Tag Archives: cross country

*Featured/Spotlights, Eventing/H.T., Show Jumping

Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous Victorious in $50,000 MARS Eventing Showcase

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Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous. Photo © SusanStickle.com.

Wellington, FL – February 9, 2020 – Victory in the $50,000 MARS Eventing Showcase went to Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous on Sunday, February 9, at Equestrian Village at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). Little and RF Scandalous vaulted to the lead in the opening dressage phase on Saturday and held it through Sunday’s show jumping and cross-country phases.

From a starting field of 40 horse and rider combinations, 33 advanced to the morning’s show jumping phase, held on the beautiful grass derby field. Maintaining her lead from dressage, Marilyn Little (USA) and RF Scandalous added four faults in the show jumping phase and stood on 23.4 penalties.

With a clear round in show jumping, Buck Davidson (USA) and Carlevo moved from fourth place to second and had 28.6 penalties going into cross-country.

Six-time Olympian Phillip Dutton (USA) rode Z to a clear jumping round and sat just behind Davidson in third place following show jumping with 28.7 penalties.

Heading into the cross-country phase, which was designed by Capt. Mark Phillips, 28 combinations contested the track that included a two-stride “triple-brush arrowhead” combination, a water feature, and corners.

Little and RF Scandalous ended with 4.80 time penalties on the cross-country course, but despite that, her early lead gave her the buffer to hold onto the victory with a total of 28.20 penalties.

“I’m disappointed that the performance in the cross-country wasn’t better, but this is a three-phase event, and she also did put in two wonderful performances,” said Little. “Although she did have a rail this morning [in show jumping], the score wasn’t indicative of the performance because she’s just come so far. To me, to know what she was dealing with out there on course, I have so much respect for her.

“I wish that this afternoon had gone better, and yet, in sports sometimes we have wonderful days. We deserve to have a great placing and it doesn’t happen,” Little continued. “I was disappointed in the performance this afternoon, but the horse still deserves all of the accolades and all of the credit because her heart was so huge. It was just a rough day out there. But she still came in and she still stood in the stall very proud of herself. That is what sports are about.

“I’ve been so blessed to have the ride on a horse that just goes out there, and she tries every time,” said Little of the 2005 Oldenburg mare (Carry Gold x Richardia x Lario) owned by Jacqueline B. Mars and Phoebe and Michael Manders. “For me, in many ways, this is a hometown show. It’s just really one of the greatest honors of my life to ride a horse for Mrs. Mars, who I think of as one of the greatest horsewomen this country has ever known and certainly one of the greatest sportsmen and supporters of our national program. I’m so grateful that Mars Equestrian took on the sponsorship here, because I do think it’s an important event and a very meaningful one for me. I’m glad that Scandalous could be the winner of her event. It means a lot.”

For more information on the MARS Eventing Showcase and full results and scores, please visit https://pbiec.coth.com/article/50000-mars-eventing-showcase.

Competitions, Eventing/H.T.

Unexpected Changes in the Leaderboard at Baborówko Horse Sale Show

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Nadine MARZAHL with VALENTINE 18. M&R Photo.

Cross-country day has ended at Baborówko Horse Sale Show. Lars Christensson, the course designer, asked a lot of difficult questions.

The most difficult class of the show, the CCI4*-S, for the prize of Kuhn, took an unexpected turn when leader dressage Yoshiaki OIWA (JPN) riding BART L JRA had a refusal on the cross-country track. That meant that he dropped down to 24th position after the cross-country trial. The new best score belongs to Nadine MARZAHL (GER) with VALENTINE 18. Second for now is Sophie LEUBE (GER) with JADORE MOI, and Dirk SCHRADE (GER) with DAJARA 4 sits in third.

The best Polish rider after dressage, Mateusz Kiempa (POL) with Lassban Radovix, also had one refusal on the course and went over the optimum time, and he is now 25th in the class.

In the CCI3*-S for the prize of Lotto, Leonie KUHLMANN (GER) has kept her lead with HIDALGO 179. Second position belongs to Malin HANSEN-HOTOPP (GER) with QUIDDITCH K, and third to Paulina MACIEJEWSKA (POL) with JANGCY L, the only pair to finish clear inside the time.

