Tag Archives: featured

*Featured/Spotlights, Show Jumping

Ian Millar and Baranus Win $25,000 Equiline Holiday I Grand Prix

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Ian Millar and Baranus. Mancini Photos.

Wellington, FL – December 15, 2014 – Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) hosted its Holiday Festival I this week on December 12-14, 2014, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL. The week featured the $10,000 Equiline Open Stake on Friday with a win for Amanda Derbyshire (GBR) and Goldbreaker and the $25,000 Equiline Holiday I Grand Prix on Sunday with a win for Ian Millar (CAN) and Baranus.

Anthony D’Ambrosio of Red Hook, NY set the courses in the International Arena for the Holiday I competition. In Sunday’s $25,000 Equiline Holiday I Grand Prix, D’Ambrosio saw 40 competitors over his first round track with ten clear to advance to the jump-off where six went double clear. Ian Millar and the Baranus were the winners by a margin of over four seconds with their time of 37.90 seconds. Kristen Vanderveen and Bull Run’s Testify finished second in 41.92 seconds, and Margie Engle and Eckham van het Steentje were third in 41.95 seconds. Alexander Zetterman and Zidane jumped into fourth place in 42.12 seconds.

Millar, a ten-time Olympian for Canada, is no stranger to the winner’s circle, but he was particularly thrilled to be there this weekend with Baranus, a horse that he has been working with for two years.

“It has been a lot of development like anything else,” Millar said of the 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Balou du Rouet x Centauer Z). “It takes a long time to develop these horses and hopefully this is going to be his year where everything pays off and it starts to turn into results in the competition ring.”

“When I got him he looked like a fantastic prospect at that stage, and then it is all about the development,” Millar continued. “He has been consistent in his results. He has been learning his lessons. There is quite a list of lessons that they have to learn to be able to do this kind of thing. In the beginning he had his reservations about liverpools and water. That can take a long time to get a horse over that, and it did take a while, but that seems to be behind us now.”

Commenting on his extremely fast jump-off round, Millar laughed, “I didn’t mean to be four seconds faster. That suggests that there is that much more risk and you only want to take enough risk to win, but I must say that I was concerned about the last one coming at me. Alexander Zetterman is a very, very fast rider, so I thought I better make it plenty difficult for him, which was the plan. I carried a lot of pace to jump one and with that much pace the inside turn was that much more challenging. If you went a little slower to number one the inside turn, although tight, was very manageable, but to do it at the speed I did was quite a trick. That was probably worth at least a second if not more. Then over the number ten jump I turned very quickly and came right back on the combination. That might have been worth another second, and then I never squared up to the second to last jump. I just came right through the corner and caught it and then finished up in the leave out, so that would have been another second.”

The time that Millar has taken to bring Baranus along properly definitely paid off in the turns and the speed in that course, as the rider detailed, “He is beautiful to ride. It has taken awhile to get it, but he is such a cat that you can do anything you want with him. In that particular jump-off, there were a couple of areas that if you could keep coming through the tight turn it would save you some time. So many horses just don’t have the ability to come through at that speed, but he’s a cat.”

As the winter season approaches, Millar hopes to keep seeing improvement in Baranus and see how he does in the top classes.

“It is a long tour here, but we will see how far we can go because he absolutely is ready,” Millar stated. “There is nothing there to protect. His knowledge is there, his ability, his soundness, his fitness, it is all there. So I will go as far as I can go with him.”

Earlier in the week, the $10,000 Equiline Open Stake was held on Friday with a win for Amanda Derbyshire (GBR) and her own Goldbreaker. Thirty-four entries showed with 14-horse jump-off and eight double clear rounds. Derbyshire and Goldbreaker completed the fastest double clear in 42.74 seconds ahead of Tom Foley (IRL) and Spy Coast Farm LLC’s Beluga in 43.060 seconds. Alexander Zetterman (SWE) and Zidane finished third, just fractions off Foley’s time in 43.067 seconds.

The 2014 ESP Holiday Series continues with its Holiday Festival II on December 16-18 featuring the $10,000 Open Stake class on Tuesday, December 16, and the $25,000 Holiday II Grand Prix on Thursday, December 18. For more information, please visit www.equestriansport.com.

Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com
803.240.7488

*Featured/Spotlights, Driving, FEI

Exell Scores Third Win of the Season in Switzerland

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Boyd Exell (AUS) secured his third FEI World Cup™ Driving win of the season in Geneva (SUI) over the weekend. Photo: Karl-Heinz Frieler/FEI.

Geneva (SUI), 15 December 2014 – Reigning world and FEI World Cup™ Driving champion Boyd Exell (AUS) won his third consecutive series event of the season in Geneva (SUI) yesterday. Exell drove to victory an alternative team of horses in the Palexpo arena ahead of the very strong wildcard driver Jérôme Voutaz (SUI) and Christoph Sandmann (GER).

Enthusiastic fans
Home driver Jérôme Voutaz drove an efficient first round and was seven seconds faster than Exell in the first competition on Friday. In the second competition on Sunday the Australian top driver was four seconds faster than Voutaz. This put him in the lead before the Winning Round for which Christoph Sandmann had qualified as well. Sandmann took every risk he could and had three knockdowns, which put him in third place.

Cheered by many fans from his hometown, the Swiss four-in-hand champion 2013 did his best with his team of fast Freiberger horses. He crossed the finish line recording a fast time but knocking down two balls, which gave Exell some air.

Boyd started off fast but had a ball down in the first half of the course, designed by Dutch level 4 course designer Johan Jacobs, much to the excitement of the enthusiastic spectators. Exell had however learned a lot from the previous two nights and pushed his new team towards a record time, securing his third consecutive FEI World Cup™ Driving win of the season and his seventh in Geneva.

