Category Archives: FEI

Weishaupt Wins Second Leg, but Schwizer Heads Rolex Leaderboard Going into Sunday’s Final

FEI YouTube Channel: http://youtu.be/WCejiOhGoIw

Philip Weishaupt on the way to victory in the second leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final. (Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton)

Germany’s Philipp Weishaupt won tonight’s second leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final at ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED) in a thrilling three-way jump-off against the clock. But it is runner-up, Switzerland’s Pius Schwizer, who holds the advantage going into Sunday’s final competition which will decide the fate of the 2011/2012 title.

As the going got tough this evening, the cream rose to the top, and clear rounds proved very elusive indeed. Weishaupt’s fellow-countryman, Marco Kutscher, was the only other starter to find the key to the course set by Louis Konickx, but reigning Olympic champion, Canada’s Eric Lamaze, was unlucky to miss out on the final barrage when stopping the clock just 500ths of a second off the pace for a single first-round time penalty to finish fourth and is in serious contention going into the closing stages.

Continue reading Weishaupt Wins Second Leg, but Schwizer Heads Rolex Leaderboard Going into Sunday’s Final

Jumping Verona Wins Rolex FEI World Cup Press Office Award for 2011/2012

Left to right: Grania Willis (Director of Press Relations, FEI), Anthony Schaub (from Rolex), Caterina Vagnozzi (Jumping Verona Press Officer), Eleonora Ottaviani (Jumping Verona Event Director) and Magali Dubois Vaucher (of Rolex). Image: Kit Houghton/FEI.

Lausanne (SUI), 21 April 2012 – Jumping Verona has won the Best Press Office award for the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Western European League 2011/2012 as voted by journalists and photographers covering the series’ 12 Western European League qualifiers.

The Best Press Office award was introduced at the start of the Rolex FEI World Cup 2010/2011 season to celebrate the hard work of the event organising teams. Press offices were judged on several key media services, including on-site and online media services, press conferences and swift information supply throughout the qualifiers.

The Jumping Verona media team numbers eight, and is led by Caterina Vagnozzi. Caterina has been press officer of Jumping Verona, which hosted the fourth qualifier of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Western European League 2011/2012 series, since 2003. She has also been press officer at the Rome CSIO for the past 23 years, was Press Officer at the FEI World Equestrian Games in Rome in 1998, and at all the Pavarotti International Horse Shows at Modena.

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US Qualifies Seven for Final Competition of Rolex/FEI World Cup Final; Fellers Lies Second Overall

Rich Fellers and Flexible (Photos by SusanJStickle/ PhelpsSports.com)

‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands – Valuable World Cup points were at stake Friday evening in the Rolex/FEI World Cup Final as riders vied for a place in Sunday’s final competition. Louis Koninck tested the 33 riders that returned for round two over a demanding track in the Indoor Brabant. Riders within the top 25 of the placings following tonight’s round qualify to contest Sunday’s final competition, of those entries seven will be representing the U.S.

Rich Fellers, Thursday’s round one winner, guided the diminutive Flexible to a near flawless round just faulting at one fence. Fellers (Sherwood, OR) and Harry and Mollie Chapman’s 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse stallion jumped another efficient round only adding four faults at the middle oxer of the triple at fence 11. The pair finished tonight’s class in eighth place.

Continue reading US Qualifies Seven for Final Competition of Rolex/FEI World Cup Final; Fellers Lies Second Overall

Cornelissen Wins Reem Acra Final Grand Prix

FEI YouTube Channel: http://youtu.be/HX4nSLYtZOg

Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival on their way to victory in the Grand Prix at the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final. Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton

The defending champions, Adelinde Cornelissen and her mighty chestnut gelding Jerich Parzival, swept to victory in the Grand Prix at the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands this afternoon. And the 32-year-old Dutch rider was much relieved that she could live up to expectations on her home turf after a long and restless night.

Held over during the first horse inspection yesterday, Parzival passed with flying colours when re-inspected this morning and produced the winning score that pinned Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg and Damon Hill into second while Italy’s Valentina Truppa and Eremo Del Castegno finished third. But as Cornelissen admitted after heading the field, “It wasn’t the best preparation – and I could maybe have slept a few more hours last night!”

