Beezie Madden & Simon jumped a clear round in Barcelona Friday (Beatrice Scudo)
Barcelona, Spain – The first ever Final of the new look Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup series got started in at CSIO5* Barcelona Friday and, with the backdrop of a beautiful day, a strong set of horses and riders from 18 countries looked to qualify for Sunday’s eight-team final round. Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland’s U.S. team was looking to finish a strong season with a top result, but suffered a heartbreaker and finished in ninth place, one position short of a spot in that final. They will return for Saturday’s consolation round.
Spanish course designer Santiago Varela built a challenging course with some familiar Nations Cup obstacles and some, like a La Sagrada Familia vertical, that gave it a local feel. It was not very hospitable though. There were not a lot of clear rounds, but the course’s sharpest tooth was its time allowed. While not an outright challenge, the time faults surrendered would prove pivotal in determining the teams for Sunday, and lead to a thrilling finish on Friday.
The day began for the U.S. with veteran lead-off rider McLain Ward (Brewster, New York) and Sagamore Farms’ Rothchild. They had a rail down at fence nine, the Freixenet vertical, but the four fault effort put the team in good position. Following them were Reed Kessler (Lexington, Kentucky) and her own Cylana. They struggled on the oxers at fences five and eight and finished up with eight faults.
Lucy Davis (Los Angeles, California) and Old Oak Farm’s Barron were third for the team and needed to ride well. They did, having just one rail down for four faults on the course, but they picked up one time fault as well.
Going into the anchor ride the team needed Beezie Madden (Cazenovia, New York) and Simon to jump clear for a chance at qualifying for Sunday’s final round. Madden guided Abigail Wexner’s Dutch Warmblood masterfully, shaving seconds when she needed and letting the powerful gelding soar over the challenging course. They came in just under the time allowed and, for a little while it seemed, saved the day. But the team would need some help from the rest of the field, help that they did not receive.
Tied with Ukraine in seventh place, the U.S. needed a fault on the last ride of the day from Canada’s 2008 Olympic Champion Eric Lamaze. Lamaze, riding 9-year-old Holsteiner gelding Powerplay, was through the course clear and fast though, leaving Canada, the U.S., and Ukraine all tied in seventh place with a score of nine. The tie-breaker was total time, and the U.S. team was slowest of the three.
The U.S. will return for Saturday’s consolation round and look to end the competition on a good note.
Brazil was the best on Friday, finishing with 1 fault, followed by The Netherlands with 5 and Belgium as the fastest of the four eight fault teams. Scores do not carry over to the consolation or final round.
Audi’s Grant Ganzi (1) pressures Juancito Bollini (2) as he hits the ball. Photo by Scott Fisher.
WELLINGTON, FL – Sept. 26, 2013 — Hall of Famer Mike Azzaro will team with rising young stars Juancito Bollini, Grant Ganzi and Wes Finlayson on Casablanca in the Prisa Invitational when the fall polo season gets under way Thursday at Palm City Polo Club in Boca Raton.
Azzaro, raised to 8-goals in June, is coming off an outstanding 2013 high goal season earlier this year that included a U.S. Open title with Zacara.
One of the few top-rated American players, Azzaro, 48, a former 10-goaler for more than ten years, will now get to share his expertise playing with three young teammates, Bollini, 18, Finlayson, 18, and Ganzi, 15, a sophomore at St. Andrew’s, as the “Dream Team” makes its debut.
The teenagers are coming off an outstanding spring and summer highlighted by winning the inaugural USPA National Youth Tournament Series Championship in Upperville, Va. over Labor Day weekend along with Justin Daniels for the Florida Zone 3 All-Stars.
Finlayson, who grew up in the equestrian world and began playing polo at the suggestion of a family friend, was named Most Valuable Player of the NYTS tournament.
In Thursday’s opener at 4:30 p.m., Casablanca will play Newport comprised of Gene Goldstein, Marc Ganzi, Guille Aguero and Luis Escobar.
On Friday at 10 a.m. at Palm City, Paladin (David Krantz, Leo Mandelbaum, Nic Roldan and Juan Bollini) will play Beluga (Misha Rodzianko, Carlitos Gracida, Joey Casey and Brandon Phillips).
The winners advance into Sunday’s final at 10:30 a.m.
