Category Archives: Competitions

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Driving, Events, FEI, FEI

Exell Back on Track in Geneva

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Boyd Exell (AUS) crossing the exciting water splash on the course in Geneva. Photo: FEI/Rinaldo de Craen

Boyd Exell is back on track after winning the fifth qualifier of this season’s FEI World Cup Driving in Geneva. Exell was too strong for IJsbrand Chardon and Tomas Eriksson and claimed his only victory rewarded with World Cup points this season. This is Boyd Exell’s third victory at Geneva’s Palexpo after his win in 2008 and the series’ Final last April.

Leader of the standings
After his wild card wins in Hannover and Stuttgart for which he did not receive World Cup points, Exell claimed ten points in Stockholm where he came second behind wild card driver Tomas Eriksson. In Budapest, it was Switzerland’s Werner Ulrich who beat the Australian World Cup and World four-in-hand Driving Champion. Thanks to his victory in Geneva, Exell has taken over the lead in the standings and has secured his ticket for the FEI World Cup Driving Final in Leipzig at the end of April 2011. Exell will start once more this season in Mechelen, Belgium, where he will compete with his third wild card for the season.

The older the faster
Boyd Exell competed with the same four horses in all five competitions he has done so far. The Britain-based Australian title holder has been travelling with seven horses in order to be able to replace one if any injuries occurred during the long trips between World Cup events. But the geldings, which on average are 17-and-a-half years old, went faster and faster at every competition. Boyd noticed this in Budapest last week and cut down their feed supplies to help them slow down.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=12696

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Revolution Sports, Show Jumping

Guerdat Wins Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final

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The riders competing in the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final are Kevin Staut, Denis Lynch, Pius Schwizer, Edwina Alexander, Steve Guerdat, McLain Ward, Rolf-Goran Bengtsson, Penelope Leprevost, Marcus Ehning, and Eric Lamaze.

Steve Guerdat (SUI) today, Friday 10th December 2010, won the 10th Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final in Geneva, Switzerland.

Riding Jalisca Solier, Guerdat won the two-round event featuring the World’s Top 10 riders as based on the Rolex Rankings, ahead of 2nd place Denis Lynch (IRL) riding Lantinus and 3rd place Eric Lamaze (CAN) riding Hickstead.

The results of the 10th Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final:

1. Steve Guerdat (SUI), Jalisca Solier
2. Denis Lynch (IRL), Lantinus
3. Eric Lamaze (CAN), Hickstead
4. Marcus Ehning (GER), Plot Bleu
5. Penelope Leprevost (FRA), Mylord Carthago
6. McLain Ward (USA), Sapphire
7. Rolf-Goran Bengtsson (SWE), Casall La Silla
8. Kevin Staut (FRA), Silvana de Hus
9. Edwina Alexander (AUS), Cevo Itot du Chateau
10. Pius Schwizer (SUI), Ulysse

Breeds, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Racing, Racing Sources

Freaky Chases Second World Title in Champion of Champions

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The American Quarter Horse Journal, December 9, 2010 – Armando Aguirre’s Freaky, the unanimous No. 1-ranked American Quarter Horse in the AQHA Racing-Horseplayernow.com poll, races to enhance his prospects for a second-straight world championship when he heads the $750,000 Champion of Champions (G1) at Los Alamitos on Saturday night.

The Adan Farias-trained Freaky (TR Dasher-Chickasecret by Raise A Secret) won the 2009 Champion of Champions and was rewarded as the 2009 world champion, champion aged horse and champion aged gelding. He would be the prime contender to retain each of those titles with a win in the 440-yard Champion of Champions.

If Freaky is honored as the 2010 world champion, he would be the first back-to-back world champion since SLM Big Daddy earned the 1997 and 1998 world titles.

The 2010 champions will be announced in mid-January.

Continue reading Freaky Chases Second World Title in Champion of Champions →

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

Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2010/2011 – Preview, Olympia

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Isabell Werth, riding Warum Nicht, is pictured at the prize-giving in Lyon, France together with Frederique Martin-Baste, Manager, Commercial, FEI (centre) and Lyon Show Director Sylvie Robert (right). Photo: PSV J Morel.

