Beat Mandli Wins Show Jumping Title at 2007 Rolex FEI World Cup Finals

Las Vegas, NV – April 22, 2007 – The sixth time was the charm for Beat Mandli of Switzerland. Riding Ideo du Thot, the longtime World Cup veteran captured his first Rolex FEI World Cup Show Jumping title at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Daniel Deusser of Germany placed second on Air Jordan Z. There was a tie for third between Steve Guerdat of Switzerland on Tresor V and Markus Beerbaum of Germany on Leena.

“I have never had this feeling before because I have never been in this position before,” joked Mandli who has been trying to win the Final for a decade. “I don’t think that I even realize it yet. In the first round I was a little nervous because my horse would not concentrate. In the second round I was much more relaxed because my horse was much better. I am very happy for my horse, he was super.”

Mandli had a right to be nervous, four faults, or one rail, separated the top seven entering Sunday’s competition. Guerdat was tied for the lead with Meredith Michaels Beerbaum of Germany, but with only a one point lead. In a stunning surprise, Michaels-Beerbaum, the 2005 World Cup Champion and co-leader entering Sunday’s final rounds, was eliminated for a fall. With the exception of defending champion Marcus Ehning of Germany, the top ten all incurred faults in the first round complicating the picture even further.
Deusser who was one of only five who went clean in the first round, repeated his performance and jumped into the lead with eight more to go. It was beginning to look like the rookie was going to take it all. One by one the rest of the field incurred faults. Then Mandli took his turn and dashed Deusser’s hopes with a clean round. Deusser, who was the only rider to go double clear on the day, was still thrilled with the runner-up spot. “It’s unbelievable to me that I even qualified,” said Deusser. “I never thought I would finish in second place.”

Third place rider Guerdat credited his countryman Mandli for his success. “My third place is thanks to Beat who has helped me all this week and my whole career,” said Guerdat. “I think he deserved the win more than me, he is one of the greatest riders ever.”

Started in 1979, the FEI World Cup Jumping Final is an annual international showdown among the world’s best show jumping horses and riders. The 2007 event will mark the seventh FEI World Cup Jumping Final to be held in the United States, following Finals in Baltimore in 1980, Tampa, FL in 1989, Del Mar, CA in 1992 and the three in Las Vegas in 2000, 2003 and 2005. In the 28 finals held through 2006, United States riders have emerged with the most titles, having won the championship seven times.

First held in 1986, the FEI World Cup Dressage Final has been held in the U.S. only twice, in 1995 in Los Angeles and 2005 in Las Vegas. The Netherlands has dominated the competition, winning seven times, followed by Germany with six. The United States won its first title in 2003 when Debbie McDonald rode Brentina to the Championship. Brentina is owned by Parry and Peggy Thomas of Las Vegas, for whom the Thomas & Mack Center, the venue for the World Cup Finals, is named.

Las Vegas Events, Inc. (LVE), producer of the 2000, 2003, 2005 and 2007 FEI World Cup Finals, was founded in 1983. LVE has grown with Las Vegas as the city emerged as one of the world’s top special event and resort destinations. A private, not-for-profit organization, LVE is funded by hotel room tax and serves as the exclusive major special events agency for the city. Since 1991, Las Vegas Events has produced, presented or supported more than 390 events, which have driven more than 3.3 million visitors to the area, resulting in an economic impact of more than $2 billion.

Fans wanting to bring home the excitement of every ride of the 2007 Rolex FEI World CupTM Finals will be able to do so with full-coverage DVDs. DVDs of the Dressage and Jumping Finals will be available for each of Friday, Saturday, & Sunday’s Sessions and will include every minute of action from those sessions. The DVDs of each session will be available for sale at the Thomas & Mack Center starting Saturday and will also be available on line.

The Animal Planet television network will televise a special 90-minute broadcast of the 2007 Rolex FEI World CupTM Finals on Saturday, May 12 beginning at 9:00 p.m. (EDT). The telecast will include the Finals in both jumping and dressage.

See http://www.worldcuplasvegas.com/news_jumping_042207.php for more details.