Azzaro and Roldan will use the tournament as a tune-up for the Oct. 1-5 Fortune Heights Super Nations Cup at the Tianjin Polo Club in Hong Kong. Azzaro, Roldan, and 4-goalers Ulysses Escapite and Tommy Collingwood will represent the United States against Argentina, England and Hong Kong in the 24-goal tournament.
Azzaro was last year’s Super Nations Cup MVP.
After a successful spring season, Grand Champions Polo Club is hosting what promises to be the most competitive fall season in the club’s seven-year history.
Nine tournaments are scheduled, including two 20-goal tournaments in November for the club’s sixth fall season.
The Prisa Invitational is the first of seven medium goal tournaments, and only tournament scheduled for Palm City Polo Club.
The fall season-opener will serve as warm-up matches to shake the rust off and fine tune for the season.
The remaining fall tournaments will all be hosted at Grand Champions Polo Club. They are the Oct. 4-6 USPA Fall Classic; Oct. 13-15 USPA Kay Colee Memorial; Oct. 18-20 US Trust Cup; Oct. 25-27 USPA Fall Plates; Nov.1-3 Pedro Morrison Memorial; and Nov. 8-10 Palm Restaurant Invitational.
The two 20-goal tournaments are the prestigious Oct. 30 – Nov. 9 USPA North America Cup and Nov. 13-24 The National 20-Goal Championship.
Joining Azzaro on the pro roster for Grand Champions are Roldan, Bollini Sr., Joey Casey, Phillips, J. J. Celis and Kris Kampsen. The newest player to join the lineup is Guille (Gigi) Aguero, a former 7-goaler.
During the 2012 fall season, Audi dominated the season winning back-to-back USPA North America Cup and USPA National 20-Goal Tournament titles with Marc Ganzi, Carlitos Gracida, Nic Roldan and Hall of Famer and former 10-goaler Carlos Gracida. In the national 20-goal final, Audi edged Piaget, 10-9.
For the fall season, more than fifty invitations were sent out to patrons who have competed at the club in the past five seasons. High goal team owners were also invited.
The fall season is great preparation for the 20- and 26-goal seasons for 2014 in Wellington.
The fall season is fun and competitive. Rosters and lineups change from tournament to tournament. Evenly-matched teams are put together to help build players skills and performance.
All tournaments are USPA-sanctioned and have grown in stature since their start in the mid-1990s.
GRAND CHAMPIONS FALL SCHEDULE
Sept. 26-29, Prisa Invitational, Palm City, Boca Raton
Oct. 4-6, USPA Fall Classic
Oct. 13-15, USPA Kay Colee Memorial
Oct. 18-20, US Trust Cup
Oct. 25-27, USPA Fall Plates
Oct. 30 – Nov. 9, USPA North America Cup
Nov. 1-3, Pedro Morrison Memorial
Nov. 8-10, Palm Restaurant Invitational
Nov. 13-24, The National 20-Goal Championship
PALM CITY POLO CLUB
WHERE: 18000 Jog Road, Boca Raton, 561-289-9099 (Club entrance is the first flashing light north of Clint Moore Road).
GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB
WHERE: 13444 Southfields Road, on the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, Wellington, 561-644-5050.
INFORMATION: There are great field side views for tournament action at the home base of pro teams Audi and Piaget. Everyone is welcome to watch high and medium goal polo in a relaxed atmosphere during the spring and fall tournament season and other special events including the International Cup in November, Buzz Welker Memorial Junior Tournament in March, Women’s Championship Tournament and Gay Polo League International Tournament, both in April.
Sharon Robb for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
KYB-GPE Equine Theater Production Company Presents Holiday Show for Kentucky Families
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 26, 2013) – Central Kentucky families have a new event to enjoy this holiday season when the Kentucky Horse Park welcomes “The Spirit of the Horse: A Holiday Equine Extravaganza” to the Alltech Arena, Nov. 29 and 30. An original equine entertainment production, “The Spirit of the Horse” is produced and performed by the KYB-GPE Equine Theater Production Company.
The show tells a magical holiday-themed story on horseback with orphans and villains, reining, dressage and liberty work, all in an hour-long production that will delight audiences of all ages.
