Category Archives: FEI

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Events, FEI, FEI

Craig Barrett and Sandhills Brillaire Claim Cross Country Lead in Adelaide

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Craig Barrett and Sandhills Brillaire claimed the lead after Cross Country at the HSBC FEI Classics in Adelaide. (Jenny Barnes/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 24 November 2012 – Craig Barrett, leader after the challenging Cross Country phase of the HSBC FEI Classics in Adelaide, and riding in his first 4* competition, said he was both “absolutely thrilled” and “disappointed” after today’s action: “Sandhills Brillaire went beautifully and galloped really well, but with Wendela Jamie (Dressage leader), I just made too many mistakes.”

It was a dramatic Cross Country day that saw the top three after Dressage failing to make it through the finish flags. Barrett produced the run of the day with the competition trailblazing home-bred Staccato mare, adding just 0.8 of a time penalty to take the lead with a two-day total of 51.80.

Barrett’s other ride, Wendela Jamie, had a runout at the costly number 13, a skinny fence on a related distance off the island in Rymill Lake, and it was here too that Stuart Tinney came to grief and retired after the big grey, Pluto Mio avoided the issue twice.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Events, FEI, FEI

Shane Rose and APH Moritz Take the Lead after Dressage in Adelaide

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Shane Rose and APH Moritz “have a good day at the office”, taking the lead after Dressage at the HSBC FEI Classics in Adelaide (Jenny Barnes/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 23 November 2012 – Beijing Team Silver medallist Shane Rose had a good day at the office today in Adelaide, taking the lead in the HSBC FEI Classics Dressage phase, as well as the CCI 2* competition.

Rose claimed the early lead in the HSBC FEI Classics with 45.80 penalties riding the Leder family, Jamie McDonald and Lee Hokianga’s Australian-bred Warmblood, APH Moritz by APH Coriolo.

He is closely followed by HSBC Bursary candidate Craig Barrett, who has started but never completed the four-star competition in Adelaide, but certainly means to do so this year riding the 2011 Melbourne CCI 3* winner, Wendela Jamie. Henry and Helen Hicks’ impressive Thoroughbred gelding is just a breath away on 47.30 penalties. And just over a point away from Barrett, Stuart Tinney is well placed in third with John and Jane Pittard’s 2012 New South Wales Eventing Champion, Pluto Mio.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Events, FEI, FEI

Cream of Australia Aims to Rise to the Top in Adelaide

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Andrew Nicholson (NZL), pictured here with Nereo at the first leg of the series in Pau (FRA) last month. (Image: Kit Houghton/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 19 November, 2012 – Riders in the northern hemisphere may have packed up for their winter break, but it’s all go at the other side of the world as competitors prepare for their premier event, Australia’s International 3 Day Event in Adelaide, the second leg of the HSBC FEI Classics 2012/2013.

The Australian event offers them a chance to get a foothold on the leaderboard for the valuable HSBC FEI Classics, in which last year’s Adelaide winner, Stuart Tinney (AUS), secured fifth place in the overall standings for the 2011/2012 season.

This year, Tinney, an Olympic gold medallist in 2000, rides the 14-year-old grey Pluto Mio, recent winner of the Goulburn CIC3*.

Two members of Australia’s 2008 Olympic silver medal team are competing: Shane Rose, who rides APH Moritz, second behind Pluto Mio at Goulburn and a recent winner of Berrima CIC3*, and Megan Jones.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

Super Staut Reigns Supreme in Stuttgart

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Kevin Staut and Silvana HDC clinched victory for France in the fifth leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2012/2013 Western European League series. Photo: FEI/Karl-Heinz Freiler

Stuttgart (GER), 18 November 2012 – Kevin Staut broke German hearts today when, despite all the odds being in favour of a home-side win, it was the Frenchman who came out on top in the fifth qualifying round of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2012/2013 Western European League series at Stuttgart.  Partnering the on-form grey mare Silvana HDC, Staut snatched what looked like certain victory from Germany’s Marcus Ehning and Noltes Kuchengirl when quicker by a margin of just one-hundredth of a second in an action-packed 11-horse jump-off against the clock.

