Tag Archives: Eventing/H.T.

FEI European Pony Championships 2011, Jaszkowo (POL)

BRITISH, GERMANS AND FRENCH DOMINATE IN POLAND by Louise Parkes

The gold medal winning British Jumping team at the FEI European Pony Championships 2011 in Jaszkowo (POL) - L to R - Graham Babes, Jessica Mendoza, Amy Inglis and Beth Vernon. FEI/Helen Revington.

Lausanne (SUI), 12 August 2011 – British riders took team and individual Jumping gold, Germany claimed two of the three Dressage titles, and France dominated the Eventing competitions at the FEI European Pony Championships 2011 staged at Jaszkowo, Poland from 26 to 31 July.

JUMPING
The Jumping team Championship was an exciting and close-fought affair, with just one fault separating the victorious British from the fighting Irish at the end of the day, while the Dutch were much further adrift when claiming bronze.  The British had the whip hand after the first round with clears from all four riders, and the Irish were five faults in arrears while having to count a single time penalty from Max O’Reilly-Hyland (Rock Dee Jay), and an additional four faults when both Michael Duffy (Kadia Mouche) and anchor Emma O’Dwyer (Jacknell Street) left one on the floor.

But British pathfinder Amy Inglis (Nils D Hurl Vent) picked up 12 faults second time out, and although second-line rider Beth Vernon (Falaza) completed a double-clear, both Graham Babes (Dollar Girl) and Jessica Mendoza (Tixylix) made a single mistake to bring their tally to eight.  Bertram Allen had opened the Irish account with a first-round clear from Acapella Z, but this time they returned with four faults on the board, and despite great second-round clears from both O’Reilly-Hyland and O’Dwyer, they were obliged to count four more when Duffy also made a single error.  That single first-round time fault from O’Reilly-Hyland proved expensive in the final analysis.

The Dutch meanwhile rocketed up from sixth at the halfway stage to take the bronze. Jens Van Grunsven, nephew of dressage legend Anky Van Grunsven (Indorado), recovered from a 12-fault opening round to go clear second time out, Amber Fijen (Winning Mood) picked up five in round one and four next time out, Leon Tine Bruin (Scapa SB) made just a single mistake in round one but collected 17 on his return to the arena and Megan Laseur (Ensilla) followed a five-fault first effort with a clear to leave The Netherlands with a total of 18 faults.

Continue reading FEI European Pony Championships 2011, Jaszkowo (POL)

USEF Awards $120,000 in Land Rover Grants to Eventing High Performance Riders

Lexington, KY – In Land Rover’s continued quest for excellence, the USEF has awarded Land Rover High Performance Grants to eight horse/rider combinations in their preparation for the 2012 Olympic Games. The Land Rover High Performance Eventing grants will help offset the expenses related to competing in Europe this fall. Building on last year’s support of the Land Rover U.S Eventing Team, USEF and Land Rover have created a new initiative: the Land Rover Competition and Training Grant Program for Eventing Riders.

The following horse/rider combinations will receive $15,000 grants:

William Coleman III and James Wildasin’s Twizzel
Phillip Dutton and Bruce Duchossois’ Mighty Nice
Will Faudree and Jennifer Mosing’s Andromaque
Will Faudree and Jennifer Mosing’s Pawlow
Boyd Martin and Neville Bardos Syndicate’s Neville Bardos
Boyd Martin and Henley House Stables’ Remington XXV
Clark Montgomery and Jessica Montgomery, Kathleen Kraft and Holly Becker’s Loughan Glen
Michael Pollard and Nathalie Pollard and Mieke Hanssens’ Icarus

In addition to the base grants listed above, there are performance incentive grants available as well to all US riders: $10,000 for a top 10% finish, $5,000 for a top 20% finish.

Continue reading USEF Awards $120,000 in Land Rover Grants to Eventing High Performance Riders

Five Nations Apply to Host 2015 FEI European Championships under New Bid Process

Lausanne (SUI), 9 August 2011 — Organisers from five nations – Belgium, Germany, Great Britain, The Netherlands, and Poland – have applied to stage a European championship for Seniors in one or several FEI disciplines in 2015 under a new bid process launched by the FEI in March of this year. The objective of the new bid process is to raise the profile of the FEI European Championships by selecting candidates able to deliver sporting events of the highest quality.

