Olympic winner is the first one to enrol in the winner’s lists of the CSI at the FEI European Jumping Championship

(MPS) A real Olympic winner was the first rider to enrol in the winner’s lists of the accompanying CSI at the FEI European Jumping Championship in the MVV riding stadium in Mannheim: Jeroen Dubbeldam from the Netherlands. Riding BMC Pavarottie H, a 10-year old gelding, the gold medal winner from Sydney 2000 won the John Deere Preis in a clear round and 53.90 seconds and found many words of praise.

First of all for his horse: “Although Pavarottie is only my second choice here, who will compete in the CSI classes, he still is quite an experienced Grand Prix horse with whom I lately won a class in Aachen and who has often been well placed currently.” However, Dubbeldam also confirmed that Christa Jung, the course designer, did a good job: “The course has been perfect for the first class. Difficult enough, but not too technical and could be managed very well.”

The fact that he finally was successful in this course, which seemed to be perfect for Pavarottie, explained the 34-year old as follows: “I just rode fast from the very beginning and did not give up a single meter.” Thus, the double EC bronce medal winner 2005 and team World Champion 2006 has also set a sign for the European Championship 2007, which will start on Wednesday with the class “Against the clock” for the Deutsche Bank Preis. Marie Burke from Irland, on Chippison, who completed the course without penalty points in 54.14 seconds, became second in the John Deere Preis. Niels Bruynseels, the Belgium, was third placed on Item de Quintin (0/55.66).

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