Category Archives: Revolution Sports

Willem Greve – The Rolex One to Watch for February 2012

Willem Greve riding Carambole at the FEI World Breeding Jumping Championships for Young Horses in Lanaken (BEL). Photo: SPORTFOT/Rolex

The Rolex One to Watch for February 2012 is awarded to Willem Greve (NED). Based in Markelo, The Netherlands, the 28-year-old jumped from number 299 to 241 during January – a move up the Rolex Rankings of 58 places.

Willem Greve had a very successful early career riding ponies before moving on to compete in both the Juniors and Young Riders’ Championships where he displayed a great deal of talent. When he was only 20 years old, Greve demonstrated that he was to have a promising future ahead of him, when he was named as the Rabobank Talent of the Year 2003.

When Greve moved on to Seniors, he competed as a member of the Dutch team at several FEI Nations Cup competitions. Last year (2011), Greve claimed victory in the first leg of the Grand Prix at CSI3* Hagen (GER), riding 10-year-old Hanoverian stallion, Ukato. Greve went on to ensure an impressive third-place finish at CSI4* Wiesbaden (GER) riding Sonate, beating the winner of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final 2011, Christian Ahlmann (GER). Before 2011 drew to a close, Greve and Sonate secured a well-deserved victory at CSI2* Wierden (NED).

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Rolf-Gӧran Bengtsson Claims the Green & Gold

Rolf-Gӧran Bengtsson wearing the Green & Gold at the ninth qualifying leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping in Leipzig (GER). Photo: Karl-Heinz Frieler / ROLEX

Swedish show jumper Rolf-Gӧran Bengtsson has claimed the coveted Green & Gold armband from Canadian rider and Rolex Testimonee, Eric Lamaze, after he was crowned the Number One rider in the world according to the latest Rolex Rankings. Bengtsson is the first ever Swede to become the number one ranked rider in the world.

Lamaze originally held the Green & Gold between July and August 2010, and also between June and December 2011; however, following impressive performances at the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping qualifiers in Lyon (first place), Stuttgart (third place) and Geneva (second place), Bengtsson soon staked his claim to the Number One spot.

Bengtsson’s great run of recent form also includes fourth place in the Grand Prix at the CSI5* in Abu Dhabi (UAE); fourth place at the CSI5* in Paris (FRA); and fifth place in the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping qualifier in London Olympia (UK). Not forgetting his individual victory at the FEI European Championships in Madrid (ESP), Bengtsson had a truly remarkable 2011; his achievements were duly recognised when he won Sweden’s most prestigious sports award at the Swedish Sports Gala 2012.

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The Rolex One to Watch – January 2012

Germany’s René Tebbel, pictured here riding Light On, shares the Rolex One to Watch for January 2012 with Shalva Gachechiladze of Georgia. Photo: SPORTFOT/Rolex

25 January 2012 – The Rolex One to Watch for January 2012 is jointly awarded to René Tebbel (GER) and Shalva Gachechiladze (GEO). The pair both jumped from number 304 to 238 during December – a move up the Rolex Rankings of 66 places.

Based in Emsbüren, Germany, 42-year-old René Tebbel had a very successful young riding career, winning gold at the German Junior Championships in 1986 and again at the European Junior Championships the following year. Tebbel went on to win team silver at the 1990 World Cup, and his victories did not end there.

Tebbel won gold in the German Championships in 2005 riding Source Homme, and won again in 2006 and 2007 riding Coup de Coeur. As well as his successes at the German Championships, Tebbel has also earned numerous first and second place rankings at various Grand Prix events with horses Radiator, Farina and Levien of Cabanes. Tebbel also trains his two children, Maurice and Justine, who are amongst the best young riders in Germany for their age groups.

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Saudi Equestrian Qualify for the London 2012 Olympic Games

From left to right: Abdullah Sharbatly aboard Jalla de Gaverie; Ashraf (Sharbatly's groom); Badr Alfayes; Ramzy Al Duhami; HH Prince Faisal; and Kamal Bahamdan aboard Delphi at the CSI-W4* Doha (QAT). Photo credit: Saudi Equestrian

1 January 2012 – Saudi Arabia’s equestrian Show Jumping team, Saudi Equestrian, gained official qualification to the London 2012 Olympic Games (27 July – 12 August) at the CSI-W4* Doha (QAT) on Friday 30 December 2011. 15 teams, each with four riders, are now qualified in the equestrian team Show Jumping competition, which takes place over three days from Saturday 4 to Monday 6 August at the World Heritage Site of Greenwich Park.