B-Team
Exell has been successful in Stuttgart (GER) and Stockholm (SWE) this season and will compete with a wildcard in London Olympia (GBR) this week. The competitions follow week after week and this busy schedule proved to be too much for the horses. He agreed with fellow driver Daniel Schneiders (GER), who competed with a wildcard on home ground in Stuttgart in November, to use the German’s indoor team in Geneva. Exell used three of Schneiders’ horses and a wheeler horse that belongs to him.

Change of plans
Christoph Sandmann was pleasantly surprised with his results in Geneva. The multiple German champion and world championship medal winner scored seven World Cup points for his third place in Geneva since Voutaz was a wild card driver. Sandmann is currently second on the standings and has a fair chance to remain in the top six and qualify for the Final. He will compete again in Mechelen (BEL) and is now considering a change of plan to start making preparations for the series Final in Bordeaux.

Expensive mistakes
József Dobrovitz (HUN) made an expensive mistake by taking a short turn on the course and knocking down a ball from an obstacle, which he had already passed, which cost him a place in the Winning Round. Dobrovitz finished fourth with his team of Lipizzaner horses and has one remaining competition in Leipzig (GER). The Hungarian driver is currently in fifth place on the standings.

Georg von Stein (GER) was well on his way to a good performance but lost precious seconds at the last water gate, which made him drop to fifth place ahead of Werner Ulrich (SUI).

Wildcards
Young Swiss driver Cyril Maret competed for the first time in the FEI World Cup™ Driving in the impressively large arena in Geneva and enjoyed his debut very much. The farrier by profession drove his team of Swiss, Hungarian and Dutch horses to the seventh place. Maret, who lives very close to Geneva, was thrilled to compete in his first year as an international four-in-hand driver.

Benjamin Aillaud (FRA) is a regular wildcard driver in Geneva. Aillaud competed with his team of black Dutch and French horses but had several knockdowns and finished in eight place.

Quotes

Boyd Exell (AUS): “This team of horses is already very good; I just had to get used to them. I train with Daniel but there is a big difference between training and competing with horses. I got to know them better every day and I am very pleased with their performance. Also for Daniel!”

Jérôme Voutaz (SUI): “It was my second time as a wildcard driver in Geneva and it was an incredible experience. My horses did very well and the fans were amazing. They actually felt like the fifth horse to me; they really made me stronger. It is difficult to get close to Boyd, but he has been very helpful to me. He gave me a tip on the first night and that also helped me today.”

Christoph Sandmann (GER): “My team gets better with every competition. I had planned that Mechelen would be my last World Cup competition, but now it looks like as I might qualify for the Final and I have to change my plans.”

Results in detail can be viewed here.

The 2014/2015 FEI World Cup™ Driving series now moves on to London Olympia (GBR) on Saturday, 20 December.

The FEI World Cup™ Driving competition in London Olympia will be broadcast live on FEI TV, the FEI’s official video platform, on 20 December at 20.05 CET.

For information on London Olympia, go to go to www.olympiahorseshow.com or contact Press Officer Jo Peck, jopeck@hpower.co.uk, + 44 1753 847 900.

By Cindy Timmer

Media Contacts:

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

At Geneva:
Corinne Druey
druey@syntagme-lausanne.ch
+41 21 312 82 22

Competitions, FEI, Vaulting

Double Victory for Local Heroes in Salzburg

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Evelyn Freund and Stefanie Millinger, winners of the FEI World Cup Vaulting™ third qualifier in their home city of Salzburg, left nothing to chance by training with the world’s best acrobats from the Cirque du Soleil, the world’s largest theatrical producer. (Daniel Kaiser/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 15 December 2014 – Local heroes Lisa Wild (AUT) and Evelyn Freund with Stefanie Millinger (AUT) vaulted to individual female and pas-de-deux victory at the FEI World Cup™ Vaulting third qualifier at the Salzburgarena last weekend.

Defending FEI World Cup™ vaulting champion and former world number one Nicolas Andreani (FRA) also stormed to male individual victory at the venue, where a total of 17 athletes from seven countries battled it out.

Somersault queen

Nineteen-year-old Lisa Wild, the youngest athlete in the series and the first athlete to perform a full backflip on her horse two years ago at the FEI Vaulting World Championships in Le Mans (FRA), started the competition with a dream score of 8,898 in the first round on Robin, lunged by Nina Rossin.

Wild then performed a fascinating final round in front of a packed arena, overwhelming spectators. Former German national coach and FEI judge Helma Schwarzmann, who this time was watching the competition from the stands, was nearly speechless: “Lisa really inspires me with her own style. She is extremely fluent and very precise in her movements.”

“Unfortunately I was not able to compete in Salzburg for two years due to several injuries,” said Wild. “Now I am finally back and it was an amazing feeling to do my show here in Salzburg.” She credited her success to Robin, who received the best horse score. The victory secured 15 World Cup points and their spot at the FEI World Cup™ Vaulting Final, which will take place in Graz, Austria, on 19-22 February 2015.

Simone Jäiser (SUI) on Luk, lunged by her mother Rita Blieske, received the best technical and artistic score finishing second (8,853) and Wild Card competitor Regina Burgmayr (GER) finished third on Adlon lunged by Alexander Hartl (8393).

Career on top

Defending champion Nicolas Andreani (FRA) repeated last year’s success in Salzburg, winning the male individual competition 766 points clear of his nearest rival Julian Wilfling (GER).

Vaulting on a new horse, Ramazotti, which he met at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014, he scored 9,055 points in the first round, finally finishing the two rounds with a combined score of 8,973. “It took a lot of emotion to be strong in Salzburg,” said Andreani. “The end of my career is very close and I had to make sure I got through to the Final at this qualifier. When I heard the French national anthem at the end, I was very, very happy!”

Lukas Klouda (CZE) vaulted to third place (8,028) with Landar and his lunger and sister Petra Cinerova.

