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Italian rider Gaudiano wins FEI World Cup jumping in London

Xinhua, December 21, 2015 Adjust font size:

Italy's Emanuele Gaudiano produced a sensational victory at the seventh leg of the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Western European League at the Olympia Exhibition Hall of Olympia here on Sunday. 

   In a 17-way jump-off, the 29-year-old rider and his plucky 10-year-old gelding simply blew the rest away with a fearless gallop when 11th to go against the clock. A top-class list of home contenders were obliged to line up behind him, with Ben Maher coming closest to take runner-up spot with Diva ll ahead of Michael Whitaker and Viking in third, world No. 1 Scott Brash and Hello M'Lady in fourth and Guy Williams and Titus in fifth place.

   Gaudiano, who took the Leading Rider trophy last weekend in Geneva, set off with complete determination and Admara answered his every call, showing precisely the same level of commitment as the man on board to race through the timers in 36.20 seconds and really put it up to the rest of them.

   The Italian rider said, "I knew I would have to go very fast if I was to win, but I have a fantastic horse who is very clever and careful, and I love him!"

   "To win here is very nice for me. Italy has only one place in the World Cup series and I chose to come here because I really love this show," he added.

   A total of 36 horse-and-rider combinations from 14 countries and reigons took part in the day's race. 

   The victory rocketed Gaudiano from 42nd spot on the Western European League leaderboard all the way up to 13th, and well within a shot of a place at the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final in Gothenburg, Sweden next March. 

   There are four remaining legs of the Western European League, and the next will take place in Mechelen, Belgium on Dec. 30 with Germany's Christian Ahlmann still holding pole position ahead of French riders Simon Delestre and Penelope Leprevost.  Endi