World-class horses, including three-time U.S. Dressage Federation Horse of the Year and Grand Prix-level dressage superstar GP Raymeister, are brought together in this truly entertaining and original live production. Featured riders include Kim and Yvonne Barteau of KYB Dressage, who have entertained audiences at the Arabian Nights Dinner Theater in Orlando, Fla., and have appeared on the “Today” show. Joining them will be Australia’s Dan James of Double Dan Horsemanship, a world-renowned entertainer and equine performer.
In addition to the show, guests may purchase tickets for a “meet and greet” with the stars of the production at the holiday Barn Tour prior to the show each evening, and tickets are also available for the Post Production Party where guests can enjoy food and drink and, again, mingle with the horse and rider performers.
The show is presented at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 29 and 30, with the Barn Tour available from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. each evening, and the Post Production Party taking place immediately after each performance at the Alltech Arena. Show tickets range from $25 for VIP seating to $15 general admission for adults, and $10 for children ages 3 to 12. Barn Tour tickets are $5 for adults and complimentary for one accompanying child when purchased with a show ticket. Tickets to the Post Production Party to “meet and greet” the cast are $25 per person, adult or child.
The Kentucky Horse Park is a working horse farm/theme park and equine competition facility dedicated to man’s relationship with the horse. The park is an agency of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet and hosted more than 800,000 visitors and campers, as well as 15,000 competition horses in more than 200 special events and horse shows in 2012. The park is home to the National Horse Center, which comprises more than 30 national and regional equine organizations. Located at Exit 120, Interstate 75, just north of Lexington, the Kentucky Horse Park is the place to get close to horses. Information about the park’s programs and activities can be found on-line at www.KyHorsePark.com, Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and YouTube.
Lexington, Kentucky – The United States heads into the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final as the winner of the North American League and will look to again showcase its winning form. Teams from 18 nations have traveled to Barcelona, Spain, to contest the inaugural Final, which is held in conjunction with CSIO5* Barcelona, September 26-29, 2013.
Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland brings a group of steely veterans and rising stars to Spain. Beezie Madden, McLain Ward, Reed Kessler, Lucy Davis and Katie Dinan all produced double-clear efforts in Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup competition this year and look to do so again this weekend in Barcelona.
Laura Kraut (Royal Palm Beach, Florida) had originally been named to represent the U.S. at the 2013 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final with Cherry Knoll Farm Inc.’s Cedric. However, the 2008 Olympic Games Team Gold medalists withdrew after the Holsteiner gelding incurred a minor injury at CSI5* Lausanne. Following the withdrawal, Dinan was added to the U.S. squad.
“While losing an Olympic Gold medalist days before a championship event can never be a good thing, Laura’s replacement, Katie Dinan, arrives into Barcelona ‘on a roll,’ after her recent performances at the American Gold Cup,” said Ridland. “Although our team is anchored by two double-Gold medalists (Madden and Ward), the ‘signature’ of this year’s squad has to be its unprecedented youth. Reed, Lucy and Katie, all under 21 years of age, come to the Final with a lot of confidence, following a string of strong performances this year on the senior team.”
Madden (Cazenovia, New York) heads into Finals competition on impeccable form as the second-ranked rider in the world on the Longines FEI Rankings. The 2013 Rolex/FEI World Cup champion has anchored the U.S. in Nations Cup competition five times this year, jumping double-clear three times (CSIO5* Rotterdam, CSIO5* Hickstead and CSIO5* Dublin) and helping the U.S. to victory on home turf at CSIO5* Wellington.
At CSIO5* Barcelona, Madden will ride Abigail Wexner’s Simon and Cortes ‘C.
Simon is a 1999 Dutch Warmblood gelding.
Cortes ‘C’ is a 2002 Belgian Warmblood gelding.
McLain Ward and Rothchild (Randi Muster)
Ward (Brewster, New York) is among the most decorated riders on the jumping scene, having stood on the podium at Olympic, FEI World Equestrian and Pan American Games as part of the U.S. team. In 2013, he has once again amassed a string of top results, including jumping double-clear to help the U.S. Stripes team earn second place at the CSIO5* Spruce Meadows ‘Continental’ Tournament.
At CSIO5* Barcelona, Ward will ride Sagamore Farms’ Rothchild, and his own and Grant Road Partners LLC’s Zander.
Rothchild is a 2001 Warmblood gelding.
Zander is a 2004 KWPN gelding.