Not just luck

Salzburg-based Evelyn Freund and Stefanie Millinger, winners of the FEI World Cup Vaulting™ opening qualifier in Munich (GER), left nothing to chance in preparation for Salzburg. After their Munich win, they travelled to Montreal (CAN) to train for two weeks with the world’s best acrobats from the Cirque du Soleil, the world’s largest theatrical producer.

This resulted in a breathtaking two-round duel between Freund and Millinger with reigning World, European and FEI World Cup™ Vaulting champions Jasmin Lindner and Lukas Wacha from Tyrol (AUT).

Freund and Millinger with Robin and lunger Nina Rossin finally managed to edge ahead in the second round posting a phenomenal score of 9,127, with Lindner and Wacha on Bram lunged by Klaus Haidacher finishing on 9,057.

“In Munich we thought that it was just luck, but now we know that we can do it and that is a big surprise,” said Freund. “My girls did a fantastic job and they really earned this big triumph,” added their coach Roswitha Haigermoser.

Next stop: Leipzig

A total of 20 vaulters, including the reigning FEI World Cup™ Vaulting champion Anna Cavallaro (ITA), will now head to the fourth and last qualifier of this series in Leipzig (GER) at the famous horse sport event Partner Pferd.

FEI TV Live

Tune in to FEI World Cup™ Vaulting in Leipzig live on FEI TV (www.feitv.org) on 16 January (17.15 local time) and 17 January (17.50 local time).

Salzburg results

Male individual: 1. Nicolas Andreani (FRA), 8,973; 2. Julian Wilfling (GER), 8,207; 3. Lukas Klouda (CZE), 8,028
(full results: here)

Female individual: 1. Lisa Wild (AUT), 8,910; 2. Simone Jäiser (SUI), 8,853; 3. Regina Burgmayr (GER), 8,393
(full results: here)

Pas-de-deux: 1. Evelyn Freund/Stefanie Millinger (AUT), 9,127; 2. Jasmin Lindner/Lukas Wacha (AUT), 9,057
(full results: here)

FEI World Cup™ Vaulting 2014/2015 series standings

Standings will be published here.

About FEI World Cup ™ Vaulting 2014/15

FEI World Cup™ Vaulting sees the world’s best 30 vaulters from nine nations battle for points across a four-leg European city tour, before the Final in February 2015. The athletes from Austria, Czech Republic, France, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Slovakia, Netherlands and Switzerland competing in this challenging series are listed here. The top six female and male vaulters, and top four pas-de-deux, based on their best two results in the series, will then come together at the FEI World Cup™ Vaulting 2014/15 Final in Graz (AUT), where they will start from scratch.

Series hashtag: #WorldCupVaulting

By Daniel Kaiser

FEI Media contacts:

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

Denise Devillaire
Manager Press Relations
Denise.devillaire@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 57

Dressage, Jennifer Ward

Chris Von Martels Makes the Most of C-DAAP Grant

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Chris Von Martels and Zilverstar campaigned in Europe for six months, thanks in part to a $20,000 High Performance European Training and Competition Grant from C-DAAP. Photograph Courtesy of Chris Von Martels.

Wellington, Florida – Canadian dressage competitor Chris Von Martels recently returned to North America following six months of training and competing in The Netherlands. As a recipient of a $20,000 High Performance European Training and Competition Grant from the Canadian Dressage Athlete Assistance Program (C-DAAP), Von Martels was able to apply the funding towards his training and competition expenses.

While in Europe, Von Martels and his two horses were based at the stables of Tim and Leida Collins in Riethoven, The Netherlands, which was a short drive to his trainer, Sjef Jannsen. He represented Canada in three International Equestrian Federation (FEI) sanctioned competitions in three different countries: CDI3* Compiegne, France; CDI2* Peterhof in Perl, Germany; and CDI3* Zandhoven, Belgium. In addition, he competed at a number of national shows and also showed a horse on behalf of one of his German-based clients at the Trakehner Championships, giving him great exposure to European breed championships.

With his top mount, Zilverstar, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Von Martels ended his European tour on a high note at CDI3* Zandhoven, placing fourth in the Intermediaire I and taking third in the Intermediaire Freestyle with a score of 71.85%. His second mount, Winsor Rox, an 11-year-old black Dutch Warmblood stallion owned by Barbara Nitsch, also gained valuable mileage during their time in Europe.

While Von Martels was already planning his six month stay in Europe before learning that he had successfully acquired one of five C-DAAP grants awarded in 2014, the additional funding allowed him to apply a larger amount of funds towards his training, as well as help off-set the costs of boarding, competition, and horse maintenance. Being the recipient of a C-DAAP grant has also strengthened his vision of his long-term goals, both personally as well as for Canadian dressage in general.

“My goal is to represent Canada at a major games and, in doing so, to help raise the profile of dressage in Canada,” said Von Martels, 32, who operates Von Martels Dressage Inc. in Ridgetown, ON and Wellington, FL. “Being in Europe, where equestrian sport is much more mainstream than in North America, and being surrounded by the top performing horses and riders in the world, has been incredibly impactful in helping me to achieve these goals. The competitive environment and the quality of horses and riders play on the physical and psychological components of performance. Having this experience has not only advanced my physical skills and the training of the horses, but it has us much better prepared for the pressures and the atmosphere of major international competitions.

“I am also bringing back a stronger vision for what I believe we can achieve for dressage in Canada, not just for riders and horses, but also for sponsors, owners, grooms and everyone who supports us,” continued Von Martels. “They have a tremendous infrastructure in Europe, and there are some great ideas and small details that would be easy for us to implement in order to enhance the overall development and support for the sport.”

Von Martels is especially appreciative of the C-DAAP program as it has not only augmented his own training and competition efforts, but also those of his fellow athletes who may one day be riding alongside him as members of the Canadian Dressage Team.

