Final Four Proceed to Showjumping Final at WEG

Eric Navet of France

Eric Navet, Peter Wylde, Dermott Lennon and Helena Lundback will vie tomorrow for the Jumping World Champion Title.

Eric NAVET and ten year old homebred stallion DOLLAR DU MURIER HTS DE SEINE jumped a sensational clear round to take out the third Individual Qualifier for the Individual Jumping World Championship Final. Second to qualify is American Peter WYLDE riding FEIN CERA, third Helena LUNDBACK for Sweden riding UTFORS MYNTA and fourth Dermott LENNON for Ireland riding LISCALGOT.

“Getting to this stage has been a life time dream and goal of mine." exlaimed a jubilant Wylde. "The courses today were very, very difficult and my mare gave her everything. To get to this point is a fantastic feeling.”

The final round of the third qualifier produced seven clear rounds and eight horses having just one rail down. World number one rider German Ludger BEERBAUM riding the big chestnut mare GLADDYS S retired from the competition after a refusal and fall at fence number four.

The French bred DOLLAR DU MURIER HTS DE SEINE horse ridden by Eric NAVET is the leading horse. Despite being still relatively “green”, he is the most consistent incurring just four time penalties over the five rounds jumped. Next placed FEIN CERA ridden by Peter WYLDE had just two rails down throughout the competition.

Helena Lundback

Helena LUNDBACK is the first Swedish rider to be represented in the Final for the Individual Jumping Championship and her Swedish Warmblood mare UTFORS MYNTA will create much interest when ridden by the three men in the final. Helena is only the second female in history to make the final after Canadian Gail GREENOUGH won in 1986.

And what does Lundback think of all of this?
"“I’m somewhere between tremendously happy and scared to death!”

Three mares will be represented, another first for the jumping final. Eric NAVET joins Irishman Eddie MACKEN and countryman Michel ROBERT as the only riders to be in the final twice.

"To have this opportunity twice in a life time is really fantastic – lets hope I can do it again. I hope I enjoy the final day as much as Stockholm.” said Navet.

Dermott LENNON will be first in the draw, followed by Helena LUNDBACK, Eric NAVET and Peter WYLDE. All four riders will ride their own horse first followed by a rotation draw. The final starts on Sunday at 13.00.

Peter Wylde

Here's what the foursome had to say about riding each other's horses in the final.

Peter WYLDE (USA):
“The size of Helena’s mare worries me – Helena told me I’ll need roller skates! Better get shopping tonight! Eric’s horse has jumped brilliantly all week and I know Dermot’s well as we’ve been competing together. We’ll just have to see.”

Dermott LENNON (IRL):
“Looking forward to riding them all – haven’t really given too much thought to it. I’ve certainly ridden worse than Helena’s! UTFORS MYNTA is just different to the others but she’s a real jumper.”

Eric NAVET (FRA):
“I’m a bit worried about Helena’s as it’s very different to what I’m used to. Usually I ride big stallions but she’s a little mare. Peter’s mare is fantastic and I’m excited at the prospect of riding her. Any horse who gets this far is a fantastic horse.”

Helena LUNDBACK (SWE):
“I did not think I’d ever get this far so haven’t really given it much thought! I hope the other horses are used to loose jumping because they won’t get much help from me! The others needn’t worry too much as my father has been riding my mare so she is used to men.”