from horsetalk.co.nz (dated 18 October 2010)

A clean jumping round landed French rider Donatien Schauly the win at the three-star Boekelo horse trials in The Netherlands at the weekend.

Riding the eight-year-old Ocarina du Chanois, Schauly moved up from fourth after cross-country to pip the leader, New Zealand's Mark Todd, and take home the €12,500 winner's prize money. He ended on 47.80 penalties.

Todd and Land Vision dropped a jumping rail to finish with 50.00 penalties, with Germany's Michael Jung and Weidezaunprofi's River of Joy, who also took a rail, a whisker behind in third with 50,20 penalties.

Jung also took a rail on his second mount, Leopin, to drop to fifth with 50.60 penalties, allowing compatriot Julia Krajewski and After the Battle into fourth with 50.40.

While the top 10 was dominated by the Germans, the leaderboard had an international flavour, with US rider Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister sixth, Australian's Clayton Fredericks and Walterstown Don seventh, and British rider Oliver Townend ninth on Sonas Rovatio.

Schauly, 25, said afterwards he did not expect to beat greats like Todd and Jung, and beamed from ear to ear. It was Ocarina du Chanois's first start in a three-star event.

Todd was philosophical about missing out on top honours, "I obviously love to win, but my horse is still young and has done better than expected," he said.

Despite dropping rails with both horses, Jung was very pleased with their performances. "The horses are young and this is their first three-star. That they are so well run has been fantastic. I have great hopes for the future."

Of the other New Zealand riders at the event, Caroline Powell finished best, in 31st overall on Mrs Tilly. Andrew Nicholson finished 60th on Parkmore Repecharge, and Debbie Mitchell and Waimak were 78th. Dan Jocelyn and Viscount Barnaby were eliminated on the cross-country.