From left to right: Bartolomiej Kwiatek (POL)-silver, Thorsten Zarembowicz (GER)- gold and Cristiano Cividini (ITA) – bronze. (c) Hippoevent
DOUBLE GOLD FOR GERMAN SINGLE DRIVERS
Pratoni del Vivaro (ITA), 1 August 2010 – After a nerve-wracking obstacle driving competition at the FEI World Single Driving Championships in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy, Germany took home both individual and team gold. Thorsten Zarembowicz is the new World Champion. Poland’s Bartolomiej Kwiatek took the silver and Italy’s Cristiano Cividini won the bronze medal.
World Championship course designer Christian Iseli is known for his challenging obstacle driving courses, and at Pratoni he built another selective course, sticking to his motto ‘Not easy, but Iseli!’ The course, which was underestimated by most of the drivers, consisted of many sharp turns and the tight time frame made it difficult, but nevertheless do-able.
Lucie Musy-Comune (SUI) won the World Championship marathon at Pratoni del Vivaro (c) Hippoevent
SWISS DOMINANCE AND GIRL-POWER IN THE MARATHON
31 July 2010 – Perfect conditions created a wonderful environment for the marathon of the FEI World Single Driving Championship in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy. Undulating tracks on a green meadow and the obstacle site nicely embedded in the hilly landscape ensured great sport.
The eight obstacles built by Austria’s course designer Christian Iseli offered the competitors countless route options. Two of them included extra large water elements, built and flagged in a modern and horse friendly way.
Before the start of the World Championship, the possible hot weather conditions in the summer in Italy was much talked about, but it could not have been better today. Twenty-seven degrees Celsius was the highest temperature reached. The marathon was heavy, but fair and selective, absolutely ideal for World Championship competition.
Thorsten Zarembowicz (GER) is the new Dressage World Champion in the Single Horse class. (c) Hippoevent
GERMANY LEADS AT WORLD SINGLE DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS IN PRATONI
31 July 2010 – Germany’s Thorsten Zarembowicz has set a new standard in the Single Horse Driving scene by putting down a wonderful score of 35,20 penalty points and taking the lead at the FEI World Single Driving Championships in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy. The German Team is leading the Nations Cup after the first phase of the combined driving competition.
After two days of dressage in which the best 72 Single Horse drivers in the world showed their skills, Thorsten Zarembowicz is the new man to beat in dressage. Zarembowicz bettered the score of the title defender Jan van den Broek from the Netherlands by over six penalty points. The 31-year-old manager of the driving stable of former World Champion Michael Freund drove a wonderful test with the 8-year-old Holsteiner mare Sunrise. His test thrilled both the spectators and the judges.
Robert Duvall, The Road film photocall, Toronto International Film Festival, Toronto, Canada, 13 September 2009 (photo: Canadian Press/Rex Features)
27 July 2010 – American actor and director Robert Duvall has given his support to the annual awards organised by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), the governing body of horse sport. The FEI launched the “Oscars of the equestrian world” last year to reward outstanding dedication to horse sport in five categories. Calls for nominations for the 2010 awards opened on July 16.
Hollywood legend Duvall is best known for his roles in The Apostle, Apocalypse Now, The Godfather and Tender Mercies. His performances have earned him an Academy Award, a BAFTA, two Emmys and four Golden Globe Awards.
Commenting on the 2010 FEI Awards, Duvall said:
“The FEI Awards give you the opportunity to nominate and celebrate those individuals who, without asking for recognition, should be thanked and acknowledged for their own contribution to equestrian sport around the world. As someone with a passion for horses, I urge you to nominate anyone you feel is worthy of the awards and help them to walk the red carpet at the 2010 FEI Awards in Taiwan.”
Hickstead (GBR), 27 July 2010 – The pressure is intense ahead of this Friday’s seventh leg of the 2010 Meydan FEI Nations Cup series in Hickstead. The Sussex venue has staged the British Nations Cup since taking on the mantle of the Royal International Horse Show in 1992, but the atmosphere is expected to be more highly-charged than ever before as the top show jumping nations in the world battle it out for the right to remain amongst the elite in their sport.
This season’s Meydan FEI Nations Cup series has turned into an epic battle, because four of the 10 competing countries will be relegated to the Promotional League following the last leg in Dublin next week. After six of the eight competitions have been completed it could hardly be a closer-fought affair, and this Friday’s penultimate clash will be pivotal in deciding who stays in and who goes out. One country that is definitely destined to say farewell to superleague jumping in 2011 however is Poland. With no points accumulated after six courageous competitive efforts, and now unable to field a team, they have withdrawn from both Hickstead and the final leg in Dublin.
