Category Archives: Competitions

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USET Foundation Honors WEG Athletes and Special Award Winners

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Jane Forbes Clark awards Whitney Stone Cup to Tucker Johnson with Brownlee O. Currey. Photo By: Rebecca Walton/PMG.

Wellington, FL – February 2, 2011 – The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation Board of Trustees hosted a cocktail reception on Friday, January 28, 2011, to honor the equestrian athletes that represented the United States during the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG), the recipients of the Foundations’ Gold Medal Club Anniversary Awards, the Lionel Guerrand-Hermes Trophy, and the Whitney Stone Cup. The reception was held at Player’s Club in Wellington, FL.

The reception opened with lovely remarks by Foundation President Jane Forbes Clark, recognizing the efforts of all the equestrian athletes that represented the United States during WEG, as well as their team of supporters. The United States earned a Team and Individual Gold Medal and an Individual Silver Medal in Reining, an Individual Gold Medal in Vaulting, a Team Silver and Individual Bronze Medal in Driving, and two Individual Bronze Medals in Dressage.

The party also recognized members of the Gold Medal Club, the most loyal and generous supporters of the USET Foundation. These individuals have been a vital and essential source of support to the U.S. equestrian teams. Special awards were presented to those supporters recognizing their giving at the Gold Medal Club level for 10, 15, 25 and 30 years.

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

Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2010/2011 – Round 9, Zurich

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Germany's Marcus Ehning, winner of today's ninth leg of the 2010/2011 Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping series in Zurich, Switzerland, is presented with a Rolex watch by Mr Pedro Reiser, Market Manager Rolex Switzerland. Photo: Katja Stuppia/FEI.

EHNING MAKES IT FIVE FOR GERMANY AT ZURICH by Louise Parkes

Zurich (SUI), 30 January 2011 – Marcus Ehning brought the German tally to five wins in the 2010/2011 Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping series with a convincing victory riding Noltes Kuchengirl at the ninth leg in Zurich, Switzerland today.  In an exciting seven-way jump-off against the clock, the defending champion pipped British birthday boy, 28 year old Ben Maher riding the rejuvenated Robin Hood W, while Australia’s Edwina Alexander and Cevo Itot du Chateau finished third.

Remarkably, two Spanish riders made the cut into the jump-off and the first of these, Pilar Cordon, slotted into fourth when double-clear with Nuage Bleu while German superstars Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and Shutterfly had to settle for fifth with a single mistake against the clock.  Today’s result however has promoted Michaels-Beerbaum to runner-up spot in the Western European League standings which continue to be led by World No. 1 Kevin Staut from France whose first-round double-error proved costly today.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=13084

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McCutcheon Scores 2010 USEF Equestrian of the Year Title; Harris Honored for a Lifetime of Excellence

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Tom McCutcheon, Don Harris and Kelsey Kimbler. Photo: Geoff Oliver Bugbee/USEF

Lexington, KY – In a year that equestrian sport was forever changed in the United States, an all-American horseman was honored for his golden achievement. For the second consecutive year, the voters for USEF Horse and Equestrian of the Year have crowned a horse and his rider as champions in both categories.

Tom McCutcheon, the only American double Gold medalist at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games had barely finished celebrating the achievements of Gunners Special Nite as 2010 Farnam/Platform USEF Horse of the Year on Friday evening at the USEF Annual Meeting, when he would find himself on stage again, this time picking up an honor all his own.

McCutcheon wrote his place in history, becoming the first reiner to be crowned USEF Equestrian of the Year.

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Double Gold Medalist Gunners Special Nite Named 2010 Farnam/Platform USEF Horse of the Year

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Gunners Special Nite. Photo: Shannon Brinkman/USEF

Lexington, KY – The city of Lexington was largely defined by the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in 2010, so it proved a fitting setting to crown the 2010 Farnam/Platform USEF Horse of the Year.

And the winner couldn’t be more all-American.

The only multiple Gold medal-winning horse for Team USA, Gunners Special Nite, a six-year-old American Quarter Horse, brought the sport of reining to the forefront of the American equestrian community. People who had never heard of reining watched Gunners Special Nite put in a foot-perfect effort to cruise to victory with the Adequan U.S. Reining Team on NBC’s Broadcast. The team won a Team Gold medal by the largest margin in history.

