Photo credit, with permission Jan Sutherland/FEI
No I am not having some flashbacks to Sydney, nor am I ignoring the current event in France, Haras du Pin. Follow my logic for a second. The FEI Eventing World Cup Series [PDF] was 7 legs this year, the first in Kihikihi New Zealand. Clarke won this along with the Sydney event just four weeks later. Only a riders best 3 WC finishes count towards the standings.
At both events Clarke was followed by his good mate Chris Burton. Clarke also managed to come third in Sydney. So in effect, Clarke had the third highest possible score after Sydney at 118. The maximum points is 123 (3 wins), with 120 (2 wins and a second) next.
Michael Jung was the only rider in the world who could have beaten Clarke in the series following Michael’s first and second at Strzegrom in Poland back in June, this was shaping up to be a great opportunity to see the young Kiwi gun face off against the current world champion in the final round of the series.
Unfortunately, Michael is not entered into the Haras du Pin event. Perhaps this is understandable, next week the European championships are being held at Luhmuhlen, the following week is Burghley, with Blenheim the weekend after. Surely a schedule like this means you have to make some tough decisions on your schedule and to not face in the World Cup must have been one of those.
So Kiwi Clarke wins the Series even before he climbs on top of his favorite mount Orient Express. His mate, Chris (Burto) Burton is currently lying in second place in the series.
Chris is, I believe, also in an unassailable position for second place in the Series with 110 points. With Chris lying just 0.2 points behind Clayton Fredericks going into the final day of Haras du Pin, it is possible that Chris could win in France and move agonizingly close to Clarke, just 1 point behind on 117 points. So tomorrow Clarke will be crowned World Cup Series Champion and Chris Burton will finish second behind his mate.
Yours in Eventing,
ESJ
