May 6, 2002—The new World Cup showjumping champion is Otto Becker with runner-up Ludger Beerbaum, teammates on Germany’s Gold Medal team at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. The third-place finisher, three-time World Cup champion Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil. McLain Ward of Brewster, NY and Leslie Howard of Westport, CT tied for fourth place in the Show Jumping World Cup Final in Leipzig, Germany.

Ward, riding Viktor, a 12-year-old German Warmblood gelding owned by Ward and Harry Gill, entered Sunday’s final round in second place. He carried a score of two faults into the two-round final after placing second in the opening speed class and sixth in Friday’s jump-off class. His 12 faults in Sunday’s two rounds dropped him to fourth.

Howard, riding Priobert de Kalvarie, owned by Higher Ground Farm, entered Sunday’s final in 14th place. She rode the 10-year-old Belgian gelding to the only double clear round of Sunday’s Final to win that class and move into the fourth place tie with her USET teammate.

Ray Texel of Beverly Hills, CA and Fleur, owned by David Saperstein, climbed from twenty-sixth place to thirteenth with only four faults over the two rounds. USET Chef d’Equipe Frank Chapot said, “Traditionally the American riders do better each day of the World Cup competition as our horses get acclimatized to the indoor venue.” This was certainly the case for Fleur who was disappointing the first two days but amazing in her determination to clear the massive oxers that course designer Frank Rothenberger presented on the final day.

Sydney Olympic veteran Lauren Hough of Ocala, FL and Windy City, owned by Peppercorn, Ltd., had only four faults in the first round and eight in the second to earn fourteenth spot overall.