The Saudi team secured its place in the Olympics during the Group F (Africa and Middle East Region) FEI Select Olympic Qualification event held in the Qatari capital of Doha (December 27-30, 2011).

News of officially qualifying for the Olympics follows earlier success in Doha: The Saudi Equestrian team claimed the coveted Nations Cup and Abdullah Sharbatly won the Grand Prix.

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Saudi Equestrian Win Jumping Team Gold at the 2011 Arab Games in Doha, Qatar

Kamal Bahamdan, HH Prince Faisal Al Shalan, HRH Prince Abdullah Al Saud, and Khaled Aleid celebrate on the podium after winning the gold medal in the equestrian team final. (Reuters)

22 December 2011 – Saudi Arabia’s Jumping team – Saudi Equestrian – yesterday won the Jumping team gold medal at the 2011 Arab Games in Doha, Qatar.

The Saudi Equestrian team in Doha comprised four riders – HRH Prince Abdullah, HH Prince Faisal, Kamal Bahamdan, and Khaled Al Eid – and their respective horses – Senorita, Aphrodite van het Texelhof, Noblesse des Tess, and Van Hoeve.

All four Saudi Equestrian riders went clear in the Team Jumping Round 1 and at the end of the first stage they were joined at the top of the leader board by Qatar, Egypt, and UAE, who also accrued no team penalty points. The Qatari rider, Mubarak Al Rumaihi, put one fence down; however, the competition’s rules dictate that team’s take into account their three best scores.

In the Team Jumping Round 2, Saudi Equestrian’s efforts were again equalled by the teams from Qatar, Egypt and UAE – all four teams again managing to accrue no team penalty points, which meant that the teams were tied at the top. The competition therefore progressed to a jump-off, which was to ultimately decide the gold, silver and bronze medal winners.

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The Rolex One to Watch – December 2011

Annelies Vorsselmans riding Eurocommerce Cleveland in the CSI** Masters Grand Prix at the Gucci Masters 2011 in Paris (FRA). Photo: SPORTFOT/Rolex

08 December 2011 – The Rolex One to Watch for December 2011 is Belgian rider Annelies Vorsselmans. Based at Stal Eurocommerce, situated approximately 130 kms to the East of Amsterdam, The Netherlands, the 27-year-old jumped from number 334 to 245 during November – a move up the Rolex Rankings of 89 places.

Born on 28 June 1983, and brought up in Belgium, Vorsselmans started to ride at a very young age, and as a child grew up surrounded by horses and ponies. During her childhood years Vorsselmans rode Dressage, and not without merit; she qualified for the national finals held in Mechelen, Belgium three times. It was after Vorsselmans’ father gave her his Jumping horse that her focus started to move away from Dressage.

When Vorsselmans was 18 years old she had to make a tough, life-affirming decision: to either carry on with her studies, or alternatively to pursue a life dedicated to riding horses professionally. Having chosen the latter option, Vorsselmans ended up at the Eurohorse stables of renowned Dutch rider and horse dealer, Axel Verlooy, and it was during her time there that Vorsselmans says she really learned to ride. Based in Grobbendonk, Belgium, Verlooy currently employs Harrie Smolders and his son, Jos Verlooy, and, between the three of them, they operate a very successful equestrian outfit.

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La Dolfina Wins 2011 Hurlingham Open Final, Argentina, in a Dramatic 19-18 Win

La Dolfina and Ellerstina faced off, once again, in an Open Championship Final for the second time in one month. Following a closely fought Tortugas Open Final, where Ellerstina snatched victory away from La Dolfina with a last-second goal, the two teams were ready for a repeat match.

The first two chukkas saw both teams go head-to-head, with all eight players displaying enormously high levels of skill and class in a closely fought competition. It wasn’t until the third chukka that La Dolfina broke away following a string of goals from Adolfo Cambiaso and Pablo MacDonough.

