Australia's World Cup League, the only FEI circuit held in the country was totally disrupted for the 2007/2008 due to the outbreak of EI in a previously clean country where horses have never been vaccinated for this disease.

With just 3 qualifying classes held the winner was proclaimed - and an extremely worthy winner indeed in Laurie Lever from Victoria with the Australian bred grey gelding, Ashleigh Drossel Dan. This combination headed to Europe in October 2007 to prepare for the World Cup FInal as part of Lever's bid for a berth in Hong Kong for the 2008 Olympic Games.

The New Zealand League is coming to an end and the there are four who are fighting hard for the honour of representing their flag in Gotteburg in April! The four fighting are Oliver Edgecombe on 44 points, Robert STeele and Claire Wilson on 42 points and Anna Trent on 41 points. We understand there is one qualifier left before the winner is awarded their ticket to Sweden.

The European League has completed 7 out of 12 rounds so far, with this weekend bringing round 8 to Leipzig in Germany - the leaderboard is firmly in the grip of Ireland's crowd pleaser, Jessica Kuerten who has an 11 point lead over Spain's Rutherford Latham - pictured below in Helsinki - who sits with 48 points after holding the lead for the early part of the circuit. These two riders are surely guaranteed their place in the start lists at the Final.

Sitting third on the European Leaderboard is Sweden's Helena Lundback, who was 4th at the 2002 World Championships held in Spain. Helena has 41 points so would be feeling very confident of her place in front of a home crowd in Sweden in April.

PHOTO CREDIT:Marcus Westermark/FEI

Guaranteeing the British presence and also the continuing of the legendary Whitaker family name at the final sees 18 year old William Whitaker - pictured right - sitting in fourth place currently on 39 points, while uncle, Michael is sitting in 13th position so possible two of the family in Sweden.

The World Cup then moved to Helsinki for Round 2 and this saw just three in the jump off which was won by American born Rutherford Latham who has been riding for Spain since 1982 when he produced double clear jumping which gave him equal lead with Lundback in the early stages of the circuit.

Round 3 gave the first place to Albert Zoer for the Netherlands when Oki Doki produced double clear jumping for the winners points in Verona's 8 horse jump off.

Stuttgart hosted Round 4 and the show went to the girls with Germany's Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum taking first place with the fiesty Shutterfly, from Ireland's Jessica Kuerten and Castle Forbes Libertina while third place went to France's Eugenie Angot and Ilostra Dark.

Frances Michel Hecart took 4th place with the horse he has recently

Round 5 saw another win to Germany when Ludger Beerbaum and All Inclusive took the class in Geneva. Sister-in-law Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum finished equal second with Ireland's Jessica Kuerten in the 11 horse jump off.

Round 6 gave Ireland's First Lady, Jessica Kuerten the win in Olympia with the talented and scopey mare Castle Forbes Libertina who has a great record on the Indoor circuit. The 16 horse jump off gave the capacity audience a spectacular class and the home crowd were delighted with Nick Skelton's second placing on the Hale's stallion Arko, while Malin Baryard-Johnsson delighted everyone with her third placing and double clear jumping with the 16 year old superstar, Butterfly Flip.

Round 7 was the last qualifier for 2007 and Mechelen played host on December 30th and with 5 in the jump off the crowd was delighted to see 18 year old William Whitaker take the win. The Whitaker's seem to have a brilliant breeding program in place as the family of which legends are made just seem to continue to produce top level riders. William, nephew to Michael and John is based with uncle Michael and is enjoying great success at an very early age which seems to be par for the course for this incredible family of showjumping greats!

Second went to Germany's Alois Pollman-Schwekhorst and Lord Luis.

So as 2007 closed the leaderboard sees Jessica Kuerten (Irl) on top with 59 points, followed by Rutherford Latham (ESP) on 48 points, with Helena Lundback (Swe) on 41 points and William Whitaker (GBR) on 39 points.

The first qualifier for 2008 will be held on January 17th in Leipzig and this will be Round 8 of the 12 round series.

The World Cup series is now in its 30th year having begun in 1978. Fourteen leagues are contesting the right to be present at the final in Goteburg this year where the best riders from 132 qualifying competitions will present for their countries .

The reining World Cup Champion is Switzerland's Beat Mandli who won in Las Vegas in 2007.