Aachen, host of the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games and the famous annual World Equestrian Festival, has expressed interest in the FEI European Championships 2015 in Jumping, Dressage, Eventing, Driving, Vaulting and Reining. The discipline which attracted the highest interest is Eventing, for which no less than five applications have been received.

The bidding process for the 2015 FEI European Championships for Seniors was launched in March 2011 and will run until April 2012. The process consists of two phases. During Phase I, the Applicant Phase which ended on 31 July 2011, applicants were required to indicate which one or more of the European Championships they would be interested in staging and provide information relating to their ability to meet minimum Championship requirements.

Phase II, the Candidate Phase, will begin on 1 September 2011. During the Candidate Phase, candidates will be required to provide greater detail on all aspects of the event. The Championships in the Olympic disciplines of Jumping, Dressage and Eventing will be allocated by the FEI Bureau in April 2012. The successful candidates for the Championships in the non-Olympic disciplines will be announced a year later in April 2013.

Enquiries relating to the bid process should be directed to FEI Legal Counsel Francisco P. Lima (francisco.lima@fei.org).

Media contacts:

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 45

Malina Gueorguiev
Manager Press Relations
malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 33

Perfect Eventing Trifecta – World Equestrian Brands Riders Hawley Bennett-Awad, Buck Davidson and Alexandra Slusher Finish 1, 2, 3 at the Event at Rebecca Farm

Hawley Bennett-Awad rode Gin N’ Juice to victory at The Event at Rebecca Farms, where an exciting show jumping phase resulted in a close finish between three pairs. (Photo courtesy of Kat Netzler)

Kalispell, MT (August 8, 2011) – While the Event at Rebecca Farm featured an exciting and suspenseful turn of events during the stadium jumping phase in Kalispell, Montana, in the end Hawley Bennett-Awad rode Linda Paine’s Gin N’ Juice to the victory. Buck Davidson and Carl Segal’s Ballynoecastle RM finished a mere one point behind Bennett-Awad with Alexandra Slusher and Christie Campbell’s Last Call landing in a close third.

Bennett-Awad, Davidson, and Slusher, all endorsed by World Equestrian Brands, LLC, were thrilled with the results in the CIC3* event, part of the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series. In addition to sharing the common thread of World Equestrian Brands, Davidson is Bennett-Awad’s coach and Slusher is her good friend. Bennett-Awad was a member of the Silver 2003 Canadian Pam Am team, represented Canada in the 2004 Olympics, was a member of the 2005 World Cup Finals and in 2009 she won the Bromont CCI***.

“We were thrilled to see three of our riders in the top three spots at the Event at Rebecca Farm,” said Robin Moore, President of World Equestrian Brands, US distributor of Amerigo and Amerigo Vega saddles and strap goods, Vespucci, E. A. Mattes, and Equilibrium products. “It really was an unbelievable finish, because going into the stadium jumping phase Allison Springer, who had an awesome dressage and cross country go, was leading by 10 points. While Allison had some unfortunate trouble with Arthur being spooky, Hawley was fortunate and Ginny jumped like her life depended on it.  The pair really fed off the energy of the crowd and ended up in first place. What an amazing outcome and WEB is so happy for Hawley, Buck and Alexandra, and we are equally very proud of Allison and Arthur, who we also sponsor; that pair is truly dynamic.”

Continue reading Perfect Eventing Trifecta – World Equestrian Brands Riders Hawley Bennett-Awad, Buck Davidson and Alexandra Slusher Finish 1, 2, 3 at the Event at Rebecca Farm

Lindbäck Makes It Two in a Row at Malmö

Niklas Lindbäck (SWE) and Mister Pooh scored back-to-back victory at FEI World Cup Eventing at Malmö (SWE).

Lausanne (SUI), 8 August 2011 – Niklas Lindbäck (SWE) and Mister Pooh, the super-talented horse many international riders would love to own, scored a brilliant back-to-back victory in the FEI World Cup event at Malmö (SWE), the penultimate competition in the 2011 series.

Lindbäck, who triumphed in 2010 and went on to impress at several other international events, including a fifth place at Badminton (GBR) this year, jumped clear in the final phase to take the top spot after overnight leader Ingrid Klimke (GER) on FRH Butts Abraxxas hit three fences.