Leading the next four chukkas, La Dolfina extended their lead to 19-14 in the final chukka, and looked certain to secure their first Open Final win of 2011. However, when Ellerstina’s, Facundo Pieres, scored four goals La Dolfina’s lead was reduced to 19-18. With only seconds remaining La Dolfina defended the ball deep in their own half following wave after wave of attacks from Ellerstina to win the match at the final bell.

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The Rolex One to Watch – November 2011

Albert Voorn riding Eurocommerce Lexington at the CSI2* Valkenswaard (NED). Photo: SPORTFOT/Rolex

The Rolex One to Watch for November 2011 is Dutch rider, Albert Voorn. Based at Golden Dream Stables, situated approximately 45 kms from Eindhoven (NED), the 55-year-old jumped from number 342 to 225 during October – a move up the Rolex Rankings of 117 places.

The Rolex One to Watch is an initiative which identifies the rider who has made the biggest jump within or into the Top 250 of the Rolex Rankings the previous month.

Born on 23 May 1956, and brought up in Hilversum – a small town in the province of North Holland – Voorn started to ride when he was eight years old. Voorn bought a New Forest pony foal called Marinette from his own savings, which he learned to ride with the help of his neighbour when the pony was old enough. It was with Marinette that Voorn rode his first competition, and went on to compete internationally. Voorn sold Marinette to the Vermeulen family in Breukelen, and with this money he bought a three-year-old horse.

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Ellerstina Wins 2011 Tortugas Open Final in Argentina with Last Second Goal

La Dolfina and Ellerstina were playing out the additional 30 seconds in the last chukker of the Final of the Tortugas Open in Argentina on Saturday 15 October 2011. La Dolfina, who led throughout the match, missed a big chance to seal what could have been their first title in the opening competition of the Triple Crown in Argentina, when Adolfo Cambiaso failed to convert a 60-yard penalty, with less than a minute to go on the clock.

In a dramatic final chukker, Facundo Pieres scored two goals that allowed Ellerstina to tie at 13-13, after being outscored by La Dolfina during the whole game. But with only two seconds left on the clock and with everyone expecting extra time, Gonzalo Pieres Jr took the ball and scored the goal that meant not only a 14-13 win over La Dolfina, but also Ellerstina’s fifth consecutive title in the Tortugas Open.

Ellerstina have now won a total of six Tortugas Open Finals, with five of them consecutively (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011). This win also keeps Ellerstina’s hopes alive of completely a back-to-back Triple Crown victory as they now prepare for the second leg of the title – the Hurlingham Open, from October 18 – November 6, 2011.

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The Rolex One to Watch – October 2011

Oleg Krasyuk riding Caligula at the CSI4* "Donbass Tour" in Donetsk (UKR).

The Rolex One to Watch for October 2011 is Ukrainian rider, Oleg Krasyuk. Based at Magna Racino near Vienna, Austria, the 34-year-old jumped from number 399 to 185 during September – a move up the Rolex Rankings of 214 places.

The Rolex One to Watch is an initiative which identifies the rider who has made the biggest jump within or into the Top 250 of the Rolex Rankings the previous month.

Born on 19 April 1977, and brought up in a small town near Dnepropetrovsk (USSR), Krasyuk’s first trainer was Alexandr Kuvichko, who has now sadly passed away. Krasyuk has also been trained by Viktor Poganovsky, one of the most decorated Soviet riders and a team Olympic champion at the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games.

After his gold medal at the Ukrainian Championships in 1997, and at the age of 20, Oleksandr Onischenko – a wealthy businessman and philanthropist – offered Krasyuk the opportunity to travel to Germany and train with three-time European champion Paul Schockemöhle – and Norbert Nuxoll – ex Show Jumper and colleague of Schockemöhle. Training with Schockemöhle and Nuxoll turned out to be a pivotal moment in Krasyuk’s career. Under their leadership, Krasyuk competed in Grands Prix, European and World Championships. To this day Krasyuk considers Nuxoll to be one of the most influential people in his life.

Continue reading The Rolex One to Watch – October 2011