Third place went to Portugal’s Luciana Diniz and Winningmood, while Sweden’s Jens Fredricson and Lunatic slotted into fourth.  Today’s result leaves Staut with the same number of points as Western European League leader Sergio Alvarez Moya from Spain who went out of contention this afternoon with a single mistake in the opening round of the competition.  The Spaniard, however, continues to head the league table going into the next round at Geneva, Switzerland in December because he has had more consistently strong results so far throughout this Rolex indoor season.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Events, FEI, FEI

Langehanenberg and Damon Hill Secure Impressive Victory at Stuttgart

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FEI Director of Dressage, Trond Asmyr, presents the Reem Acra Trophy to Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg. Photo: FEI/Karl-Heinz Freiler.

Stuttgart (GER), 17 November 2012 – Helen Langehanenberg and Damon Hill NRW recorded an impressive victory in the third leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Western European League series at Stuttgart, Germany today where the host nation dominated the line-up.

With a smooth Freestyle performance that oozed confidence and teamwork, the winning partnership finished more than four full marks ahead of German counterparts Kristina Sprehe and Desperados FRH in second place.  And it was a big day for Italy’s Valentina Truppa.  She registered runner-up spot at the previous leg in Lyon, France two weeks ago, but although she had to settle for third with Eremo del Castegno this time around, she has risen to the top of the Western European League table with a significant margin of advantage after today’s result.

The placings of the top three mirrored those of yesterday’s Grand Prix in which Langehanenberg’s score of 82.766 was a personal best.  But fourth place today went to Sweden’s Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven thanks to a much-improved effort with Don Auriello who inched The Netherlands‘ Imke Schellekens-Bartels and the gigantic black gelding, Toots, down to fifth.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Driving, Events, FEI, FEI

Boyd Exell Wins Second FEI World Cup Driving Qualifier in Stuttgart

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Boyd Exell (AUS) was unbeatable again in the second leg of the FEI World Cup Driving in Stuttgart (GER) ©Rinaldo de Craen/FEI.

Stuttgart (GER), 17 November 2012 – Boyd Exell (AUS) went fast in the first competition of the second leg of the FEI World Cup Driving in Stuttgart, Germany. He went even faster in the first round of the World Cup and was the fastest driver in the Winning Round in the fully packed Schleyer Halle. Exell proved unbeatable once again and recorded his second victory of the season in as many participations. IJsbrand Chardon (NED) tried to put Exell under pressure but did not succeed and finished second, ahead of Jozsef Dobrovitz (HUN).

Stuttgart is one of the favourite shows of the drivers taking part in the series and the enthusiastic crowd, the electric atmosphere and this year’s course, designed by Falk Böhnisch (GER) contributed again to the event’s popularity.

Lipizzaner power in the Winning Round
Jozsef Dobrovitz set the time to beat in the Winning Round with his team of Lipizzaner horses. Dobrovitz’ left wheeler horse felt a little tired after the first round, but recovered in the second round and helped the driver from Vecsés to secure third place. Dobrovitz had made a small adjustment to his carriage in order to go even faster in the open parts of the course and to turn very quickly in the technical marathon obstacles.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, FEI, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Charlie Jacobs Helps USA Win Nations Cup at CSIO-W Buenos Aires, Claims Speed Derby Victory

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Charlie Jacobs and Flaming Star won the International Speed Derby at the CSIO-W Buenos Aires. Photo By: Haras El Capricho

Buenos Aires, Argentina – November 13, 2012 – Charlie Jacobs of Deeridge Farm had a very successful return trip to the Buenos Aires’ CSIO-W at Haras El Capricho. He piloted Leap of Joy to two clear efforts during the Nations Cup competition to help the United States capture the victory, and then defended his title in the International Speed Derby with Flaming Star. The weekend concluded with Jacobs and Leap of Joy picking up the fifth place award in the World Cup Qualifying Grand Prix after producing a clear first round effort.