“I am very pleased with how Mister Pooh jumped,” said Lindbäck. “We had a few mistakes in the dressage, but he is on great form ready for the Europeans. I didn’t expect to win again and to do it in front of a home crowd is great.”

Third after the Cross-Country, Lindbäck finished the competition with just 0.4 of a penalty in hand over the highest-placed German rider, 22-year-old Julia Krajewski, second on After The Battle, for whom it was a best three-star placing.

Kai Rüder (GER) had an expensive two rails down on the stallion Leprince des Bois and dropped from second to third, but he joked: “I’m keeping my clear round for the Europeans!”

Lindbäck now moves into 10th place in the FEI World Cup Eventing rankings, with one more event to go, at Haras du Pin (FRA). However, the main beneficiary from Malmö was Lucy Wiegersma (GBR), the sole British rider to make the long journey. She was fourth on Simon Porloe and seventh on Woodfalls Inigo Jones and now moves into eighth place in the rankings.

Continue reading Lindbäck Makes It Two in a Row at Malmö

HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships 2011 – Luhmühlen

Lausanne (SUI), 3 August 2011 – A total of 15 nations have announced their intention to compete at the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships 2011 (25-28 August).

The 30th running of the Championships will be hosted for the fifth time at Luhmühlen (GER), which has been synonymous with international Eventing since 1975.

As well as the excitement of the Championships themselves and the battle for medals, the two best ranked teams from Olympic Groups A, B & C at the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships 2011 will also qualify to take part at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Visit the FEI Press Kit Zone to download the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships 2011 press kit, which includes:

•    Nations intending to field teams and individuals
•    Competition timetable and media contacts
•    Interview with Julia Otto, Event Director and Managing Director of Turniergesellschaft Luhmühlen mbH
•    Detailed history of FEI European Eventing Championships
•    Images dating back to 1977 (free for editorial purposes)
•    HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships interesting facts and figures
•    The medals table (1953 – 2009)
•    Interview with Ginny Elliot (GBR) – still the only rider to have won three European titles in a row

Continue reading HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships 2011 – Luhmühlen

Woodburn 1996-2011

Woodburn in his element (Shannon Brinkman Photo)

Lexington, KY – It is with great sadness that the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) learned that Woodburn, owned by Ann Jones and Mardie Faucett, was euthanized last night. Woodburn appeared to have suffered major internal bleeding at home, the cause of which is unknown. More information will be available after an autopsy.

Woodburn and Phillip Dutton represented the United States at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, where they contributed to the fourth place effort of the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team. They finished 18th individually.

The 15-year-old New Zealand Thoroughbred gelding was second at the 2010 Rolex Kentucky CCI4*, 12th in 2009 and 10th in 2008. He was also third at the 2007 Fair Hill International CCI3*. He toyed with some of the biggest cross country courses in the world, making them look easy. In 2008, he stormed around the track at the Burghley CCI4* and into second place only to be withdrawn with a foot injury before the show jumping.

He began his career in the United States with Liz Millikin, who imported him from New Zealand, and then he competed successfully through the CCI2* level with Emily Beshear.

Woodburn will be greatly missed by the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team and the entire eventing community.

More information will be available on Phillip Dutton’s website as it is available: http://www.phillipdutton.com/.

The Results Are In for Round 3 of America’s Favorite Equestrian!

WESTPORT, CT – August 2, 2011 – The results of Round 3 of America’s Favorite Equestrian are in. Four equestrians in each of the eight disciplines that participated in the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games have moved onto Round 4.

Who’s In the Lead?
Dressage: Debbie McDonald followed by Steffen Peters, Guenter Seidel and Courtney King-Dye.
Driving: Chester Weber followed by Tucker Johnson, Rochelle Temple and Suzy Stafford.
Endurance: Becky Hart followed by Dave Rabe, Julie Suhr and Bill Wilson.
Eventing: Tiana Coudray followed by Boyd Martin, Kimberly Severson and Phillip Dutton.
Jumping: Anne Kursinski followed by Beezie Madden, Margie Engle and McLain Ward.
Para-Dressage: Jennifer Baker followed by Mary Jordan, Jonathan Wentz and Robin Brueckmann.
Reining: Andrea Fappani followed by Tom McCutcheon, Shawn Flarida and Tim McQuay.
Vaulting: Megan Benjamin followed by Katherine Wick, Devon Maitozo and Ali Divita.