Marta ORŁOWSKA (POL) with GENESIS KG is the new best rider of the CCI2*-S for the prize of Duon. Anna SIEMER (GER) with DEIKE 22 dropped down from her leading position to the second place. Stephanie BÖHE (GER) is currently third with ASHANTI DE LA RIBIERE.

The final trials of the national ZK1* ended. First place went to Sara ALGOTSSON OSTHOLT (SWE) riding DYNAMITE JACK. Marta ORŁOWSKA (POL) with NAOMI II C was second, and Weronika MIKOŁAJCZAK (POL) riding CZANOS took home the third place.

More information can be found at: www.bhss.baborowko.pl/eng.

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Show Jumping

What Are the Three Areas of Equestrian Eventing?

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Equestrian riding is a unique sport that pairs a rider and horse together in performance. Within equestrian, there are three Olympic sports that riders can participate in and these areas involve dressage, showjumping, and cross-country. All three Olympic equestrian disciplines are very different and each demands its own skills from the rider and horse. Unlike horse racing, equestrian sports focus on a rider’s command over his or her horse as well as the completion of various tasks on the riding ground. Equestrian and horse racing fans can follow the sports with Betmgm and wager on the latest horse-based sports events including the British Champions Day.

The Summer Olympics in 2020 will feature three disciplines in equestrian. So, what are those disciplines and how do riders compete in the events?

Dressage

Dressage is all about the control a rider has over the horse. In the event, judges want to see how well a rider can get his or her horse to respond and obey commands. During dressage, a rider and horse must complete a set of instructions. This dressage test will then be examined by a panel of judges that will score the contestants.

Judges give the rider and horse a score out of 10. The higher the score, the better the team performed in their test. The lower the score, the worse the pair did during the dressage event. The winner of the dressage event is the rider and horse who scored the best out of all the competitors.

Showjumping

Showjumping is an exciting, adrenaline-pumping event in equestrian. The event features horses and riders leaping over fences and barriers. The purpose of show jumping is to test the athletic abilities of both the rider and horse. The event also demonstrates the accuracy of the pair as they must not only clear the fence and barriers, but land fluidly.

The rider and horse must jump a variety of fences and barriers. These obstacles vary in height and range from 70 centimeters to 1.60 meters. In addition to jumping over the obstacles and landing, the pair must complete the showjumping course in a specified sequence. The rider and horse to jump and clear all the obstacles in the fastest time is crowned the winner.

Cross-Country

Cross-country is similar to showjumping as the rider and horse must leap over obstacles. The difference between cross-country and showjumping has to do with the size of the course and the obstacles the pair must jump over.

Cross-country tests a horse’s endurance, quickness, and leaping over the length of the event. A cross-country test can be done as part of a full evening show alongside showjumping and dressage. However, it can also be held by itself due to the nature of the event.

One of the biggest differences between cross-country and showjumping is the size of the courses. A cross-country course can be two to three kilometers in size. This gives a horse ample opportunity to showcase their speed and endurance during the event. No two cross-country courses are alike.

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Eventing/H.T., FEI

German Legend Jung Sets Up Germany to Go for Gold Again

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Michael Jung and fischerChipmunk FST (FEI/Oliver Hardt for Getty Images)

The German team is on course for another rich medal haul on home turf at the Longines FEI European Eventing Championship at Luhmühlen (GER).

Brilliant Cross Country performances by Michael Jung (GER) on new ride fischerChipmunk FST and defending champion Ingrid Klimke (GER) with the evergreen SAP Hale Bob OLD, who are in individual gold and silver medal positions, ensured the hosts retained their lead over defending champions Great Britain. They now have a three-rail advantage over their rivals going into the final Jumping phase.

“fischerChipmunk is a fantastic horse,” said Jung (37), who was visibly thrilled, but refusing to get ahead of himself by envisaging a record fourth individual European title. “Today was a great feeling. We went a bit fast at the beginning so I slowed down but he was always ahead of the time.

“It was a great feeling around the course everywhere. It was so nice to see so many people here supporting our sport.”

