider, finishing ninth on board Viking. We caught up with Michael recently at HOYS:

Follow the leaders

Rolf-Goran has now moved into second place on the series leaderboard, behind Switzerland’s Pius Schwizer. The fourth leg will be held next week in Verona, Italy. 

The highest-placed Brit in the current standings is William Funnell, who is in 13th place.

Result 

1. Casall La Silla (Rolf-Goran Bengtsson) SWE 0/0 40.88; 2, Cathleen (Katharina Offel) UKR 0/0 40.95; 3, Nino des Buissonnets (Steve Guerdat) SUI 0/0 41.62; 4, Zeta de Hus (Kevin Staut) FRA 0/0 42.64; 5, Kellemois de Pepita (Michel Robert) FRA 0/0 43.56; 6, Lantinus (Denis Lynch) IRL 0/4 41.06; 7, Gotha FRH (Ludger Beerbaum) GER 0/4 41.74; 8, Kiamon (Werner Muff) SUI 0/8 43.16; 9, Viking (Michael Whitaker) GBR 0/8 44.24.  

Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2011/2012 Western European League – Standings after Round 3 at Lyon, France:

1. Pius Schwizer SUI- 40
2. Rolf-Göran Bengtsson SWE – 27
3. Maikel Van Der Vleuten NED – 26
4= Denis Lynch IRL – 23
4= Kevin Staut FRA – 23
6. Malin Baryard-Johnson SWE – 22
7. Steve Guerdat SUI – 21
8. Patrice Delaveau FRA – 19
9. Angelica Augustsson SWE – 18
10. Philipp Weishaupt – 17
11= Edwina Tops-Alexander AUS – 15
11= Luciana Diniz – 15
13= Nina Fagerrström FIN – 13
13= William Funnell GBR – 13