The morning was overshadowed by the tragic news that Dressage team coach, Holger Schmezer, who had travelled with the three German contenders to ‘s-Hertogenbosch, had passed away suddenly the previous evening. And the presentation ceremony was tinged with great sadness as the riders and spectators stood for a minute’s silence as a mark of respect.

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US Completes First Leg of 2012 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final

Shawna Harding and Come On III (Susan J. Stickle/PhelpsSports.com)

‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands – The standard was set early this afternoon at the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final, as a field of 18 performed the Grand Prix test at the Indoor Brabant. The two American entries of Shawna Harding and Jan Ebeling closed out the first leg of the 2012 Final, riding in the 16th and 18th spots respectively.

Harding (Aiken, SC) appeared with her own Come On III in their second Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final and rode a tactful test. The 13-year-old Danish Warmblood was rewarded for fluid trot half-passes and solid gaits. A mistake in the two-time changes cost the pair in an otherwise pleasant performance.

“Shawna had a commendable ride; she got every drop from the horse,” said USEF Dressage Technical Advisor Anne Gribbons. “It was a clean and solid test with the horse nicely on the aids. She got everything out of the horse.”

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Fellers Sprints to the Lead of the 2012 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final Following the Speed Leg

Rich Fellers and Flexible jump to the lead of the 2012 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final (SusanJStickle.com)

‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands – Competition got underway at the Indoor Brabant Thursday evening in the 2012 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final with the first leg of the four round competition. Of the 37 combinations that went to task over Louis Koninck’s 13 obstacle course, nine were representing the United States. With the faults converted format, riders needed to ride forward and efficiently while still jumping carefully. American Rich Fellers rode like a man on a mission to set a blazing pace no else could catch to head the field after day one.

Fellers (Sherwood, OR) guided Harry and Mollie Chapman’s Flexible to a clear round to stop the timers at 60.26 seconds. The pair surged to the head of the field on the strength of tight, efficient turns and the 16-year-old stallion’s natural speed.

This is the second time the pair has won the initial round of a Finals after having lead after day one at the 2010 Rolex/FEI World Cup Finals in Geneva, Switzerland. Additionally, they were second overall in the 2008 edition of the competition held in Gothenburg, Sweden.

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Fellers and Flexible Shine in Rolex Opener

FEI YouTube Channel: http://youtu.be/CpMTmqZ_4v4

Rich Fellers and Flexible won the opening leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2011/2012 Final. They are pictured being presented with a watch by Magalie Dubois Vaucher from Rolex.

The oldest horse in the competition, the 16-year-old Irish-bred Flexible, won the first leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Final 2011/2012 for America’s Rich Fellers at the Brabanthalle in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands tonight.

Living up to his name, the stallion’s super-tight turn to the double of verticals at fence five on the 13-fence track set by Dutch course designer Louis Konickx proved pivotal in every sense, and none of the rest could match his pace as he broke the beam in 60.26 seconds.

Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat and Nino des Buissonnets were over a second slower when slotting into second, while the remarkable Rik Hemeryck finished third for Belgium with Quarco de Kerambars, despite having the dubious distinction of being first into the ring.

Pius Schwizer (SUI) and Ulysse lined up fourth ahead of Kevin Staut and Silvana HDC for France in fifth, while reigning FEI European Champion, Rolf-Goran Bengtsson from Sweden, was sixth with Casall La Silla.

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US Ready to Compete in the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage, Draw Final Rides of the Day

‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands – The United States presented two horses to the veterinary panel at the Horse Inspection this morning for the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final. Both proved sound and ready to compete. Eighteen horse-and-rider combinations representing 11 nations are scheduled to contest the 2012 Final.

The U.S. will be represented by:

Name/Age/Hometown/Horse/Age/Breed/Sex/Owner
Jan Ebeling/53/Moorpark, CA/Rafalca/15/Oldenburg/Mare/Amy Ebeling
Shawna Harding/42/Aiken, SC/Come On III/13/Danish Warmblood/Gelding/Shawna Harding

The draw for order of go for Friday’s Grand Prix was held later in the afternoon and the U.S. could not have hoped for much better positions. Harding was drawn as sixteenth in the order, while Ebeling will be the eighteenth and final rider of the class.

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Jorgensen First into the Ring at Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final

The Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage trophy on display at the Brabanthalle in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands today. Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton.

