Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, the first woman to have been ranked No1 in the world and winner of the European Showjumping Championships last summer, continued her domination of the sport when she and Shutterfly won their second Rolex FEI World Cup after relegating Rich Fellers, of the United States, on Flexible to second place in front of an enthralled crowd in the Scandinavium.

Their two clear rounds completed three days of competition in which they incurred no jumping faults over the biggest courses the event has seen. “I'm proud of myself,” Michaels-Beerbaum, who was born in Los Angeles but assumed German nationality on her marriage to Markus Beerbaum, said. “There is a lot of pressure when you're riding the greatest horse in the world, if you make a mistake everyone will blame you, it's a relief to have brought him home safely.”

For Fellers, ranked No131 in the world, it was a relief merely to have brought Flexible to the starting line. The Irish-bred gelding, by Cruising, has had two serious operations during his career - most recently for a broken shoulder two years ago. “I had hoped we would be competitive but I had my doubts whether the horse could operate as he has done,” Fellers, who lives in Oregon, said. His second place is the best result by a United States rider in the event since Katharine Burdsall won on The Natural in 1987. Michael Whitaker, Britain's only contestant, who had hoped to finish in the top three on Suncal Portofino, had to settle for ninth place. The mare, 14, produced a supreme effort on Friday night, with one of only five clear rounds, but one fault in each round yesterday dropped them out of contention.

Rolf Ludi, the Swiss designer who is renowned for his big courses, did not disappoint yesterday. In the first round the huge combination (Fence 8), with three long strides between the last two elements, forced errors from half of the field including Whitaker.

While Michaels-Beerbaum, foot perfect over the 13 fences, cruised comfortably to the front of the field, Jessica Kürten, of Ireland, the overnight leader on Libertina, made a rare mistake at Fence 5 and crashed through the following fence. Their eight faults dropped them to joint fourth at the start of the final round. Fellers, who also faulted at Fence 6, dropped to third place behind Engemann.

The shortened, but bigger, second round, in which riders went in reverse order of merit, produced a thrilling denouement. Fellers, 48, put the pressure on the leaders with a faultless round while Engemann made one mistake, leaving him in third place.

Michaels-Beerbaum, the last to go, could not afford a fence down if she was to stay ahead. Shutterfly, mesmerising the packed Scandinavium, cleared the nine fences as though on springs to claim a second World Cup.

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