Switzerland's Pius Schwizer swept to victory in the opening leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2011/2012 series at Oslo in Norway with a thrilling last-to-go run from Carlina.  With 14 into the jump-off it was never going to be an easy one to take, but the 49 year old rider raced home to pin Germany's Philipp Weishaupt and Souvenir into second, while Portugal's Luciana Diniz and Winningmood slotted into third.

“This is my very first success in a World Cup qualifier, so I'm super-pleased with the result!" Schwizer said after collecting the winner's prize of a Rolex watch.  "I've been second and third a few times, but it feels really great to be first - and Carlina was brilliant today!" he added.

Against the clock

There were eight jumping efforts second time out, and the oxer at fence nine fell as Chiaudani led the way against the clock. But, second to go, Angelica Augustsson and Mic Mac du Tillard left everything intact to take the early lead.  

Great Britain's William Funnell shaved 0.43 seconds off the target time with a great round from his promising home-bred eight year old, Billy Angelo, and stayed out in front when Norway's Nina Braaten and Loyd 12 hit the second element of the double, three from home.  Three-time Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping champion, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum from Germany, followed with a foot-perfect run from her eight year old mare Bella Donna, but with 39.51 seconds on the board they failed to threaten for top spot and it was likewise for The Netherlands' Maikel van der Vleuten and VDL Groep Verdi even though they were almost a second quicker.

Wasn't hanging about

Philipp Weishaupt wasn't hanging about however.  This German rider set off at full tilt with Madeleine Winter-Schulze's 11 year old mare Souvenir and, having taken a risky turn to the penultimate Rolex oxer, cleared the line in 35.87 seconds to reset the parameters.  And he stayed out in front despite the best efforts of the next six contenders including Ireland's Denis Lynch (Lantinus), and Frenchman Kevin Staut (Zeta de Hus) who were both both clear but not quick enough, Staut's fellow-countryman Patrice Delaveau (Ornella Mail) who collected eight faults, Australia's Edwina Tops-Alexander (Cevo Itot du Chateau) who left the bogey oxer at nine on the floor and Portugal's Luciana Diniz (Winningmood) whose copybook tour of the track in 36.64 seconds was good enough to slot, temporarily, into runner-up spot.

Comfort

This leaves Schwizer at the head of the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping Western European League table at this very early stage of the season and with the comfort of knowing that one more really good performance will be almost enough to guarantee him a place at the series final in 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands next April.  He was delighted with the way Carlina went today - "I have been riding her for three years, and she is super-careful and has plenty of scope - I'm so happy with her right now" he said.

Defending champion, Germany's Christian Ahlmann, was one of 12 four-faulters in today's opening round with Lorenzo, but he, like many of his counterparts, is heading for the second leg which will take place in Helsinki, Finland next Sunday and he will be hoping for better luck as the race to earn one of the coveted places at the seasonal finale moves up another gear.

Result:

1, Carlina (Pius Schwizer) SUI 0/0 34.63; 2, Souvenir (Philipp Weishaupt) GER 0/0 35.87; 3, Winningmood (Luciana Diniz) POR 0/0 36.64; 4, Billy Angelo (William Funnell) GBR 0/0 37.34; 5, Lantinus (D Lynch) IRL 0/0 37.45; 6, Mic Mac du Tillard (Angelica Augustsson) SWE 0/0 37.67; 7, Zeta de Hus (Kevin Staut) FRA 0/0 38.16; 8, VDL Groep Verdi (Maikel van der Vleuten) NED 0/0 38.75; 9, Bella Donna (Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum0 GER 0/0 39.51; 10, Casall La Silla (Rolf-Goran Bengtsson) SWE 0/4 36.54; 11, Cevo Itot du Chateau (Edwina Tops-Alexander) AUS 0/4 36.54; 12, Loyd 12 (Nina Braaten) NOR 0/4 40.17; 13, Almero (Natale Chiaudani) ITA 0/4 41.32; 14, Ornella Mail (Patrice Delaveau) FRA 0/8 38.85. 

Full results at http://results.scgvisual.com/2011/oslo/s

By Louise Parkes, FEI