Klimke, 51, described her round as “pure fun – I felt like a passenger.” She commented: “For sure there was pressure. Hans Melzer [team manager] said to me, ‘Don’t pat your horse until you get to the finish line,’ because sometimes when I am so thrilled I pat him all the time. I say, ‘Bobby you are my hero’, so I wanted to really focus. He really loves cross country. It’s his job and he loves it.”

A cluster of early riders, notably British and Irish pathfinders Pippa Funnell (Majas Hope, 21st) and Ciaran Glynn (November Night, 23rd), made Mike Etherington-Smith’s beautifully presented, flowing course look easy, but there was plenty of drama. There were 44 clear rounds, 22 horses came home inside the optimum time of 10 minutes 10 seconds, and a total of 20 of the 71 Cross Country starters remain on their Dressage score – but all nations had their difficult moments and this made for a thrilling day’s sport.

Kai Ruder, second out for Germany, stayed admirably calm when Colani Sunrise inexplicably refused to go into the start box, which cost the pair 16 time penalties, and Britain’s third starter, Kristina Cook, had an expensive run-out with Billy The Red at the skinny brush fence exiting the second water (12c).

“I was having a super ride,” said Cook sadly, “but he’s an experienced horse and I can’t make excuses. At the moment I am just very disappointed, for me and for the whole team.”

Ireland’s Sam Watson will also be kicking himself after crossing his tracks at the bird fence in the final water (20b) with Tullaberg Flamenco. Italy’s anchorwoman Vittoria Panizzon (Super Cilious) incurred 11 penalties for hitting the frangible gate at 10a and Belgian pathfinder Laura Loge on Absolut Allegro fell at the Rathaus fence (17) in the main arena.

Laura Collett (GBR), third after Dressage, was “gutted” to part company with London 52 after a mis-stride before the influential carved bird at the final water. Four others fell here and Dutch pathfinder Merel Bloom (Chiccolino) retired.

Jung, who has never been out of the individual medals in five European Championships, does not have a fence in hand over his compatriot Klimke. In turn, she has no margin for error over Luhmühlen first-timer Lt Col Thibaut Vallette (FRA), who rode superbly on the 15-year-old Qing de Briot – coincidentally this is the same final rider line-up as at Blair Castle (GBR) in 2015.

The cost of one Jumping rail covers the next seven: Tim Lips (NED), currently fourth on Bayro, Oliver Townend, who restored Britain’s fortunes with a perfectly judged round on Cooley Masterclass SRS, in fifth, Ireland’s Cathal Daniels, sixth on his super mare Rioghan Rua, French individual Christopher Six (Totem de Brecy, seventh), Italian team member Pietro Roman (Barraduff, eighth), British team member Piggy French (Quarrycrest Echo, ninth), and British individual Kitty King, 10th on Vendredi Biats.

The team medals are equally close: Britain has nothing in hand over the French team, which only has a one-fence advantage over Italy. The Italians, currently in bronze medal position, have no margin over Sweden – both nations are seeking Olympic qualification – and Ireland is a mere 2.2 penalties behind the Swedes in sixth place.

“I think it was a really great day for the sport and for us in Luhmühlen,” said Event Director Julia Otto. “I would like to thank my whole team – they are just amazing the way they work.”

“We have seen some spectacular riding and some great decisions by people who may be riding at this level for the first time today,” Course Designer Mike Etherington-Smith (GBR) commented.

“I didn’t expect quite so many to get the time, but when you have great weather like this with excellent footing, it happens, but it could have been pouring with rain and, in my view, you have to prepare a course for all weather. It’s all about achieving a standard, so full marks to everyone. For me, it’s been a fascinating day. There’s always something new to learn, and if you think you know it all you might as well give up.”

Follow all the medal action in what’s sure to be a thrilling finale with FEI TV.

For full results and start times, click here.  

Click here for the highlights.

Media contact:

Shannon Gibbons
Media Relations and Communications Manager
shannon.gibbons@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 46

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., FEI, Show Jumping, Strzegom

Great Britain Wins Double Gold in Eventing

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Photo: Leszek Wójcik.

