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Eric comments on the Rolex FEI World Cup Final. Photo by Hanne Christensen.On the Rolex FEI World Cup Final’s two courses: "I think we had unbelievable sport, it was very exciting yesterday! The two courses were big, and completely different from each other. The horses had to show everything yesterday; rideability, scope and carefulness. The riders had to do some proper riding! Even though the courses were big, they were still fair – it’s not like the courses took everything out of the horses and they won’t need five weeks of rest after this championship. I thought it was very good course designing!”

On the Top Three: “I think Pius made it very exciting with his time penalty in the first round yesterday, so that all top three riders were left with one penalty ahead of the second round – although it didn’t change anything in the end. It was a top jump-off between Rich and Steve as they both have very quick horses and were so close on the time.”

 Congrats to Rich and Flexible on winning the Rolex FEI World Cup Final 2012! All photos by Ken Braddick.

Rich and Flexible celebrating their amazing win. Photo by Ken Braddick. Rich Fellers on his jump-off and if he thought he would be able to beat Steve’s time; “Steve was very fast. I thought he would take 7 strides to the last fence, but then he went on 8. I know my horse very well. I know he is fast and I trusted that I could do the same track and  the same strides as Steve - and I was lucky!”

Steve on his jump-off and his plans going in as number one; “My horse is also very fast. I hoped that even without taking the last risks that it would be enough. My plan was to make a good stride to the triplebar and then do 7 strides to the last fence. Unfortunately that plan didn’t work out today.”

Top Three: Rich Fellers, Steve Guerdat and Pius Schwizer. Photo by Ken Braddick.After four tough rounds and a man to man jump-off it was Rich Fellers and Flexible who were crowned as winners in the Rolex FEI World Cup Final 2012 in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. The arena was packed with spectators, and fantastic riding by the top three from Friday – Pius Schwizer on Carlina, Steve Guerdat on Nino des Buissonnets as well as Rich Fellers on Flexible – kept it exciting to the very last fence was jumped.

The first round track consisted of twelve fences and included a combination at 8a and b – and a triple combination at the very end of the course. Most of the faults came at the latter; all of the German riders had faults here, Marco Kutscher, Marcus Ehning and Philipp Weishaupt experienced a small collective nightmare when they all had one fence down and it was the last element of the triple combination. The track demanded a lot of the horses, and scope and power was needed to produce clear rounds.

Francie Steinwedell-Carvin and Taunus in action over fence nine - the special "Dutch" gate. All photos by Hanne Christensen.

Eric van der Vleuten comments on round two of the World Cup. Photo by Hanne Christensen.On the influential triple combination: “The triple combination was optical difficult with the white oxer, and the distance was a little bit long from a to b. So, many horses came out of a short turn to it and especially the ones that didn’t get a forward stride in all came a little long and were diving a little on the back bar of the b-element. And the vertical at c was a short distance from b, so it became hard to back up after that oxer. When you look at the jump-off, the a and b-elements were easy – so it was the entire combination that caused trouble.”

On the course: “It was a very good course again. Also, many of the horses had given a lot already until the combination. You had the double of oxers, you had the oxer at number seven with the water in the corner and then number eight straight away out of the next corner. Number ten was out of a short distance, and the horses had to stretch a lot – so I think for many horses the triple combination came very quick and they had given a lot already. It was technical and big enough – but it was a fair course!”

It’s tight on top ahead of the last two rounds of the Rolex FEI World Cup final Sunday. Take a look at the top twelve in the table below. Click here for the full standings.

Philipp was (naturally) happy with both his horse and the course after his win today. Photo by Hanne Christensen. Philipp on the jump-off and deciding tactics; “The less combinations you have in the jump-off,  it does not make it easier . You have to decide what to do - be fast or secure a clear. Today I already new Marco was clear which meant I had to go fast. I got a good flow in the jump-off, and got great turns.”

Philipp also had a lot of good words to say about his horse Monte Bellini. “It’s how he is to ride. If you slow down he slows down. If you go forward he goes forward. I’m very happy that I have him. He is a really good horse. He makes his rider look good.”

Marco on his round; "I tried to put some pressure on the other two, but in the end it was not enough. Cornet is not the fastest horse, but if he still jumps like this on Sunday we could have a chance among the top five.”

Philipp Weishaupt and Monte Bellini flying high in Den Bosch today. Photo by Hanne Christensen.The game was on in round two of the Rolex FEI World Cup in ‘s-Hertogenbosch today; a seriously tough course heated things up and in the end it was Germany’s Philipp Weishaupt that stayed cool enough to take home the win on Monte Bellini. Another strong round from Pius Schwizer – this round riding Carlina – secured him runner-up position, and the overall lead in the World Cup ahead of the final two rounds on Sunday where 25 of the best riders are qualified to ride. After a mediocre day yesterday, the Germans bounced back today with another rider from Stall Beerbaum taking third – Marco Kutscher on the beautiful grey stallion Cornet Obolensky.