I’ve been traveling a lot recently and have been part of numerous conversations about the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. While in Aachen, Germany last week, I had the opportunity to talk about Games planning. I heard from quite a few people who said they wanted to attend, but were hesitant because of rumors that hotels are sold out. Not so! There are plenty of rooms available with an assortment of rates. Click on the image of the map attached. This is an interactive tool – simply drag your mouse over the cities listed to find out which hotels still have space, as well as rates, proximity to the Kentucky Horse Park and availability of shuttle service. It’s easy to make reservations using the Games website at www.alltechfeigames.com. Look for the “accommodations” tab on the lower right side of the home page.
Here in the States, there’s another rumor going around that parking and transportation will be a problem. Nothing of the sort! There are three easy ways to get to the Kentucky Horse Park: LexTran city buses will be leaving downtown throughout the day with an incredibly low round trip rate of $2; Select hotels are offering shuttle service for $15 round trip; and if you want the convenience of driving to the Park, parking is available within walking distance for only $20. There really is a price and level of convenience for everyone.
With only 63 days till opening ceremonies, make your reservations now as tickets are going fast. For direct links to ticketing, as well as hospitality, visit www.USEF.org/WEG/tickets/.
Please share this message with your colleagues and friends.
See you in September!
John Long
Chairman, World Games 2010 Foundation
CEO, United States Equestrian Federation
The German team that claimed Young Riders gold at the FEI European Dressage Championships for Juniors and Young Riders at Kronberg, Germany: Chef d'Equipe Maria Schierhölter-Otte, Fabienne Lütkemeier, Louisa Lüttgen, Sanneke Rothenberger and Stella Charlotte Roth. Photo Credit: Stefan Lafrentz
GERMANY DOMINATES THE MEDAL PODIUM AT KRONBERG
26 July 2010 – German riders proved unstoppable at the FEI European Dressage Championships for Juniors and Young Riders on their home soil in Kronberg when scooping gold in all six categories of competition. And to further emphasise their absolute domination, they also claimed gold and silver in both the Young Riders Individual and Freestyle Championship. The Netherlands took Junior and Young Rider team silver while Danish riders also featured prominently on the medal podium.
Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff and the Schafhof in Kronberg, Germany, played host to these Dressage Championships for the third time. The wonderful venue where Ann-Kathrin’s mother, Liselott Linsenhoff-Schindling, trained her horse Piaff which won the Olympic gold medal in München 1972, previously staged these Championships in 1980 and 1986. Ann-Kathrin herself competed as a Young Rider in 1981 in Rotterdam when she won team gold and individual bronze, and she proudly and generously opened the gates of the Schafhof to a huge number of talented riders and their horses for this 2010 event from 20 to 25 July.
70-year-old Jan van den Broek (NED) will defend his World title in Pratoni. (c) Hippoevent
The FEI World Single Driving Championships return to Pratoni del Vivaro (ITA) from 28 July to 1 August. Pratoni hosted the Single Horse Driving Championships very successfully in 2006 and the Italian Equestrian Federation is now welcoming the competitors on their site for the sixth edition of these Championships.
It was just 12 years ago that the first official FEI Single Championships took place at Ebbs (AUT). The next Championship was due to take place in 2000 in Gladstone (USA), but was cancelled at the last minute because of the West Nile Virus. The Championship made a return to the FEI calendar in 2002 in the picturesque village of Conty (FRA), which organises an international driving event every year. Conty will also host the 2011 FEI World Pair Driving Championships.
As one of the world’s leading single driving nations, Sweden had the honour to host the 2004 World Single Championships, followed by Pratoni in 2006 and Jarantów (POL) in 2008.
FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky state veterinarian’s office has the yeoman’s responsibility to regulate and manage the importation of an estimated 800 horses representing 62 countries that are scheduled to participate in the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Sept. 25 – Oct. 10 at the Kentucky Horse Park.
“The World Equestrian Games are far greater in size and scope than anything the state veterinarian’s office has managed before,” Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer said. “However, the staff of the state veterinarian’s office has vast experience in equine health and works several large-scale and high-profile events every year. These equine athletes couldn’t be in better hands.”
“The state veterinarian’s office is committed to providing a healthy environment for the horses that will come to Kentucky to compete in the Games,” State Veterinarian Robert C. Stout said.
Thousand Oaks, CA – July 21, 2010 – On June 27, 2010 the USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championship and the USEF Para-Dressage Selection Trials for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games concluded. Riders then headed home as they waited in anticipation to hear who would be selected for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. The Para-Dressage team will be lead by Chef d’Equipe Missy Ransehousen whose international experience on and off a horse will be an outstanding resource for the Para-Dressage riders. Selectors of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Para-Dressage Team are Laura Sheer, Lynn Seidemann, David Schmutz and Sandy Raferty.
