21 September 2024
WCH Le Pin 2024: Super Mario’s stepping on the gas!
As if to thumb their noses at the bad luck that befell their team-mate Michael Barbey (victim of a minor incident on obstacle no. 2), the Swiss Stefan Ulrich and Mario Gandolfo struck a blow with two of the three best performances of the marathon at the FEI Driving World Championship for Singles in Haras du Pin.For Mario, the winner, it wasn’t a first. His little mare Favela a Franches-Montagnes, a typically Swiss breed is built to go fast and turn short. The duo finished two seconds ahead of Germany’s Ciara Schubert, one of the youngest competitors at the start (aged 22). She therefore squeezed in between Mario and his compatriot Stefan Ulrich with Samito (3rd). The American Taylor Bradish, who stood out during the dressage succeeded in finishing 4th, just a few hundredths ahead of the best French rider, Claire Lefort (5th). Unfortunately winner of dressage Kelly Bruder (CAN) did not have her day yesterday. She had some kockdowns in the obstacles and her groom fell off in Obstacle 1, which meant that she dropped in the standings to a 17th position.
In the combined ranking, reigning individual world runner-up Marion Vignaud who set the 12th fastest result today took the lead. However, Mario Gandolfo (SUI) is now hot on his heels, just 2.5 points behind followed by the day’s other in-form Swiss rider, Stefan Ulrich. Ulrich is up against two rivals, Germany’s Ciara Schubert and Luxembourg’s Marie Schiltz, 4th and 5th respectively within the same point. Switzerland hit back hard with three drivers in the top six provisional individual rankings, with Werner Ulrich, Stefan’s father, in 6th place.
In the team rankings, France remains in the lead…but their lead has melted like snow in the sun. The French are now just 1.2 points ahead of Germany. A single ball down in tomorrow’s cones and any hopes of a golden double for the French team will be gone. The Swiss, currently 3rd in the provisional team rankings, are just 5.2 points behind the French and could spring a surprise, especially as Mario Gandolfo and Stefan Ulrich are in amazing form. Although 4th, Luxembourg are still nearly 20 points behind the top three. The team medals are likely to be decided between France, Germany and Switzerland – but it is not over till it’s over!
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Photo: Melanie Guillamot