HADDAD POISED TO SNATCH LEAD FROM WERTH AT THE FOURTH LEG IN LONDON by Louise Parkes

London (GBR), 9 December 2010 – Germany’s Isabell Werth, a double-winner so far this season, holds a slender lead as the 2010/2011 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Western European League series moves to the hugely popular Christmas Show at Olympia in London next week.  However Werth’s decision to skip the British fixture and to aim instead for the following leg on her home turf in Frankfurt four days later has left the door wide open for second-placed Catherine Haddad to forge ahead in the rankings.

The German-based American is only one point adrift of the leader, and with third-placed Ulla Salzgeber from Germany and fourth-placed Dutch rider Christa Larakkers also missing from the action, Haddad’s nearest challenger is British veteran, Richard Davison, who lies fifth with 32 points and just eight points off Werth’s total of 40.  The British Olympian won the opening leg of the Central European League in Lipica, Slovenia last May and was fifth in the Western European League qualifier at Lyon in France in October with Hiscox Artemis.  Haddad collected points at the same two European venues, but owes her advantage to a very successful trip home to her native shores in October where she took the Grand Prix and Freestyle honours at Devon, Pennsylvania with her 10 year old gelding Winyamaro.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=12689

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Jennifer Wood

Molly Ashe-Cawley Is Back in the Game in $20,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby

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Molly Ashe-Cawley and Back in the Game won the $20,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby at the Holiday & Horses Show. Photos © Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Wellington, FL – December 5, 2010 – The Holiday & Horses Show, held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, concluded competition today with the feature event for the hunters, the $20,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby. Molly Ashe-Cawley of Newton, CT, rode Olivia Jack’s Back in the Game to the win in the $20,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby. Kelley Farmer of Keswick, VA, was second on Mr. and Mrs. Ernest M. Oare’s Rosalynn, while Victoria Colvin of Loxahatchee, FL, rode Sanzibar for Barbara Ridder Irwin and Karen Long Dwight to third place.

The Holiday & Horses Show is the first competition in the Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) Holiday Series, which consists of seven shows through the beginning of January.

The course designer for today’s derby was Skip Bailey, who set a beautiful track with bright new jumps and interesting options. Farmer described, “They did a beautiful course. The jumps were gorgeous and it all looked great. Skip does a beautiful job. The horses jump well, you’re not in their mouths, they flow beautifully, and there’s not a lot of related distances. It’s never a trap to make the horses nervous. Even if it’s hard, they jump well. I thought it was great.”

Continue reading Molly Ashe-Cawley Is Back in the Game in $20,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Driving, Events, FEI, FEI

Ultimate Win for Ulrich in Budapest

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Werner Ulrich set a solid base for his victory as first starter in the Winning Round. Photo: FEI/Rinaldo de Craen

What nobody expected in Hungary’s capital city happened today: Switzerland’s Werner Ulrich stayed ahead of top favourite Boyd Exell from Australia and won the FEI World Cup Driving competition in Budapest. Exell made two mistakes and came second, ahead of Ulrich’s compatriot Daniel Würgler. This was the second FEI World Cup Driving win in Ulrich’s 31 year long driving career. His first World Cup win came in Mechelen back in 2005.

Heart for Driving
The Papp Lászlo Budapest Sportarena was filled with enthusiastic driving fans this afternoon. In Budapest you feel that driving has a special place in the people’s hearts. The driving sport is extremely popular in Hungary, stimulated even further by the Lázár brothers who are very successful in both pairs and team driving and who enjoy celebrity status in Hungary.

Hungarian O-course designer Gábor Fintha had designed one of the best courses of the season for today’s competition, with technical challenges and fast lines, including a bridge with fireworks.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=12661

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

Santana and Taloubet Are in Tune to Win $50,000 FEI World Cup Grand Prix, CSI 2*

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Paulo Santana and Taloubet won the $50,000 FEI World Cup Grand Prix, CSI 2*. Photos © Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Wellington, FL – December 4, 2010 – The $50,000 FEI World Cup Grand Prix, CSI 2* was the feature event this week at the Holiday & Horses Show, held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Scoring his biggest grand prix win to date was Brazil’s Paulo Santana on Taloubet, owned by Jennifer Santana. Charlie Jayne of Elgin, IL, was second on The London Group’s Athena, while Kate Levy (USA) rode Lirving du Volsin, owned by Christian Woschenko and Kate Levy LLC, to third place.