But it was the Individual Championship where Gunners Special Nite stood out above the rest of the field. His performance with steely veteran Tom McCutcheon brought down the house in the Alltech Arena and secured Gunners Special Nite’s place in the history books.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=13065

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

Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2010/2011 – Round 9, Preview

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STAUT CONTINUES TO LEAD STANDINGS AS ROLEX JUMPING SERIES RESUMES IN ZURICH by Louise Parkes

Zurich (SUI), 27 January 2011 – World No. 1, Kevin Staut, continues to lead the Western European League standings as the 2010/2011 Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping series resumes this weekend in Zurich following a four-week break.  And, although he is already well-qualified for the final which will take place in Leipzig, Germany from 27 April to 1 May, the Frenchman is listed amongst the star-studded field of competitors at the popular Swiss fixture.

Riders from 19 countries will line out in the preliminary competition which will decide Sunday’s start-list, and the home contingent includes 2010 Zurich champion Steve Guerdat who, despite five outings so far this season, has collected only 15 qualifying points and has plenty more to do if he is to make the cut into the final.  Staut has collected a massive 87 points so far, thanks to good results at all but one of the qualifiers to date and to his victory in Geneva in December.  Riders are likely to need at least 40 points to have the chance of finishing within the top-18 qualifying group when the Western European league draws to a close at ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands at the end of March.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=13058

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Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) Receives 2010 Pierre de Coubertin World Fair Play Diploma

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Rodrigo Pessoa competing in the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Photo © Dirk Caremans

Lausanne (SUI), 27 January 2011 – Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) was tonight awarded the 2010 Pierre de Coubertin World Fair Play Diploma for his generous act of fair play during the Rolex Final Four to decide the individual Jumping medals at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games last October.

The Brazilian Jumping rider, 1998 World and 2004 Olympic champion, and triple FEI World Cup winner was one of the final four fighting for the individual gold. The other challengers were 2008 Olympic Champion Eric Lamaze of Canada, Belgium’s Philippe Lejeune, who had taken part in four FEI World Equestrian Games and eight FEI European Championships, and the young Saudi rider Abdullah Sharbatly for whom competition at this level was a first. While Sharbatly was getting ready to ride Pessoa’s horse Rebozza, he asked the far more experienced Brazilian for some guidance. Pessoa explained at length how to ride the horse, pointed out the most difficult fences, and gave his opponent advice on how to tackle the course. The Saudi rider used Pessoa’s advice to great effect, going on to secure the silver medal, while Rodrigo finished in fourth place just out of the medals. His generous spirited gesture was acknowledged by loud applause from the spectators in Kentucky.

Pessoa is one of three 2010 Pierre de Coubertin World Fair Play Diploma recipients, the other two being Bulgarian judo player Yoana Damyanova and triathlete Raquel Mafra Rocha of Portugal, both of whom competed in the first edition of the Youth Olympic Games held in Singapore last year. Football player Amin Motavassel Zadeh from Iran, decathlete Darius Draudvila from Lithuania and Chinese wrestler Gao Feng were awarded the 2010 Pierre de Coubertin World Fair Play Trophy.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=13055

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Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2010/2011 – Round 7, Amsterdam

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Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival on their way to securing their third victory in the 2010/2011 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage series in Amsterdam today. Photo: Leanjo de Koster, Digishots/FEI.

CORNELISSEN PIPS WERTH IN A THRILLER AT AMSTERDAM by Louise Parkes

Amsterdam (NED), 22 January 2011 – In one of the toughest battles so far this season, Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival held on to win the seventh leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage series in Amsterdam, The Netherlands today.  Winner of yesterday’s Grand Prix, the Dutch star was firm favourite going into the competition.  But Germany’s Isabell Werth pushed her all the way with a great performance from Warum Nicht while Sweden’s Patrick Kittel and Watermill Scandic finished a close third.