“Through the grant program, C-DAAP is giving Canadian dressage riders increased opportunity to gain the experience, training and exposure that is needed to help develop truly competitive horse-rider combinations,” said Von Martels. “If our national goal is to have improved team placings at major games, and to ultimately be on the podium at an Olympics or World Equestrian Games, then we need to be able to provide riders with access to the European environment, and to be amongst the best in the world on a regular basis.

“I would like to express sincere thanks to Deborah Kinzinger Miculinic for her vision, her commitment, and her passion in bringing C-DAAP to life,” concluded Von Martels. “I also need to thank the Collins family and their team for all of their support, and Barbara Nitsch for trusting me with her lovely stallion in Europe. There is a host of others that deserve great thanks and without whose support I would never have got this far; the farriers and vets that keep our horses in top form, my family, friends, and sponsors are all incredible, and all of my clients have been amazing and encouraging. However, at the top of my list, I give thanks to the horses. They are the most deserving of all!”

The four other Canadian athletes to receive C-DAAP High Performance European Training and Competition Grants in 2014 were Brittany Fraser of New Glasgow, NS and All In, her nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding; Megan Lane of Loretto, ON and Caravella, her 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare; Karen Pavicic of Surrey, BC and Don Daiquiri, a 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Pavicic and Jayne Essig; and Belinda Trussell of Stouffville, ON and Anton, a 14-year-old German-bred gelding owned by Robyn Eames.

About the Canadian Dressage Athlete Assistance Program (C-DAAP)

The Canadian Dressage Athlete Assistance Program (C-DAAP) is a donor-driven program dedicated to supporting and advancing Canada’s junior, young rider and high performance riders. The program solicits contributions and will award grants to eligible Canadian dressage riders.

C-DAAP’s goal is to provide supplemental funding to Canadian dressage athletes to off-set training, competitive and educational expenses incurred during their quest for excellence, thus creating a bridge to high-level national and international competition.

Contact: Jennifer Ward
Starting Gate Communications
Cell: (613) 292-5439
www.startinggate.ca

*Featured/Spotlights, Show Jumping

World Number One Scott Brash Wins Rolex Grand Prix at CHI Geneva

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Geneva, Switzerland, 14 December 2014 – In sport, legends are created by repeated success at the very highest level. The remarkable Scott Brash today proved why he is the very best that equestrian sport has seen in a long time, when he won the third equestrian Major of the year, the Rolex Grand Prix at CHI Geneva. Brash adds this title to his Rolex Top 10 Final victory, which he claimed less than 48 hours earlier.

Riding the majestic Hello Sanctos, on whom he has enjoyed huge success in 2014, Brash was one of 12 riders who went through to the jump-off from the original 40 on the start list.

The first four into the ring all produced a clear second round, and it quickly became obvious that it was going to take a very special performance to take the Rolex Grand Prix title. But, as he has proved all year, Brash thrives on tough challenges.

He was the sixth rider to enter the huge arena at the Palexpo and, when he left it, he had yet again produced a fast, clear round that was to become the benchmark for the remaining six riders to attempt to better. Dismounted and pacing the warm-up ring in the company of Hello Santos’ owners, Brash had to go through the nerve wracking experience of watching his fellow riders try and better his jump-off time of 35.69 seconds.

Brash’s time remained relatively safe until France’s Roger Yves Bost entered the arena, clearly with every intent to put everything on the line to challenge for the title. The crowd was hushed but the atmosphere crackled, as Qoud’Coeur de la Loge seemed to fly around the course. But their final time, 35.94 seconds, was still not quick enough, and when the final rider brought one pole down, the Rolex title belonged to Brash.

Speaking about the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, Scott Brash said, “I think you have to make it your aim once you win one leg, because what Rolex has done in putting sponsorship up for these shows is just incredible and it’s kept our sport at a high, high level and raised our sport even more. So I think with that goal in mind, anyone who wins one leg will be targeting the next leg.”

Winning a Major defines a sportsman’s career, and the Rolex Grand Prix, the third stage of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, is one of the most difficult titles to claim. Brash now becomes the live contender and travels to Aachen in May 2015 to attempt to win his second title in the cycle, and claim the €1m bonus on offer to any rider who can win the Grand Prix at CHIO Aachen, Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ and CHI Geneva.

CHI Geneva is renowned within the equestrian community for its giant arena, which is at least twice the size of any other indoor venue, and the popularity of the show has never been higher, with the huge grandstands completely sold-out for the Rolex Grand Prix. Forty of the world’s greatest riders travelled to Geneva to challenge for the title, including Rolex Testimonees Kent Farrington, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, Kevin Staut, and last year’s winner, Steve Guerdat but, in the end, they were left to dream at what might have been as Brash dominated once again.

Alban Poudret, the Sport Director at CHI Geneva, said, “It is a great gift, when the public is here and when the public love it; that really is the best gift for all our efforts. Yesterday evening for the first indoor cross-country the public was incredible and during the Rolex Top 10 Final, and Rolex Grand Prix we thought that we were at a Championship. At CHI Geneva, we are emotional and passionate, and we do it with our heart for the passion of the sport, and for the friendship between all of us and we share this friendship with the riders.

“It is important to have a colourful show with different type of competitions, not something with too much format. There are too many shows that are the same and here we are happy when we see riders that understand that all the 700 volunteers pay such attention to detail to make such a great sporting feast.”

The Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping now takes a break until May 2015, when the Rolex Grand Prix will be staged during the weekend of 30-31 May at Aachen.

Official Quotes and Audio

To download transcribed quotes and audio interviews with the Top Three riders, please click here: http://po.st/93HYOY.

Rolex Equestrian Films

To celebrate the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, Rolex has created a number of films featuring its equestrian Testimonees. To view these films, please click here.