Kessler (Lexington, Kentucky) made her Olympic debut in 2012 alongside Madden and Ward and continues to impress on the world stage. The 2012 USEF National Champion jumped a double-clear round at CSIO Wellington to help the U.S. to victory and represented the U.S. in three other Nations Cup competitions (CSIO5* Spruce Meadows ‘Continental, CSIO5* Hickstead and CSIO5* Gijon) this year.
At CSIO5* Barcelona, Kessler will ride her own Cylana and Ligist.
Cylana is a 2002 Belgian Warmblood mare.
Ligist is a 2000 Swedish Warmblood gelding.
Davis (Los Angeles, California) enters CSIO5* Barcelona in top form, having won the Grand Prix of Lausanne at the CSI5* Lausanne two weeks ago. Additionally, the 20-year-old earned the Furusiyya Leading Rider of the Day Award at CSIO5* Rotterdam after jumping double-clear and helping the U.S. to a second-place finish.
At CSIO5* Barcelona, Davis will ride Old Oak Farm’s Barron.
Barron is a 2004 Belgian Warmblood gelding.
Katie Dinan and Nougat Du Valet (Sportfot)
Dinan (Wellington, Florida) also has a wealth of top-level and Nations Cup experience in 2013. Alongside her trainer, Ward, she jumped double-clear at the CSIO5* Spruce Meadows ‘Continental’ Tournament to help the U.S. Stripes team earn second place. Additionally, the Harvard University sophomore helped the U.S. to a third-place finish at CSIO5* Dublin.
At CSIO5* Barcelona, Dinan will ride Grant Road Partners LLC’s Nougat Du Vallet and Glory Days.
Nougat Du Vallet is a 2001 Selle Francais gelding.
Glory Days is a 2001 Swedish Warmblood gelding.
The Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final gets underway Friday when all 18 nations jump in the single round Qualifying Competition. The top eight teams from Friday return Sunday for the single round Final Competition, where all teams will start on zero faults. Teams that do not move forward to the Final Competition will jump Saturday in the single round Consolation Competition.
Tails are up and all ready to go at Real Club de Polo in Barcelona, Spain where the first warm-up class for the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final 2013 got underway this afternoon. FEI/LPpics.
Barcelona (ESP), 25 September 2013 – There is a huge sense of anticipation in the air at the Real Club de Polo in Barcelona, Spain today as horses and riders are settling in ahead of this week’s inaugural Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final. It promises to be a page-turner, as 18 nations from all around the globe will battle it out for a place in the record books as the very first Furusiyya champions.
It has been an extraordinary year since the Saudi Equestrian Fund gave their backing to the new-format series, which has opened up the sport on a global scale. Nations that previously could only watch from the sidelines are now fully embraced, and this week’s line-up includes countries taking a big step up in competitive level, but gaining valuable experience, exposure and opportunity like never before.
Perfect Venue
Real Club de Polo provides the perfect venue, and the Organising Committee have left no stone unturned in their efforts to ensure athletes, both equine and human, have everything they need. “The Organising Committee has gone out of its way to ensure the best possible facilities for this event, including changing the footing in the main arena from grass to sand. They have provided optimal conditions for all competitors, and it’s no surprise that they have applied to stage the Furusiyya Final again in 2014,” said FEI Director of Jumping, John Roche, today.
This is not the first time the Real Club de Polo main arena has been transformed. When the Olympic Games came to Barcelona in 1992 it was the venue for Jumping, and the grass was replaced by a sand arena on that occasion too. It was returned to a grass surface once again after the Games, but with unpredictable weather conditions and the demands of the modern sport, a decision was taken to provide a top-class all-weather ring for this year’s Furusiyya Final.
The work began four months ago, and with meticulous attention to detail the end result is impressive. Riders will have the chance to try it out in this evening’s warm-up class, and the expectation is that it will more than meet with their approval.
Spanish Sunshine
The horses are already enjoying the Spanish sunshine, with temperatures in the region of 26 degrees today, and riders are taking advantage of the all-weather canter-track that surrounds the massive polo field located near the stable area. Despite lying in the very heart of the beautiful Spanish city, the Polo Club grounds are spacious and open, giving horses a sense of freedom they don’t always enjoy as they tour the world plying their trade. There were many top Jumping horses enjoying a nice loping canter on the all-weather track today ahead of the bigger questions they will be asked later in the week.
