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Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

Irish Clinch Victory in Thrilling Season-Opener at La Baule

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Irish eyes were smiling at La Baule in France today when (L to R) Billy Twomey, Cian O'Connor, Shane Sweetnam and Cameron Hanley won the opening leg of the 2011 FEI Nations Cup. Photo: FEI/Christophe Bricot.

La Baule, 13 May 2011 – Ireland won the opening leg of the 2011 FEI Nations Cup series in a nail-biting thriller at La Baule in France today. On an afternoon when the form-book was turned on its head, Robert Splaine’s side of Shane Sweetnam (Amaretto Darco), Billy Twomey (Romanov), Cian O’Connor (Larkhill Cruiser) and Cameron Hanley (VDL Southwind) produced superb jumping to finish with a two-fault advantage over the runners-up from Belgium, while the mighty German side had to settle for third spot in the eight-nation clash.

Nations Cup jumping is never predictable, which is one of the reasons for its continuing popularity more than a century after it all began.  But few could have expected that the host country – defending series champion and winners on their home turf in 2010 – would finish second-last, followed only by the newcomers from Denmark.  On a difficult day for the Danes, already disadvantaged by the withdrawal of second-line rider Emilie Martinsen after her horse, Caballero, suffered a colic attack, they retired early in the second round.  So they go into the next leg in Rome (ITA) in two weeks’ time already trailing on the leaderboard, and with a mountain to climb if they are to survive their debut-season at the elite level of this super-tough sport.

A FEW SURPRISES
Course designer, Frederic Cottier, appeared to have been quite lenient as the competition began, but by the end of the first round there had already been a few surprises including elimination for World No. 1 Kevin Staut whose mare, Silvana de Hus, stopped twice at the penultimate combination to the dismay of the home crowd.

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Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

Germany First to Go as 2011 FEI Nations Cup Gets Underway at La Baule Tomorrow

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La Baule, 12 May 2011 – The German team will be first into the ring as the 2011 FEI Nations Cup gets underway at La Baule, France tomorrow afternoon when the Dutch will have the advantage of starting last of the eight competing countries.  The draw took place today, and the running order will be as follows:

1, Germany; 2, Great Britain; 3, USA; 4, Belgium; 5, Denmark; 6, Ireland; 7, France; 8, The Netherlands.

Fabulous weather has greeted visitors to the charming seaside town this week, and riders can look forward to excellent footing for their horses as the show-ground has undergone extensive renovation to repair the serious damage caused by a massive storm last August.  More than 50 cms of rainwater swamped the area, and the repair-work which began in September took five months to complete.  As a result of the work in the intervening period however, conditions are now better than ever, so the stage is set for a great opening round to the eight-leg top-level series.

HOPES AND EXPECTATIONS
The Chefs d’Equipe talked about their expectations for tomorrow’s competition, and for the season which will conclude in Rotterdam (NED) in August.

Continue reading Germany First to Go as 2011 FEI Nations Cup Gets Underway at La Baule Tomorrow →

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

FEI Nations Cup Top League and Promotional League on FEI TV

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Lausanne (SUI), 11 May 2011 – Friday 13 May will definitely be a lucky day for all FEI TV viewers. The opening stages of both the FEI Nations Cup Top League and Promotional League taking place at La Baule (FRA) and Linz (AUT) respectively will be broadcast on FEI TV. This will amount to over six hours of LIVE coverage starting at 11.20 GMT and ending at 17.30 GMT.

Festivities will begin with the broadcast from Linz where 17 teams – Belgium, Brazil, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, and host nation Austria – will be fighting for the Promotional League precious points. Coverage will continue with the world’s top eight Jumping teams competing at La Baule.

The exact timetable is as follows:
FEI Nations Cup Promotional League, Linz (AUT):
11.20 GMT – 14.10 GMT (13.20 CEST – 16.10 CEST)

FEI Nations Cup Top League, La Baule (FRA):
14.15 GMT – 17.30 GMT (16.15 CEST – 19.30 CEST)
First round, first horse in the arena at 14.20 GMT; second round, first horse in the arena at 15.55 GMT; prize giving at 17.15 GMT.

Visit now the FEI YouTube channel for an exciting free season preview and tune in on FEI TV on Friday for six hours of top class sport.

Media contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Malina Gueorguiev
Manager Media Relations
malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 33

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

The Super-Eight Line Up for the FEI Nations Cup 2011 Season

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Lausanne (SUI), 10 May 2011 – The FEI Nations Cup Top League series this year reverts to the eight-leg, eight-team format that was originally established in 2003, and next Friday the 2011 season is set to kick off at La Baule in France.

The most enduring of all FEI disciplines, Nations Cup jumping has stirred the hearts and souls of competitors and spectators alike for more than a century now, and the air of excitement and expectation ahead of the new season is tangible.

Visiting many of the most prestigious venues on the international equestrian circuit, the FEI Nations Cup has a cachet all of its own. It is always an honour to be selected to represent your country, and riders proudly fly their national flags in this annual battle for supremacy. But it’s not just about which country fields the strongest sides, this series is also a test of the leadership skills of the all-important Chefs d’Equipe, and a test of the character, courage and determination of the competitors who must ride the waves of the fluctuating fortunes that always accompany competitions of this calibre.

Continue reading The Super-Eight Line Up for the FEI Nations Cup 2011 Season →

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Johnstone Sets the Target with Double Down Under

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Clarke Johnstone on Orient Express wins again in Sydney at the second leg of the FEI World Cup Eventing 2011. Photo: Rachel Smith/FEI

Lausanne (SUI), 9 May 2011 – As anticipated, Antipodean riders seized the chance to steal a march on their northern hemisphere colleagues in the 2011 FEI World Cup Eventing series by targeting the second leg, at Sydney’s Weekend of Equestrian World Cups (AUS).