Websites

www.rolex.com
www.rolexgrandslam.com

Revolution Sports + Entertainment
Rod Kohler
rod@revolutionsports.co.uk
+44 7770 647 662

Competitions, Show Jumping

World Number One Scott Brash Dominates Again at Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final

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Geneva, Switzerland, 12 December 2014 – It is an elite competition for the best of the best and an opportunity for the Top 10 riders and horses in the world to compete for end-of-year supremacy. And after two rounds of intense competition, it was the rider who has dominated the World Rankings throughout 2014, Great Britain’s Scott Brash, who produced two flawless displays of Show Jumping to win the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final, stamp his dominance on the sport, and stake a claim to being the rider of the year.

Riding his great gelding Hello Sanctos, Brash was one of four riders who went into the second round faultless. As the round progressed, the poles dropped, and Brash was the only double clear as the final rider, Penelope Leprevost, riding Flora de Mariposa, came into the ring. The only female rider to be competing in the Rolex Top 10 Final, the noise from the crowd hushed to a respectful silence, as they willed the Frenchwoman to another clear round.

But top level Show Jumping can be a tough sport, and after trying to cut time off the tightest turn on the course, Leprevost brought down the wall, resulting in four faults. The combination then knocked down a further two poles dropping them from first to last place.

Scott Brash said, “I must say my horse jumped wonderful today; he jumped really, really good and to be standing here, the winner of the Top 10 – it’s a class I’ve always only ever dreamed of winning, as a kid growing up. I always thought it was impossible to be in there, but to come here, in Geneva of all places, and win – it’s wonderful and I’m delighted.”

In a further twist of fate following a similar result during the World Equestrian Games earlier in the year, a single time fault in the first round for the French rider Patrice Delaveau, meant his clear in the second round resulted in being the runner-up once again by less than two seconds. Rolex Testimonee Steve Guerdat’s horse Albfuehren’s Paille lost a shoe just before entering the ring before the second round and after a quick visit to the farrier, Guerdat was able to finish with just four faults, and claim his spot on the podium in third place.

Speaking about his second place, Delaveau said, “Yes, it was the same fault for me [as at the World Equestrian Games] so for the future I will focus my training on this type of fault. It was difficult for me tonight with the speed. Scott was very quick, but for me it’s OK; I was very happy.”

Similar to the ATP World Finals in tennis, which is also supported by Rolex, the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final is the only competition that is run by the competitors through the International Jumping Riders Club and, due to its very nature, is one of the toughest in the world to win. Staged during CHI Geneva for the tenth time since the competition started in 2001, at the riders’ request, the competition will now stay at the venue for the next few years.

The results of the 14th Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final:

1st Scott Brash (GBR), riding Hello Sanctos
2nd Patrice Delaveau (FRA), riding Lacrimoso HDC
3rd Steve Guerdat (SUI), riding Albfuehren’s Paille
4th Daniel Deusser (GER), riding Cornet D’Amour
5th Maikel Van Der Vleuten (NED), riding VDL Groep Verdi TN N.O.P.
6th Ludger Beerbaum (GER), riding Chaman
7th Kevin Staut (FRA), riding Estoy Aqui De Muze HDC
8th Marcus Ehning (GER), riding Cornado NRW
9th Kent Farrington (USA), riding Voyeur
10th Penelope Leprevost (FRA), riding Flora De Mariposa

For a final results list, please click here.

www.rolex.com

Revolution Sports + Entertainment
team@revolutionsports.co.uk
www.revolutionsports.co.uk

*Featured/Spotlights, Awards, Dressage, Para-Equestrian

Announcing Sydney Collier as 2014 Junior Equestrian of the Year

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Sydney Collier and Willi Wesley at the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Photo (C) SusanJStickle.com.

Lexington, KY – December 12, 2014 – Para-Equestrian Dressage Young Rider Sydney Collier has been named the 2014 Junior Equestrian of the Year by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF). Collier, 17, of Ann Arbor, Mich. was selected for her accomplishments among many outstanding junior athletes. Collier will receive her award at the Pegasus Awards Dinner held Friday, January 16, at The Hyatt Regency Lexington in Lexington, Ky., during the 2015 USEF Annual Meeting. Collier will be awarded the Ruth O’Keefe Meredith Memorial Trophy as the 2014 Junior Equestrian of the Year.

Collier has made it her mission to, as she states, “take the ‘dis’ out of disabled.” At age seven, Sydney was diagnosed with Wyburn-Mason Syndrome after she began having blurry vision. Wyburn-Mason Syndrome is a rare, congenital disorder characterized by arteriovenous malformations in the central nervous system and retina. It affects only .14% of the world’s population and can cause brain hemorrhaging, stroke, paralysis, or death. She enjoys bringing awareness to the disabled community and the Paralympic Equestrian sport through public speaking, dedication, and her riding accomplishments.

In 2014 Collier earned a spot as a Grade Ib rider on the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games U.S. Para-Dressage Team that competed in Normandy, France. She achieved strong scores on Victoria Dugan’s Willi Wesley, a 2000 Warmblood gelding. It was only four years prior at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky where Collier met Paralympian Jonathan Wentz who introduced and then mentored her on the Paralympic sport. Through her positive attitude and determination Collier has garnered numerous accolades aboard horses Willi Wesley; NTEC Cuplee, owned by Patricia Mendenhall; and her current competition partner Wentworth, formally owned by Amy McIlwham. Collier rides with Paralympic Dressage coach Wes Dunham of Woodstock Stables in Millbrook, NY.

Her athletic pursuits have been accompanied by multiple awards and scholarships including 2011 Para-Dressage demonstration rider at the Adequate FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships, 2012 Think Alive Grant, 2013 USDF Youth Convention Scholarship, 2013 U.S. Para-Dressage Symposium invitation, 2013 Custom Saddlery Rising Star Award, 2013 Miss Jane Marple Memorial Trophy at Dressage for Kids, 2014 Michigan Virtual High School Chemistry Scholarship, 2013 and 2014 Jonathan Wentz Memorial Scholarship, 2014 Courtney’s Quest Scholarship, and the 2014 Women’s Sports Foundation Travel and Training Grant.

