Popular British amateur rider Stephanie Croxford spent her Christmas holiday at Mechelen CDI-W in Belgium, 26-27 December 2007, to finish ninth in the FEI World Cup qualifier with 70.1%, the same placing she achieved at Olympia the previous week.

 

This result moves Steph up to 11^th place in the Western European leaderboard with her 13-year-old gelding Mr President (pictured).

Steph said: "It was absolutely terrifying. Any rider who manages to achieve a good score in this enclosed, electric atmosphere has my total admiration. This was my third World Cup qualifier of the series and I feel like a complete novice. This World Cup circuit is a league above leagues. I thought I knew 'Mr P' and that he was bombproof , but I have changed my mind!"

 

Also competing in Mechelen was Dutch-based Brit Camilla Sygall, who rode the 11-year-old DJ One More Time into 14^th place.

 

There are two more qualifiers before the final in ’s-Hertogenbosch, Holland, 27-30 March 2008: Amsterdam (24-27 January) and Neumünster (13-17 February).

 

For the full results, visit www.jumping-mechelen.com.