New Zealander Clarke Johnstone followed up his victory at Kihikihi (NZL) last month by travelling across the Tasman Sea to pick up another win aboard Orient Express, his team bronze medal-winning mount at last year’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky (USA).

Only three riders have won two FEI World Cup events in a season: Michael Jung (GER) last year, Megan Jones (AUS) in 2009, and Nicolas Touzaint (FRA) in 2007. Johnstone’s two wins, plus a third at Kihikihi, gives him an impressive tally of 119 points.

With riders’ three best results counting towards the final rankings, which carry a first prize of €28,000 the New Zealander could prove hard to beat. He has further chances to improve his tally as he sets off for Britain this month to further his ambition of selection for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

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Contributors/Press, Disciplines, FEI, FEI, Media/Radio/TV Sources, Show Jumping

Jumping Radio Episode 61 – Rolex FEI World Cup Final Winners

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Louise Parkes reports on the Rolex FEI Jumping Final which took place in Leipzig, Germany and produced a home win for the German jumping camp. Tune in right here.

Jumping Radio Episode 61 – Show Notes and Links:

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Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, FEI, Media/Radio/TV Sources

Dressage Radio Episode 102 – Reem Acra FEI World Cup Final

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German dressage journalist Kim Kreling joins Chris this week to review the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final from Leipzig, Germany. Take a listen right here.

Dressage Radio Episode 102 – Show Notes and Links:

  • Host: Chris Stafford
  • Photo Credit: Adelinde Cornelissen by the FEI
  • Guest: Kim Kreling

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

Americans Hang Tough: Three Jump into Top 12 at the 2011 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final

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Beezie Madden and Coral Reef Via Volo. Photo by Rebecca Walton/Phelps Media Group.

Leipzig, Germany – The Rolex/FEI World Cup Final came to a close Sunday afternoon in Leipzig, Germany, with two final rounds of jumping. The U.S. had strong representation in this competition as they sent seven of the 27 riders into the ring. In the third and final competition, riders jumped two rounds over Frank Rothenberger’s demanding 1.60m courses. The entire field would contest the first round, with 19 riders returning to the arena one last time to determine who would be crowned champion.

Beezie Madden (Cazenovia, NY) and Coral Reef Via Volo jumped two impressive clear rounds to tie for the win of the class as well as tie for fourth place in the overall World Cup Final ranking on a score of 12. Coral Reef Ranch’s exciting Belgian Warmblood mare made easy work of the 12-obstacle course. In the second round, Madden made an incredible save heading to the double combination, fence 11, after Coral Reef Via Volo spooked at the crowd heading to the double combination after fence 10.

“She went amazing,” Madden said. “There’s probably nothing she can’t jump, and I had a lot of confidence in that when I went out there.”

Continue reading Americans Hang Tough: Three Jump into Top 12 at the 2011 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final →

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Ahlmann Claims Rolex FEI World Cup in Thrilling Finale

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On the winners' podium for the 2010/2011 Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping final at Leipzig, Germany today: Eric Lamaze, Christian Ahlmann, and Jeroen Dubbeldam. Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton.

Leipzig (GER), 1 May 2011 – Germany’s Christian Ahlmann claimed the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2010/2011 title in a thrilling finale on his home ground in Leipzig today with superb jumping from his stallion, Taloubet Z.  Sharing the lead with fellow-countryman Marco Kutscher, the 36-year-old rider added just four faults to an otherwise foot-perfect performance to finish ahead of reigning Olympic champion Eric Lamaze from Canada, while The Netherlands’ Jeroen Dubbeldam rocketed up from overnight 11th to finish third when producing one of only two clear double clears on the final afternoon.

There was huge disappointment for Kutscher who had the world’s most prestigious indoor title in his sights until his luck ran out at the very end.  Such was the unforgiving nature of Frank Rothenberger’s testing courses however that the slightest of errors proved very costly indeed.  Today’s jumping was about scope, speed, courage, accuracy and, most importantly, the rideability of the horses.  In the end it was Ahlmann’s 11-year-old Taloubet Z who put all the ingredients together to create the winning formula.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=13781

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Events, FEI, FEI, USEF

Jan Ebeling and Rafalca Finish Eleventh in the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final

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Jan Ebeling and Rafalca. Photo by Aly Sanderford/ Phelps Media Group.

Leipzig, Germany – A strong field of 15 riders from nine nations contested Saturday evening’s Grand Prix Freestyle, to bring the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final to a close. There were three nations that qualified three riders each for tonight’s class: the United States, The Netherlands and Germany. America’s Catherine Haddad-Staller, Shawna Harding and Jan Ebeling performed up-tempo freestyles in front of a large audience in Hall One of the Leipzig Exhibition Center.

Haddad-Staller (Vechta, Germany) and her own Winyamaro started the evening’s competition with an impressive freestyle. The music selection played up the Hanoverian gelding’s expressive gaits and allowed for his character to shine through. Highlights of Haddad-Staller’s test included expressive lateral work and her one-handed canter extension. The pair rode to a score of 70.161% and finished the Grand Prix Freestyle in 12th place.

Fellow American, Shawna Harding, followed Haddad-Staller into the ring with an equally fun ride, scoring 67.625%. Harding (Aiken, SC) and her own Come On III started their test with a high degree of difficulty by performing tempi-changes upon her entrance on the centerline. Come On III was more relaxed in his extended walk tonight than he was during Thursday’s Grand Prix test and had beautiful half-passes in both the trot and canter. This pair ended their test with an exclamation point by finishing completely in sync with their music. Harding and Come On III finished in 14th place.

Continue reading Jan Ebeling and Rafalca Finish Eleventh in the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final →