British riders have defended their last year’s title and stood on the highest step on the podium twice: individually and as a team. The silver medal went to France, and bronze to Ireland.

The British team won with the following squad: Finn Healy with Midnight Dancer, Ibble Watson with Bookhamlodge Pennylane, Freya Partridge with Master Macky, and Daisy Bathe with SF Detroit. They took the lead after dressage and kept it until the end of the competition.

The best score in the team, and the best one in the individual ranking, belonged to 15-year-old Finn Healy – 31,7. Although he was tenth after dressage, a clear round inside the time on the cross-country course and only one point for time during the showjumping have earned him his gold medal.

“It was a testing cross-country track, very technical; it required some reactive riding; we all did that and got ourselves in the position to win. It didn’t really sink in yet. It’s a dream come true,” said Finn Healy.

Silver went to his teammate Ibble Watson and bronze to Camilla Luciani (ITA) with Camelot Damgaard.

Daisy Bathe had an unlucky round in the jumping and finished the championships on the seventh position.

Dressage

The Danish have won three gold medals at this year’s Pony European Championships in dressage: team, individual, and freestyle, where riders performed their rounds to music of their choosing.

The individual medalists have repeated their success. The highest score belonged to the world ranking number one – Alexander Yde Helgstrand with Adriano B – 82,140.

“It’s totally amazing. I didn’t expect to win three times. I choose my music on my own. I’ve actually had this music for quite some time. My pony knows the program and the music, so I think it really fits Adriano,” said the winner after the prizegiving.

The second silver medal went to his teammate Liva Addy Guldager Nielsen riding D’Artagnan 187, and Germany’s Shona Benner with Der Kleine Sunnyboy WE won the bronze medal again.

Showjumping

The final class of the European championships for ponies in Strzegom determined the individual medals for showjumping.

31 pairs have competed in the two-round competition. 12 of them had a good chance to win gold. Four riders entered the final with a clean slate, and eight with only four penalty points.

The course designer, Szymon Tarant, set up a demanding course in the first round, and only three riders have managed to go clear. The second part of the class, high up to 135 cm, has determined the winner. Max Wachman riding Cuffesgrange Cavalidam became the gold medalist of the 2019 Pony European Championships.

“It’s a great feeling. My pony is top class. The first round was quite tricky, very technical. The second round was less technical and a bit bigger. I’m out of ponies now, so I will focus on big horses and hopefully qualify for the Junior European championships next year,” said the winner.

The audience in Strzegom witnessed a jump-off for the silver medal, between riders from France and Great Britain. Holly Truelove (GBR) was the first one to go. She took a risk riding to the last oxer, which gave her a quick time and made it challenging for her rival. Ilona Mezzadri (ITA) with Callas Rezidal Z took up the glove, but had two down, which gave her a score of 8 penalties, and bronze medal in the final classification.

153 riders from 18 countries competed in three Olympic disciplines during the FEI Pony European Championships in Strzegom.

Full results: https://zawodykonne.com/zawody/50/tour/84.

Contact:
www.strzegomhorsetrials.pl
press@strzegomhorsetrials.pl

Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., FEI, Strzegom

Double Gold for Denmark at the FEI Pony European Championships

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Daisy Bathe with SF Detroit. Photo: Leszek Wójcik.

FEI rankings number one Alexander Yde Helgstrand won individual gold after a very good test with Adriano B at the European Championships for Ponies in Strzegom. Denmark stood on the highest step of the podium after both the team and individual classes.

The silver medal went to Alexander’s teammate Liva Addy Guldager Nielsen riding D’Artagnan 187, and Shona Benner from Germany with Der Kleine Sunnyboy WE took home the bronze.

“It’s amazing! I had to ride on the first day and we did a super test. We have been waiting the all day today, so it was really exciting until the last moment. And after last rider I was so happy, so it’s incredible. Adriano B is super sweet, he is a nice and relaxed pony, but when he is on a track at the show he is fighting for points. So, he is a really really good pony,” said the winner after the prizegiving. “I am finishing riding Adriano for now. I want to focus on my big horse now, who I won the Junior Nordic Championships with.”