On Saturday, November 10, Jacobs was alongside teammates Quentin Judge, Catherine Pasmore, and Alison Robitaille for Nations Cup competition. Chef d’Equipe Norman Dello Joio chose Jacobs as the leadoff rider, with the U.S. drawing the first position in the team jumping order. Jacobs was up to the challenge, producing a faultless effort with Leap of Joy and returning for the second round to post another clear round. Jacobs’ teammates were also on point, and the team finished on four faults to earn the team victory, while Canada and Argentina tied for second.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

Moya Turns On the Magic in Verona

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Sergio Alvarez Moya and Zipper won the fourth leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2012/2013 series in a thrilling 12-horse jump-off. Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton.

Verona (ITA), 11 November 2012 – On an afternoon of pure magic in the jumping stadium at Verona, Italy, today Spain’s Sergio Alvarez Moya produced a stunning victory in the fourth leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2012/2013 Western European League. This competition was special for a number of reasons, not least because the Spaniard was riding a horse that was just eight years old, and because Italy’s Luca Moneta was so proud and yet so humble when filling runner-up spot.

The excitement generated during the 12-horse jump-off was electrifying as horses and riders rose to the occasion to produce a piece of pure theatre that had spectators gripping their seats.  As third-place finisher, Sweden’s Malin Baryard-Johnsson said afterwards, “The sport was amazing; I haven’t competed in a class as exciting as this in a very, very long time!”

Today’s result has left Moya well on the road to the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final in Gothenburg, Sweden next April.  Already at the head of the leaderboard before today’s class began, he has now accumulated a massive 58 points, so has no more worries about qualification.

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Competitions, Events, FEI, Show Jumping, USEF

US Cruises to Victory in FEI Nations Cup at CSIO-W Buenos Aires

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Buenos Aires, Argentina – The U.S. jumpers had to wait an extra day to take part in FEI Nations Cup competition at the CSIO-W Buenos Aires after the class was delayed due to rain on Friday. The four Americans proved the wait was well worth it as they stormed to victory finishing on a two round total of four faults.

Leading off the U.S. effort were Charlie Jacobs (Boston, MA) and Deeridge Farms’ Leap of Joy. Jacobs utilized the experience he earned last year at CSIO Buenos Aires to jump two faultless rounds with the 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding. They were one of only three combinations to produce a double clear effort on Saturday.

Riding in the second spot for the U.S. was Quentin Judge (Wellington, FL) with Double H Farm’s HH Carotino. In the first round the 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding jumped an immaculate clear round and returned later in the day producing a four fault effort for Judge in his U.S. team debut.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, FEI, FEI, Vaulting

One-two Finish for Italy at Opening Leg of FEI World Cup Vaulting

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Italy’s Anna Cavallaro was the best female vaulter at the opening leg of the FEI World Cup Vaulting held in Munich. ©Karl-Heinz Frieler/FEI

Lausanne (SUI), 9 November 2012 – Anna Cavallaro (ITA) and Lukas Klouda (CZE) are the first winners of the FEI World Cup Vaulting new 2012/13 season. Cavallaro, 26, and Klouda, 28, received the highest scores after two quality Freestyle-to-Music rounds at the series opening leg held in Munich (GER) last weekend. Italy secured a one-two finish in the women’s competition as Silvia Stopazzini took second place on a final score of 8.602 behind Cavallaro (8.797).

At the top with Pavarotti

In the first round, Anna Cavallaro, performing on the 15-year-old Harley lunged by Nelson Vidoni, executed a high-level gymnastic routine which put her in second place. Her training partner and fellow Italian Silvia Stopazzini, also competing on Harley, took an early lead scoring 0,041 points higher than Cavallaro.

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