The draw for the Grand Prix, the opening competition of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 Final, took place at the Brabanthalle in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands, this afternoon. And Denmark’s Lone Jorgensen got an early surprise when pulling her own name out of the hat as first to go with FBW de Vito when the action gets underway tomorrow.  However, although drawn in number two position, defending champion, Dutch rider Adelinde Cornelissen, must wait until tomorrow before she knows if she will start.  Her 15 year old gelding, Jerich Parzival, was sent to the holding box during the first veterinary inspection today, and will be presented for re-examination in the morning.

The order-of-go for the Grand Prix is as follows:

1, FBW de Vito (Lone Jorgensen) DEN; 2, Jerich Parzival (Adelinde Cornelissen) NED; 3, El Santo NRW (Isabell Werth) GER; 4, Krawall (Jenny Schreven) NED; 5, Hiscox Artemis (Richard Davison) GBR; 6, Damon Hill (Helen Langehanenberg) GER; 7, Eremo del Castegno (Valentina Truppa) ITA; 8, IPS Tango (Hans Peter Minderhoud) NED; 9, Randon (Michal Rapcewicz) POL; 10, Toy Story (Patrik Kittel) SWE: 11, Skovlunds Mas Guapo (Mikaela Lindh) FIN; 12, Dorina (Siril Helljesen) NOR; 13, Ekwador (Katarzyna Milczarek) POL; 14, Don Auriello (Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven) SWE; 15, Girasol (Nadine Capellmann) GER; 16, Come on III (Shawna Harding) USA; 17, Jaybee Alabaster (Rachael Sanna) AUS; 18, Rafalca (Jan Ebeling) USA.

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Hemeryck to Lead the Way in Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final Opening Leg

Christian Ahlmann will defend the title he won on home turf last year when the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2011/2012 Final gets underway in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton.

Belgium’s Rik Hemeryck will be pathfinder as the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final 2011/2012 gets underway at the Brabanthalle in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands tomorrow.  The draw for the opening Speed class took place this evening, and the order-of-go is as follows:

1, Quarco de Kerambars (Rik Hemeryck) BEL; 2, Carisma (Emilie Martinsen) DEN; 3, VDL Groep Verdi (Maikel van der Vleuten) NED; 4, Hallmark Elite (Dermott Lennon) IRL; 5, Uraya (Charlie Jayne) USA; 6, Sabrina (Marcus Ehning) GER; 7, Regina Z (Harrie Smolders) NED; 8, Aslan (Ljubov Kochetova) RUS; 9, Souvenir (Philipp Weishaupt) GER; 10, Kassini Jac (Ludo Philippaerts) BEL; 11, Taunus (Francie Steinwedell-Carvin) USA; 12, Cortes C (Beezie Madden) USA; 13, Special (Luiz Francisco de Azevedo) BRA; 14, Uceko (Kent Farrington) USA; 15, Cinnamon (Tilt Kivisild) EST; 16, Flexible (Rich Fellars) USA; 17, Ulysse (Pius Schwizer) SUI; 18, Nino des Buissonnets (Steve Guerdat) SUI; 19, Baronez (Kirsten Coe) USA; 20, Titus (Edwina Tops-Alexander) AUS; 21, Lennox (Luciana Diniz) POR; 22, Chaman (Ludger Beerbaum) GER; 23, Wkd Pepperpot (Sameh El Dahan) EGY; 24, Silvana HDC (Kevin Staut) FRA; 25, Uwwalon (Michelle Spadone) USA; 26, Ducati (Pedro Junqueira Muylaert) BRA; 27, Taloubet Z (Christian Ahlmann) GER); 28, Ornella Mail HDC (Patrice Delaveau) FRA; 29, Casall La Silla (Rolf-Goran Bengtsson) SWE; 30, Cristallo (Richard Spooner) USA; 31, Lascar 41 (Benas Gutkauskas) LTU; 32, Indigo (Margie Engle) USA; 33, Cantaro 32 (Ali bin Khaled Al Thani) QAT; 34, Corlana van Klapscheut (Eric Lamaze) CAN; 35, Satisfaction (Marco Kutscher) GER; 36, Abbervail van het Dingeshof (Denis Lynch) IRL; 37, Willem (Yuyu Ninomiya) JPN.  You can also find the list on this link.

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