Between riding and maintaining her Honors student status at Skyline High School, Collier enjoys sharing her story and goals as a motivational speaker around the country. She not only speaks to groups and individuals in the equestrian world but she also enjoys speaks with groups with varied interests throughout the community including 4-H clubs.

Collier is an outstanding representative for the 2014 Junior Equestrian of the Year Award. Hope Hand, Paralympian and President of the United States Para-Equestrian Association, acknowledged, “This is an exciting achievement for Sydney. She has worked tirelessly as an athlete and student to achieve her goals. I have watched her grow as an individual over the past 5 years and her positive attitude and determination has been felt by everyone that has ever reached out to Sydney. She will humbly tell anyone that asks that she had the best mentor and advisor, the late Jonathan Wentz, who has guided her path to success. Jonathan was the driving force behind the Para-Dressage Junior and Young Rider Program, but it still takes a talented rider to carry on his mission to be the best in the world. I am so proud of Sydney.”

Hand continued, “On behalf of the Para-Equestrian discipline I would like to thank USEF for acknowledging this outstanding athlete.”

Collier is excited to look towards the future as she aims for the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro. For more information about Sydney Collier, please visit www.SydsParaQuest.com.

For more information on the 2015 USEF Annual Meeting, visit https://www.usef.org/convention/Default.aspx.

About United States Para-Equestrian Association:

The USPEA is a network of riders, judges, national federation board members, and equestrian enthusiasts. The association gives athletes the ability to get involved and expand their knowledge and experience in the Para-Equestrian sport. The USPEA encourages para-athletes to participate in all disciplines under the para-equestrian umbrella.

The USPEA is a recognized affiliate of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) which serves as the National Governing Body for the equestrian sport. This relationship between the USPEA and USEF is to encourage para-equestrian competitors, leisure riders, coaches, fans and enthusiasts to network and get involved with the entire equestrian sport.

Ultimately the goal of the USPEA is to foster growth in the para-equestrian discipline. From growth in the number of participants to growth as a team, and growth in the experience and knowledge of all involved. From local horse shows to international Olympic Games, the USPEA will provide para-equestrians the knowledge of what they need to succeed. The USPEA connects with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), the United States Dressage Federation (USDF), and USEF which provides Para-Equestrians the top equestrian resources.

In June 2010, the USPEA earned its 501 (c)(3) status which has encouraged supporters to help supply funding to the Para-Equestrian Team as a recognized affiliate of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF).

For more information about the USPEA, please visit www.USPEA.org or contact USPEA President Hope Hand by e-mail: Wheeler966@aol.com or by phone: (610)356-6481.

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage

Katherine Bateson-Chandler and Alcazar Named USDF Horse of the Year at Intermediaire II

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Katherine Bateson-Chandler and Alcazar (Photo courtesy of Katherine Bateson-Chandler)

Wellington, FL (December 9, 2014) — The award that the United States Dressage Federation calls its “most prestigious honor” has been presented to a powerful, expressive KWPN gelding and his rider, Katherine Bateson-Chandler of Wellington, Florida. After a year of impressive achievements in the dressage arena, Alcazar — owned by Jane Forbes Clark — earned the Adequan/USDF Dressage Horse of the Year Year-End Award for his performances with Bateson-Chandler in the Intermediate II level.

The Adequan/USDF Year-End Awards are presented to select riders and horses that have had not only a few successful shows, but an entire year of achieving high scores in competition. The most recent Year-End Awards were given after the close of the USDF competition year, which ran from October 1, 2013 to September 30, 2014. Katherine Bateson-Chandler and Alcazar (Contango x a Ferro mare) received the prestigious Adequan/USDF Dressage Horse of the Year Award for the Intermediate II level with their year’s impressive mean score of 71.941 percent.

Internationally successful Grand Prix champion Bateson-Chandler has competed on Alcazar for the past two years, and is loving the experience. “He has the perfect temperament for a competition horse — very brave and self-confident. He has presence and is extremely trainable,” she once commented about her award-winning mount. The nine-year-old dark bay gelding and Bateson-Chandler have had numerous successes leading up to receiving this Year-End honor. Earlier this year, they earned the FEI High Point award after winning the FEI Intermediate II division at the Kentucky Dressage Association CDI in May.

Jane Forbes Clark, a long-time supporter of high-performance equestrian sports around the world, purchased Alcazar in 2012. The beautiful horse was an excellent fit for Bateson-Chandler, who has ridden and trained Clark’s horses for eight years. “I know how lucky I am and thank her every day,” Bateson-Chandler said about working with Clark. The equestrian took over the position from Robert Dover when he retired from competition, as she had worked as Dover’s groom and assistant trainer since the age of sixteen.

Bateson-Chandler spends her summers training and competing in Europe with Alcazar and her other top mounts, including Clark’s KWPN Wellnetta. In Europe, Bateson-Chandler trains with Olympic Gold Medalist Carl Hester. As many judges and spectators have done, Hester noticed something special about Bateson-Chandler and Alcazar. “Alcazar has beautiful hind legs and a great work ethic,” he once commented. Bateson-Chandler, too, is also impressed with Alcazar’s efforts and talent. She is thrilled to have had the opportunity and ability to ride him to earn the Adequan/USDF Dressage Horse of the Year Year-End Award. “You don’t get these sort of horses every day,” she said. “Maybe once in a lifetime.”

For more information about Katherine Bateson-Chandler and her star equine partners, visit www.kbcdressage.com or follow the international competitor on her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Katherine-Bateson-Chandler-Dressage/651928248221736?ref=hl&ref_type=bookmark.

Contact: Katherine Bateson-Chandler
Kbcdressage@me.com
908-391-9096
www.kbcdressage.com

Competitions, Show Jumping

Sharn Wordley and Hickstead’s Axel Top $25,000 ESP Year End Grand Prix

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Sharn Wordley and Hickstead’s Axel. Mancini Photos.