The 16-year-old is also the one to watch in the individual Freestyle tests. The audience in Morawa will have a chance to see one Polish rider who qualified for the final rivalry – Tatiana Bierieznow with Gluckspilz. She stands at 21st position, with 54 pairs competing overall.

Eventing

Saturday’s cross-country trials hasn’t changed much in the team rankings after dressage. Great Britain is still in the lead, second position stays with France, and the Irish have jumped into the third place.

The riders were tested over the course of 2990 metres with 24 fences overall. Individually, the best score for now belongs to Great Britain’s Daisy Bathe with SF Detroit. Leader after dressage, German rider Sophia Rössel with Camillo We, lost her position to be placed 5th for now. The British rider went clear over the fences, only 5 seconds over the optimum time. Lisa Gualtieri (FRA) with O Ma Doue Kersidal had an identical score and sits on second after cross-country. Third for now is Camilla Luciani (ITA) with Camelot Damgaard.

The only Polish rider in the class, Julia Witkowska with Chester, has decided to retire from finishing the course.

Full results: https://zawodykonne.com/zawody/50/tour/84.

Contact:
www.strzegomhorsetrials.pl
press@strzegomhorsetrials.pl

*Featured/Spotlights, Eventing/H.T., Olympic Games

Triple Olympic Gold Medalist Hoy Snatches Lead with Bloom after Cross Country

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Andrew Hoy with Bloom Des Hauts Crets. (FEI/Yusuke Nakanishi)

Australia’s triple Olympic team gold medalist Andrew Hoy galloped his way into the top spot with Bloom Des Hauts Crets after cross country, when rising heat and humidity provided a perfect environment to test the onsite cooling facilities for the equine and human athletes.

Sixth out onto Derek Di Grazia’s beautiful 20-fence course at Sea Forest overlooking the heart of Tokyo Bay, the seven-time Olympian and the eight-year-old Selle Français mare flew across the finish line with seven seconds to spare to take the early lead on a score of 27.7.

Hoy was thrilled to move to the top of the leaderboard. “It’s a very nice position to be in and if I win, I’m very happy for this year, but it’s next year I want to win! My horse galloped very well and her heart rate and temperature were very good when I arrived. The cooling facilities here at the venue were absolutely excellent. As an Olympic venue it’s ready one year before because the ground is excellent and the construction of the cross-country fences is very good, but next year will be very different fences.”

As the Australian combination were lying second after the Dressage phase, only overnight leaders Yoshiaki Oiwa and Bart L JRA could challenge them, but the home side star was 14 seconds down on the clock to collect 5.6 time faults and drop to fourth.

German superstar Michael Jung, another triple Olympic gold medalist and heading for Tokyo 2020 as the defending champion, was second last out on the track with the seven-year-old Fischerwild Wave. They too came home through the finish flags clear over the fences and on the clock to move up to second on 28.0.

“It was hot but it wasn’t really a big problem,” Michael Jung said afterwards. “The grooms and everyone took really good care of the horses and everyone tried to make the job for the horses and the riders as easy as possible. This is really fantastic here.”

Another pair for the host nation, Ryuzo Kitajima and Vick Du Gisors, were almost bang on the optimum time of five minutes 30 seconds to move up from fourth after the Dressage to third ahead of Oiwa and Bart, with compatriot Kazuma Tomoto fractionally behind in fifth on Tacoma d’Horset. Britain’s Georgie Spence and Halltown Harley round out the top six and, amazingly, there’s less than a fence between them and the leaders.

Seven of the 16 starters remain on their Dressage marks, while eight others collected just time faults. The only combination to pick up jumping penalties were cross country pathfinders Kazuya Otomo and Condorcet, who had a runout at the second element of the angled rails double at fence 10 to drop one place to 16th.

“All the horses recovered really well after the cross country, despite the challenging conditions, and they are all now back home in their air-conditioned stables at Baji Koen resting ready for tomorrow’s Jumping,” FEI Veterinary Director Goran Akerström said.