Underlining the quality of today’s competition, just over six points separated the top seven riders and it is clearly now shaping up to a classic finale in Leipzig, Germany in three months time.  Kittel showed however that the result may not necessarily be decided between the traditional protagonists from Holland and Germany.  On today’s form, he will be chasing the Swedish dream of measuring up to the third-place finish of Jan Brink and Briar at the 2006 final in Amsterdam and even pushing for the ultimate accolade achieved by Louise Nathhorst and LRF Walk on Top on her home turf in Gothenburg back in 1998.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=13029

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Events, FEI, FEI

Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2010/2011 – Preview Round 7

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REEM ACRA SERIES RE-COMMENCES IN AMSTERDAM TOMORROW – Cornelissen favourite after victory in today’s Grand Prix

Amsterdam (NED), 21 January 2011 – The Netherlands’ Adelinde Cornelissen looks set to take the seventh leg of the 2010/2011 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage season by storm when the series re-commences on her home turf in Amsterdam tomorrow after partnering the fabulous 14 year old gelding Jerich Parzival to a clear-cut victory in today’s Grand Prix at the Dutch fixture.  Cornellisen had an advantage of more than four percentage points over runner-up Patrick Kittel riding Watermill Scandic for Sweden, and all five judges – Holland’s Mrs. E. Mouw and Mr. W. Ernes, Mr. J. M. Roudier from France, Belgium’s Mr. J. van Daele and Great Britain’s Mr. S. Clarke – put her in No. 1 spot.

With only three further qualifying legs remaining before the final which kicks off in Leipzig, Germany at the end of April the pressure is mounting with every round, and Amsterdam attracted a strong line-up of 20 top dressage contenders.  The top-15 from today’s Grand Prix have qualified for tomorrow’s Freestyle and amongst the seven flying the host nation flag will be Hans Peter Minderhoud who secured maximum points at the sixth leg in Mechelen, Belgium in December.  This morning, however, he had to settle for eighth place with IPS Tango, while it was team-mate Sander Marijnissen who produced the second-best Dutch result when slotting in just ahead of him in seventh, riding Moedwil.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=13010

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Tucker S. Johnson Will Be Honored with the 2011 Whitney Stone Cup from USET Foundation

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Tucker S. Johnson earned the Individual Bronze Medal at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games during the Four-In-Hand Combined Driving competition. Photo By: Susan J. Stickle.

Gladstone, NJ – January 10, 2011 – The United States Equestrian Team Foundation is pleased to announce that Combined Driver Tucker S. Johnson of Hobe Sound, Florida, is the recipient of the 2011 Whitney Stone Cup. The award is presented annually to an active competitor who displays consistent excellence in international competition and high standards of sportsmanlike conduct while serving as an ambassador for the United States and equestrian sport. Johnson is a tremendously accomplished driver who helped lead the United States to a Team Silver Medal as well as receiving an Individual Bronze Medal during the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

This is the second year that Johnson has received the Whitney Stone Cup, after being awarded the prestigious honor in 2001. Johnson now plans to retire from the competitive sport as he spent 2010 achieving many milestones. Along with other achievements, Johnson guided his Four-In-Hand team to a second place finish at the Land Rover International Driving Grand Prix at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in May.

After helping the United States win a Team Silver Medal at the 2002 World Equestrian Games, Johnson went on to a repeat performance at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky. He was a member of the Silver Medal Team and after earning a 150.06 over the three phases of competition he took home the Individual Bronze Medal, achieving his personal best at a World Championship event.

Continue reading Tucker S. Johnson Will Be Honored with the 2011 Whitney Stone Cup from USET Foundation →

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52 Weeks in the Pursuit of Excellence

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With every eye on the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, 2010 was the Year of the Horse in the United States as the world arrived on our doorstep in Lexington, KY, for 16 days of competition, demonstration and fun. It took years of planning and didn’t kick off until the end of the ninth month of the year.

Here is how 2010 unfolded before, during and after the Equestrian Event that stopped the American Equestrian community in its tracks. Anyone who makes a life with horses knows it’s not only about the few days a year when the world is watching – it is about every day of every year.

January: 2010 began with honoring the champions from the previous year at the 2010 USEF Annual Meeting. Dressage superstar Steffen Peters repeated as Equestrian of the Year. It was a monumental task to get him from a horse show in California to Louisville, but it was all worth it when he was there, in person, to accept his Dressage award. The night before, his beloved horse, Ravel, was honored as the Farnam/Platform USEF Horse of the Year after storming through 2009 winning on both sides of this country (including the Rolex/FEI World Cup Final) and sweeping the CHIO Aachen in Germany – a first for an American combination. Owner Akiko Yamazaki was on hand to collect the award honoring America’s champion of 2009. Find the details here: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=5264&star=true and http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=5265&star=true. There would be even bigger plans for this pair in 2010.

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