Wellington, FL – December 8, 2014 – Equestrian Sport Productions hosted its annual Year End Awards Show this weekend on December 6 and 7 at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL. A $10,000 Open Stake was held on Saturday and the $25,000 ESP Year End Grand Prix was the highlight event on Sunday.

Anthony D’Ambrosio of Red Hook, NY set the courses in the International Arena for the weekend. In the grand prix, he saw 27 entries with four clear rounds to advance to the jump-off, where the winner completed the only double clear effort. Sharn Wordley (NZL) and Ashland Stables’ Hickstead Axel took top prize with their clear round in 40.03 seconds. Sophie Simpson (USA) and Simpson Show Jumping, Inc.’s Why Not were faster in 39.64 seconds, but had four faults to finish second. Angela Covert (CAN) and Utan had four faults in 42.50 seconds to take third place honors. Gemma Paternoster and Osiris, owned by Paternoster and Julia Harrison Lee, also incurred four faults and placed fourth with their time of 44.79 seconds.

Class winner, Hickstead’s Axel, is a nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Hickstead x Numero Uno.

“My wife’s family bought him as a young horse because they also owned Hickstead,” Wordley explained after his win. “He is one of Hickstead’s oldest (babies) that I know of, so he is one of the first doing the grand prixs. He is really coming along good. I have taken him slowly. I started doing the grand prixs with him about a year ago but I never went really fast with him. I was just slowly building him up. He was been second, third, fourth many times, but this is the first time he actually won.”

“He is fantastic,” Wordley detailed. “He has a big stride. You can shorten, you can lengthen. He’s scopey, he’s careful, he’s smart. He is all the things that you want in a jumper. He is a big horse even though he is by Hickstead who was only about 15.3/16 hands. He’s about 16.3 and he was a bit weak behind, so it has taken awhile to get him strong and balanced.”

Commenting on Sunday’s course, Wordley noted, “Anthony always builds fantastic courses. It wasn’t overly big, but it was technical enough. He is always very smart at getting the right amount in the jump-off and building things tough enough. It was a good course. It rode really well.”

Wordley was first to go in the jump-off, but ended up being the only clear to take the win. Describing his round, he stated, “Axel covers a lot of ground. I was going slow there for him. He can cover the ground really easily. Going fast isn’t his problem; it is just learning to turn. I have to take the turns a little bit slower than he potentially will be able to next year, but in a straight line he is really fast.”

Wordley will now take some time off for surgery on his ankle, but hopes to be back in the saddle by the second week of the Winter Equestrian Festival in January. He plans to jump Hickstead’s Axel in some of the WEF Challenge Cup classes and hopefully qualify for a few Saturday night grand prixs.

In other competition this weekend, Andrew Kocher and Le Conte got a win in the $10,000 Open Stake class on Saturday. The class saw 36 entries with eight clear rounds to jump-off and three double clears. Kocher and Le Conte had the fastest time of 39.00 seconds for the win. Heather Caristo Williams and Holly Caristo’s Cosmopolitan 30 finished second in 39.75 seconds, and Angela Covert and Utan placed third in 40.45 seconds.

Heather Caristo Williams went on to a win in the hunters on Sunday riding Jacqueline Stahl’s Sunset Hill to victory in the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby. Chuck Mayer’s Namesake and Kristy Herrera finished second. Ki-Juan Minors guided Samantha Karp’s Vail to third place honors.

ESP’s Holiday Series continues next week with the Holiday Festival I on December 12-14, 2014. The week will feature a $10,000 Open Stake on Friday, December 12, and the $25,000 Holiday I Grand Prix on Sunday, December 14. For more information, please visit www.equestriansport.com.

Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com
803.240.7488

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage, Driving, Show Jumping

Outstanding Line-Up as Olympia Close to Sell Out

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Charlotte Dujardin. Photos: Kit Houghton/Hpower.

8 December 2014 – An exceptional line-up of equestrian athletes are set to compete at this year’s Olympia, The London International Horse Show which takes place on 16-22 December, including the three FEI World No. 1s in Dressage, Show Jumping and Carriage Driving.

The definite entries, which were published today, reveal Dressage supremo Charlotte Dujardin, Show Jumping sensation Scott Brash, and Australian Driving legend Boyd Exell will head the incredible quality of competitors during the week-long event. In addition, seven out of the Top 10 Longines FEI World Ranked Show Jumpers will also compete at London’s premier horse show.

This year, organisers have seen the fastest ever sale of tickets, with 11 out of the 12 performances sold out before the doors even open on Tuesday 16 December.

Show Director Simon Brooks-Ward said: “As well as maintaining the Olympia tradition of staging family entertainment in the build-up to Christmas, our challenge has always been to put on world class sport, and the fact that we now stage three FEI World Cups™ clearly shows how far Olympia has developed over the years. When you add three World No. 1 competitors to this mix – Charlotte Dujardin, Scott Brash and Boyd Exell – it provides a compelling proposition.”

DRESSAGE

Charlotte Dujardin will compete Valegro in front of a UK audience for the first time this year in the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage Leg supported by Horse & Hound which takes place on the first and second day of Olympia. Dujardin has had a momentous year since smashing the world record in freestyle at last year’s Olympia, by adding the FEI World Cup™ Finals and the World Championship titles to her already impressive collection of achievements. She was recently announced on the shortlist for BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

Joining Dujardin at Olympia will be her mentor and GBR team mate Carl Hester who will be riding 10-year-old gelding, Nip Tuck on whom he won Team Silver at the World Equestrian Games. Completing the British line-up are Spencer Wilton, making his Olympia debut with his exciting new ride Numberto, Nikki Crisp with her own mare Pasoa and Hannah Biggs with stallion Weltzin.

Dutch riders Edward Gal and Danielle Heijkoop, who were placed second and third respectively behind Dujardin last year, are confirmed to compete again this year with the same horses, Glock’s Undercover and Kingsley Siro N.O.P.