The Holiday & Horses Show is the first competition in the Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) Holiday Series, which consists of seven shows through the beginning of January. The Holiday & Horses Show runs through Sunday, December 5.

The course designer for tonight’s grand prix was Anthony D’Ambrosio of Red Hook, NY. There were 39 entries in the grand prix, but only three could find the key to a clear round and advance to the jump-off. The fastest four-faulter in fourth place was Mario Deslauriers (USA) on Jane Clark’s Vicomte D. Fifth place went to Kent Farrington (USA) on Valhalla, owned by Hillary McNerney.

Continue reading Santana and Taloubet Are in Tune to Win $50,000 FEI World Cup Grand Prix, CSI 2* →

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

Guatemala to Stage FEI World Jumping Challenge Final

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Lausanne (SUI), 3 December 2010 – The FEI World Jumping Challenge Final, which takes place at Club Ecuestre El Cortijo, Guatemala City (GUA) next week (8-12 December), has attracted a field of 22 riders from 15 countries.

Riders from Chile, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Israel, Lebanon, Egypt, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Kenya, South Africa, Malaysia, Indonesia, Bermuda and Guatemala will compete in the Final on borrowed horses. Competitions will be held outdoors over 1.20 metre courses.

The format for the Final consists of a warm-up competition followed by two qualifiers. The top 50 per cent from the two qualifiers go through to the semi-final to decide the four riders for the final. The top quartet will then take part in a change-horse final, run under the same format as the world championships, to decide the overall winner. There will also be a consolation competition for riders that do not qualify for the semi-final.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=12655

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

Hillary Dobbs and Corlett Capture Victory in $30,000 Holiday & Horses Opener

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Corlett and Hillary Dobbs were victorious in the $30,000 Holiday & Horses Opener at the 2010 Holiday & Horses Show. Photo © Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Wellington, FL – December 2, 2010 – At the Holiday & Horses Show at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, the $30,000 Holiday & Horses Opener was the main class in the International Arena today. Hillary Dobbs of Sussex, NJ, rode Corlett, owned by The Dobbs Group, to victory.

The Holiday & Horses Show is the first competition in the Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) Holiday Series, which consists of seven shows through the beginning of January. The highlight class of the week is the $50,000 FEI World Cup Grand Prix, CSI 2* on Saturday, December 4, at 7 p.m. The Holiday & Horses Show runs through Sunday, December 5.

The course designer in the International Arena this week is Anthony D’Ambrosio of Red Hook, NY. There were 40 entries in today’s $30,000 Holiday & Horses Opener, and the class was a Time First Round speed format. There were nine clear rounds in the class. The very first into the ring was Hugh Graham of Schomberg, Ontario, on King Ridge Stables’ Fifth Estate 3E. They led the class for 24 trips with a clear round in 66.96 seconds until Dobbs and Corlett entered the ring.

Continue reading Hillary Dobbs and Corlett Capture Victory in $30,000 Holiday & Horses Opener →

Championships, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, FEI, Western/Reining

Malmö to Host Inaugural FEI World Reining Finals in 2011

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Lausanne (SUI), 1 December 2010 – The FEI has announced today that Bökeberg, near Malmö (SWE), will host the inaugural FEI World Reining Finals in May 2011. Qualified riders will compete for the title of World Reining Champion at the Finals in Malmö, where $100,000 in prize money will be on offer.

The FEI World Reining Finals, which are a reworking of the FEI World Reining Masters, will be held on 22 May 2011 at the well-known equestrian facility at Bökeberg, just outside Malmö. This is the first time that the annual individual final has been held outside North America since 2005.

Bökeberg has hosted major FEI championships in the past, including the 2009 European Vaulting Championships. It has also hosted the Swedish National Reining Championship.

Continue reading Malmö to Host Inaugural FEI World Reining Finals in 2011 →