Ready Steady Tokyo test event (placings after cross-country) – 1, Australia’s Bloom Des Hauts Crets (Andrew Hoy), 27.7 penalties; 2, Germany’s Fischerwild Wave (Michael Jung), 28.0; 3, Japan’s Vick Du Gisors JRA (Ryuzo Kitajima), 28.2; 4, Japan’s Bart L JRA (Yoshiaki Oiwa), 30.1; 5, Japan’s Tacoma d’Horset (Kazuma Tomoto), 30.4; 6, Great Britain’s Halltown Harley (Georgie Spence), 30.6.

Media contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Communications
grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Shannon Gibbons
Media Relations and Communications Manager
shannon.gibbons@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 4

 

Competitions, Eventing/H.T.

Great Day for Polish Athletes in Baborówko

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Baborówko, 25 May 2019 — Polish riders have shown to be in great form during the cross-country trials at Baborówko Equestrian Festival. The Polish team are the current leaders in the fight for a qualification for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Paweł Spisak (POL) has kept the lead in the CCIO4*-L after the cross-country trial with Banderas. They were the only pair that finished the difficult test with almost 40 obstacles at the length of 5700 metres within the time allowed. Michael Jung (GER) is second for now with Fischerchipmunk FRH, and third position went to Jan Kamiński (POL) riding Jard.

The CCIO4*-L class doubles as qualifier for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. The Polish team’s rivals Russia and Belarus have lost their chance due to the insufficient number of representatives (each team has to have three classified riders). Alexander Zelenko (BLR) was eliminated during dressage, and Hanna Nemtsaya (BLR) has withdrawn from the competition. The Russian team had three pairs during the class (each country was able to enter four), and Aleksandr Markov (RUS) was eliminated during cross-country.

In spite of the lack of competition, the Polish team cannot lose their focus. Mariusz Kleniuk (POL) with Winona has retired from finishing their ride in the cross-country, which means that the Polish team continues with only three riders remaining. Joanna Pawlak with Fantastic Frieda, Paweł Spisak with Banderas, and Paweł Warszawski with Aristo A-Z have to pass the vet check and finish the demanding showjumping course, which will surely stand a challenge for horses tired after the long cross country.

In the CCI4*-S, with the highest prize pool at the event (325 000 PLN), the current leader is Andreas Dibowski (GER) with FRH Butts Avedon. Andreas Ostholt (GER) is right behind him after cross country with Corvette 31, and third position is currently held by Michael Jung (GER) with Highlighter. The highest ranked Polish athlete for now is Mateusz Kiempa (POL) with Lassban Radovix (9th position).

The current best score after cross-country in the CCI3*-S belongs to Jan Kamiński (POL) with Senior, and Ksawery Śniegucki (POL) is second with Rarashek. Third place for now goes to Johan Lundin (SWE) riding Zuma.

The CCI2*-S class has ended, with no changes in the leaderboard. First place went to Vanessa Bolting (GER) with Ready To Go W, second was Leoni Kuhlmann (GER) with Hidalgo 179, and Julia Gillmaier (POL) with Red Sunrise 2 took home the third place.

The cross-country trial was the last one in the CCIYH2*-S, for six-year-old horses. Miloslav Prihoda Jr (CZE) won the class with the Polish-bred Eldorado, second place went to Sabrina Labes (GER) with Sparta’s Prince, and third went to Rebecca-Juana Gerken (GER) with Fame 227.

At the hardest and most demanding classes of the show, the CCIO4*-L, CCIO4*-S, and CCIO3*-S, The athletes will compete for the record-breaking prize pool (even bigger than last year’s record). Thanks to the support of the Patron of the event, Mr Roman Roszkiewicz. the collective prize pool in the international classes will reach 465 000 PLN. The CCIO4*-L the prize money will be as high as 85 000 PLN, 60 000 PLN of which will go to the three best teams in the class. The biggest prize is to be won in the CCI4*-S class, 100 000 PLN, with the collective prize pool in the class being 325 000 PLN.

More information can be found at www.festiwal.baborowko.pl/eng.

Competitions, Eventing/H.T.

Baborówko: Cross-Country Trials Set to Begin

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Baborówko, 24 May 2019 — All dressage trials of Baborówko Equestrian Festival have ended. The athletes will next start their cross-country tests in the CCIO4*-L, CCI4*-S, CCI3*-S, and CCI2*-S classes. The weather is great, but the organisers and the cross-country course designer, Lars Christensson, have not made the job easy for the riders during the cross-country. Among other tasks, they will have to face the new water complex.