There are several exciting riders making their Olympia debuts this year. These include Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, who was star of Junior and Young riders and twice German Champion. The 28-year-old broke into the highest senior level competition with the stallion who she rides at Olympia, Unee BB. The pair was seventh in the FEI World Cup Final in April and they have since won their last three competitions. Fellow German, Sonke Rothenberger, is also confirmed to compete at Olympia for the first time. The 20-year-old business student won Team Gold at the European Young Riders and was seventh in his World Cup debut in Odense this year. Completing the German line-up is Dorothee Schneider, who was part of the German team to take Team Silver at London 2012. Schneider makes her Olympia debut on Silvano 71. Spain’s Morgan Barbanςon Mestre, aged 22, will make his first Olympia appearance with Anky van Grunsven’s former ride, Painted Black. The pair was placed 10th at the FEI World Cup Finals and 15th at the World Equestrian Games this year.

SHOW JUMPING

Seven of the Top 10 riders in the Longines FEI World Rankings are among the definite entries for the five-star Show Jumping at Olympia, including World No.1, Scott Brash.

The Scotsman, who has now held the top spot for over twelve months, will be joined by some of the biggest international names in the sport, including an incredibly strong team of German riders. This includes Ludger Beerbaum, Daniel Deusser and Marcus Ehning, who are three, four and five in the world rankings respectively. Three times FEI World Cup Final winner, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, also competes for Germany.

Dutch riders, Maikel van der Vleuten and Jur Vrieling, who were part of the team who won Team Gold at the World Equestrian Games this year, are both on the confirmed list. Regular Olympia visitor, Pénélope Leprevost (FRA), is on the list and is joined by her French teammates, Kevin Staut and Patrice Delaveau, who won Team Silver at the World Championships. New kid on the block 19-year-old Bertram Allen (IRL) will compete with the mare that propelled him into the limelight at the World Equestrian Games this year, Molly Malone V.

John Whitaker
John Whitaker

It would not be Olympia without the Whitaker dynasty competing en masse and this year Michael, John, Robert and William are all confirmed to ride with a team of top horses. The youngest, William, is currently in remarkable form, having won the fifth leg of the Longines FEI World Cup series in Stuttgart in November. The UK’s No.1 female rider Laura Renwick returns to defend her H&M Leading Rider title which she scooped in 2013 and last year’s Olympia Grand Prix winner Ben Maher brings a strong team of horses, including Puissance specialist, Noctambule Courcelle. Tim Gredley, Spencer Roe, and Guy Williams complete the British line-up.

Last year’s Olympia Christmas Puissance winner, Luca Moneta (ITA), will return to the capital to defend his crown, but will face strong competition from Puissance specialists, Jean-Christophe De Grande and Karline De Brabander, both from Belgium, and Irish riders David Simpson and Liam O’Meara. British rider Joe Clayton, who shared the Puissance victory at the Horse of the Year Show in October with David Simpson, also lines up for the nail-biting high jump competition.

Show Jumping takes place during every performance from Thursday 18 December to Monday 22 December. Highlights include the Alltech Olympia Puissance on Thursday 18 December, the Longines FEI World Cup™ Leg on Sunday 21 December, and the Olympia Grand Prix on Monday 22 December.

DRIVING

Current World Champion, Boyd Exell (AUS), and last year’s Olympia winner, IJsbrand Chardon (NED), head the quality line-up for the FEI World Cup™ Driving Leg presented by Dodson & Horrell.

A total of seven of the world’s leading four-in-hand drivers will attempt to manoeuver their horses in the fastest time round the twists and turns of the Olympia arena on Thursday 18 and Friday 19 December, with the Final taking place on Saturday 20 December.

IJsbrand Chardon
IJsbrand Chardon

Triumphant from winning the gold medal at the World Equestrian Games in Normandy in August, in-form Boyd Exell will be bringing his usual masterly rein-handling skills and split-second timing which always thrills the Olympia crowd. Last year’s Olympia winner, IJsbrand Chardon, himself many times World Champion, will no doubt be looking to defend his title, but Chardon will face strong competition also from his fellow countrymen Theo Timmerman and Koos de Ronde. Together these three took the Team Gold medal at this year’s WEG with Timmerman claiming Individual Bronze.

Representing Great Britain as a wild card is Daniel Naprous, who previously competed at Olympia in 2012. Naprous, who combines his sport of carriage driving with a successful career in stunt riding and driving, will have the support of the home crowd as the only Brit competing in the competition. Completing the competitive line-up are Fredrik Persson (SWE) and Glenn Geerts (BEL), both highly accomplished and successful four-in-hand drivers.

For more information and to purchase tickets online, visit the website at www.olympiahorseshow.com or telephone the box office on 0871 230 5580.

For more information, please contact Hannah Grissell hannah@revolutionsports.co.uk or +44 (0)207 592 1207

Olympia will broadcast live on BBC2 on Sunday 21 December and available to view on Eurosport, the BBC Red Button, online and connected TV on Wednesday 17, Thursday 18 and Monday 22 December. In addition a special highlights program will be aired on BBC2 on Tuesday 23 December at 13:45.

Olympia, The London International Horse Show
The first international horse show took place in the Olympia halls in 1907. Olympia, The London International Horse Show, the event we see today, was started by Raymond Brooks-Ward in 1971. This year’s show takes place on 16-22 December 2014 in the Olympia Exhibition Hall, located in West Kensington London. The show will play host to a packed timetable of all things equestrian and is expected to welcome over 90,000 visitors. It is regarded as one of Europe’s oldest and most prestigious equine competitions. The show mixes top class equestrian action, including FEI World Cup™ Jumping, Dressage and Driving with family entertainment, such as the Osborne Refrigerators Shetland Pony Grand National which raises money for Great Ormond Street Hospital and The Kennel Club Dog Agility. The show’s official charity for 2014 is The Injured Jockeys Fund.