24 June 2010 – Germany’s Michael Jung and Britain’s Oliver Townend, both winners of HSBC World Cup Eventing competitions this season, go head to head at Strzegom (POL) this weekend (June 24-27) as they both bid to take over the lead in the 2010 rankings from Australian Megan Jones, who has scored a win and a second place in the series so far.
Jung, who had an incredible season in 2009, winning Luhmühlen and a European bronze medal on La Biosthetique Sam, is already a winner at this Polish venue having scored at the HSBC World Cup Eventing Final here last year.
In contrast, Townend made an early exit at Strzegom last year; having led the Dressage phase, he suffered an unlucky fall on the flat across country when Flint Curtis lost a shoe.
Jung kicked off his 2010 campaign with a win at Marbach (GER) last month on Sam and he brings this horse to Strzegom, plus Weidezaunprofi’s River of Joy and Leopin; Townend, who won at Tattersalls (IRL) on Ashdale Cruise Master, travels to Poland with ODT Master Rose and Brigadier, a new ride this season.
Word has spread about the excellent competition offered at Strzegom, especially Rudiger Schwarz’s Cross-Country course, and the HSBC FEI World Cup has attracted an impressive 39 entries from 13 nations.
But the combination in the limelight will be Olympic Champion Hinrich Romeike (GER) and his 16-year-old superstar Marius Voight-Logistik, a veteran of six consecutive championships. Following the grey gelding’s lay-off through injury, Romeike is now on the qualifying trail for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in September.
And local interest will centre on Pawel Spisak (POL) and Weriusz, the combination which thrilled the home crowd last year when claiming a seventh-place finish.
Follow the event on www.worldcupstrzegom.pl/en.
FEI TV: Highlights of Strzegom will be shown on FEI TV (www.feitv.org).
Calendar of events
1. Tallahassee (USA), 5-7 March 2
2. Kihikihi (NZL), 2-4 April
3. Sydney (AUS), 7-9 May
4. Marbach (GER), 7-9 May
5. Chatsworth (GBR), 15-16 May
6. Tattersalls (IRL), 27-30 May
7. Strzegom (POL), 24-27 June
8. Minsk (BLR), 21-25 July
9. Rebecca Farm, Kalispell (USA), 22-25 July
10. Malmö (SWE), 13-15 August
11. Haras du Pin (FRA), 18-22 August
12. Schenefeld (GER), 26-29 August
Standings (after 6 of 12 events)
1 Megan Jones (AUS) 138 points
2 = Clarke Johnston (NZL) 128
2= Lucy Wiegersma (GBR) 128
4 Sonja Johnson (AUS) 119
5 Andrew Downes (GBR) 104
6 Mary King (GBR) 74
7= Mara Dean (USA) 71
7= Chris Burton (AUS) 71
7 = Michael Jung (GER) 71
7 = Sam Griffiths (AUS) 71
7 = Oliver Townend (GBR) 71
HSBC, the world’s local bank, is a platinum partner of FEI and global sponsor of the eventing discipline.
As part of this partnership, HSBC is title sponsor of the HSBC FEI Classics and HSBC FEI World Cup Eventing.
At the centre of all HSBC’s sponsorships is a commitment to youth, education and community. The Pony Club and HSBC have teamed up to create the HSBC Pony Club Eventing Training Programme.