Keep Voting! One more equestrian with the lowest number of votes in each discipline will drop off the list at the end of Round 4 on September 30, 2011. Don’t let it be your favorite! All it takes is a $5 gift to The EQUUS Foundation to keep your favorite in the running for America’s Favorite Equestrian.

How to Vote:
Visit the link at http://www.equusfoundation.org/vote.

For a $5 contribution, you can select your favorite equestrian (listed by discipline) and follow the instructions provided to use mobile texting to vote. After texting your vote, you must reply YES to confirm your vote and $5 donation.

Continue reading The Results Are In for Round 3 of America’s Favorite Equestrian!

FEI North American Junior/Young Rider Championships 2011

NEXT GENERATION RISE TO THE CHALLENGE AT TOUGH KENTUCKY CHAMPIONSHIPS by Louise Parkes

Avery Klunick, Alyssa Phillips, Alexa Ehlers and Victoria New, USA Area 5's Gold Medal Junior Eventing Team Champions. Photo: FEI/Anthony Trollope.

Lausanne (SUI), 1 August 2011 – A heat-wave and thunderstorms failed to throw the next talented generation off their stride at the FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championship which came to a thrilling conclusion at the Horse Park In Kentucky, USA yesterday.  Open to riders from the USA, Bermuda, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Islands, the five-day action-packed fixture attracted 250 entries, all hoping to make their mark in the five disciplines of Dressage, Endurance, Reining, Jumping and Eventing.

DRESSAGE
US Region 5 captured Young Rider Dressage Team gold.  Aylin Corapcioglu (Ruhmann), Madeleine Birch (Uceri), Catherine Chamberline (Verdicci) and Brandi Roenick (Pretty Lady) completed with a combined score of 198.104, but only pipped Canada BC/QC – Emily Fownes (Frapuccino), Mathilde Tetrault (Michelango), Anna Mylai Messier (Marzipan) and Esmee Ingham (Norseman) – by just over one point, while USA Region 8 were less than another point further adrift in bronze.

Roenick produced the highest score of the competition, 69.289, and the 16 year old from Arizona complimented her team-mates: “It’s an awesome opportunity to ride with these girls and really get to know them,” she said.  Canada’s Esmee Ingham put the Canadian silver medal in context.  “Since British Columbia is on the West Coast and Quebec City is so far east, for us to come together as a team having never met, and to take a medal is really incredible!” she pointed out.

Roenick had to settle for silver in the Individual Championship however when Isabelle Leibler (Watson) took gold and fellow-American Chase Hickok (Palermo) claimed the bronze.  And it was Hickok who moved into silver medal position in the Freestyle in which Leibler’s flawless performance with her 14 year old Westphalian gelding earned a winning score of 74.00. “He just felt like he was right there for me… it was the most amazing feeling,” Leibler said.  Mackinzie Pooley claimed the bronze with her last ride in international competition with the 20 year old Oldenburg Jonkara.

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It’s a Wrap! The Week That Was the 2011 Adequan/FEI NAJYRC

Team show jumping medals ceremony. Photo: Sportfot.

Lexington, KY – After a week of intense heat and one suspenseful afternoon of strong thunderstorms, the 2011 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North wrapped up today under sunny skies at the Kentucky Horse Park. The competition in all five disciplines – dressage, endurance, eventing, reining, and show jumping – was intense, and the approximately 250 riders from six countries showed that they had come to win.

Endurance
The first competition to wrap up this year was the inaugural North American Young Rider Endurance Championship. Friday’s 75-mile ride featured both CEI2* and CEI4* divisions. The United States brought home four Gold medals, three Silvers, and two Bronze medals in the endurance competition.

In the CEI4* divisions, Team USA took home the Gold after accruing a collective ride time of 25 hours, 25 minutes, and 31 seconds.

Individually in the CEI4*, Kelsey Russell and My Wild Irish Gold (USA) took home the Gold, Lindsay Bean and Tektonic (USA) the Silver, and Kyle Gibbon and Missu Koran (USA) the Bronze.

Also in the CEI4* division, Tektonic received the Best Conditioned Horse Award.

In the CEI2* class, the Team Gold medal was awarded to Team USA Northeast A, whose collective ride time totaled 25 hours, 40 minutes, and 57 seconds.

Continue reading It’s a Wrap! The Week That Was the 2011 Adequan/FEI NAJYRC