In the hardest class of the show, the CCIO4*-L class, the cross-country course is 5700 metres long, and involves as many as 40 jumps. After dressage, we have two leaders: Paweł Spisak (POL) with Banderas and Michael Jung (GER) with Fisherchipmunk FRH with the same score of 26,8.

Spisak is the leader of the Polish team in the CCIO4*-L class, which is also a qualifier for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. The Polish riders have put their best foot forward, taking the lead in the classification after the first trial. The score of the team: Mariusz Kleniuk and Winona, Joanna Pawlak and Fantastic Frieda, Paweł Spisak and Banderas, and Paweł Warszawski with Aristo A-Z is 93 penalty points for now.

Belarus is in the second position, with 122,2 penalty points, weakened by the elimination of Aleksander Zelenko (BLR) with Vertikt. Third position belongs to Russia, with 144 penalties.

Andreas Ostholt (GER) with Corvette 31 has taken the lead in the highest prized class of the show, with the prize pool of 320 000 PLN, the CCI4*-S. The best Polish athlete in this class after dressage is Mateusz Kiempa wih Lassban Radovix.

Johan Lundin (SWE) has kept his lead in the CCI3*-S class with Callameno. Michał Knap with Valando 2 is currently the best Polish rider of the class.

Dressage and showjumping trials have ended in the CCI2*-S class. First position currently belongs to Vanessa Bolting with Ready To Go W, and the highest ranked Polish athlete is Julia Gillmaier riding Red Sunrise 2.

Trials of dressage and showjumping have also been played out in the CCIYH2*-S class for six-year-old horses. Miroslav Prihoda Jr (CZE) is in the lead with the Polish-bred Eldorado, and the best Polish athlete is Aurelia Drywa with Iwan.

The athletes will compete for the record-breaking prize pool (even bigger than last year’s record). Thanks to the support of the Patron of the event, Mr Roman Roszkiewicz; the collective prize pool in the international classes will reach 465 000 PLN. The CCIO4*-L the prize money will be as high as 85 000 PLN, 60 000 PLN of which will go to the three best teams in the class. The biggest prize is to be won in the CCI4*-S class: 100 000 PLN, with the collective prize pool in the class being 325 000 PLN.

More information can be found at www.festiwal.baborowko.pl/eng.

*Featured/Spotlights, Eventing/H.T.

CCI3*L Saumur – China Is Getting Closer to Olympic Qualification

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Picture copyright Les Garennes.

At the end of the CCI3*L cross country test at Verrie racecourse (France) as part of the Saumur Complet, China is leading the provisional ranking of the four Groupe G nations, 2 of which 2 will qualify for the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020.  In the individual provisional rankings, the Spanish rider Gonzalo Blasco Botin is leading, being one of the only two riders to complete a perfect test without any faults and within the time allowed.

China is in front of Japan, automatically qualified as the host nation, with Thailand in third place and Hong Kong in fourth. Before the last test, the show jumping, China (118.6) has a comfortable lead of 16.7 points over Thailand (153.3) and equally Thailand has a comfortable lead of 38.3 points over Hong Kong (173.6). However, there is still pressure on the Chinese as the team only has 3 riders left after the elimination of one of the 4 team members during the cross country and so cannot afford the elimination of one of its riders in the showjumping any more than Hong Kong (who only had 3 riders to start with). Only Thailand finished the cross country ‘complete’ and can still call on its 4 riders.

As a reminder, Saumur Complet and its CCI3*L is the only chance for countries in Group F (Africa and the Middle East) and Group G (Oceania and South East Asia) to qualify a team for the next Olympic Games in Tokyo.  Two teams will qualify as a result of this weekend’s competition in Saumur. Then all that will remain for the 2 teams that qualify is for the 3 riders who make up the team to gain individual qualifications.

Results: https://www.worldsporttiming.com/results/-1107/cci3x-l-1109/overview.html.

JULIETTE FEYTOUT
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