The layout of the entire facility is designed for the horse’s benefit, and CSIO Barcelona is a fixture with a very long tradition indeed. It celebrates its 102nd anniversary this year, and is the oldest international sporting event staged in Spain. It also has a very strong following, so big crowds are expected to fill the stadium seats as the week progresses.
Draw
The draw for order-of-go will take place tomorrow evening, and the first of the three Final competitions will be held on Friday. Only the top eight teams will go through to Sunday’s finale with the remaining 10 teams competing in Saturday’s Team Consolation competition.
There’s no mistaking the enthusiasm of the world’s leading riders for this new Nations Cup concept which, while still in its infancy, has captured their imagination and ensured their support. Dutchman Jeroen Dubbeldam, individual gold medallist at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, said today, “To be honest it feels like a World Championship walking around here today; we have so many of the best riders in the world!”. He said the Furusiyya FEI Nation Cup concept is “a fantastic system, a fantastic idea and interesting in so many ways. Like any other sport we can’t stay the same; we have to have these kind of Finals with big money and then everyone begins to talk about it and it grows.”
Looking at the Dutch chances of becoming the very first Furusiyya champions on Sunday, he pointed out, “We’ve got to get through to Sunday first! Our team is missing two very strong combinations so it will not be easy; we will see. We still have good riders and good horses but we will need to have our very best day to be at the top on Sunday afternoon!”
The inaugural Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final will take place at Real Club de Polo in Barcelona, Spain from 26-29 September 2013. For all information on the Spanish fixture, go to the event website www.csiobarcelona.com or contact Press Officer Isabel Suter at email isuter@rcpolo.com or telephone +34 760 258 222.
Facts and Figures:
18 nations will compete in the inaugural Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final.
The list of competing countries is: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Japan, Netherlands, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, USA.
The venue for this historic event is the Real Club de Polo in Barcelona, Spain where the Jumping discipline was staged during the 1992 Olympic Games.
A total of 21 qualifying competitions took place around the globe in the lead-up to this first Furusiyya Final.
CSIO 5* Barcelona offers a massive prize-fund of €2.3m, with €2m of that allocated to the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final.
CSIO Barcelona celebrates its 102nd anniversary this year.
One of the oldest horse shows in the world, CSIO Barcelona is also the longest-established sporting event in Spain.
For further information on the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping, check out this link.
“Furusiyya” (Arabic: فروسيه) this single Arabic word conveys so much, embracing the idea of horsemanship, chivalry, and equestrian knowledge in general. The term is a derivation of faris, or horseman and faras, a horse.
Longines is the Official Timekeeper of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping series.
Longines has been based at Saint-Imier (SUI) since 1832. Its watchmaking expertise reflects a strong devotion to tradition, elegance and performance. It has generations of experience as the official timekeeper at world championships and as a partner of international sports federations.
Longines’ passion for equestrian sports began in 1878, when a timepiece was made with a horse and jockey engraved on the watch face. Over the years, the brand has built strong and long-lasting links with equestrian sports. In 1926, for the first time, the brand was involved as timekeeper for the Official International Equestrian Competition of Geneva. Today, Longines’ involvement in equestrianism includes Jumping, Endurance and flat racing.
Longines is a member of The Swatch Group S.A., the world’s leading manufacturer of horological products. With an excellent reputation for creating refined timepieces, the brand, whose emblem is the winged hourglass, has outlets in over 130 countries.
Avery Hinson and Elaine. Shawn McMillen Photography.
Upper Marlboro, MD – September 24, 2013 – The 2013 Capital Challenge Horse Show (CCHS) presented by The Gochman Family is just days away, kicking off on Saturday, September 28, at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD. The show begins with its Equitation Weekend presented by Bigeq.com, and the fantastic competition continues through October 6 with top USEF “AA” rated events. The management team at Capital Challenge looks forward to welcoming many of the nation’s top horses and riders for its 20th year of exceptional equestrian sport.
Equitation Weekend Welcomes the Nation’s Top Young Riders
One of the highlights at Capital Challenge is the Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) National Children’s Medal Finals, which will be held during Equitation Weekend on Sunday, September 29. Following a year-long qualification process, the nation’s top children’s riders will compete through two rounds in an attempt to take the national title. Fifteen-year-old Avery Hinson of New Albany, OH, sits third in the standings coming into this weekend’s competition and looks forward to the opportunity to show.
This is Hinson’s third and final year competing in the children’s medal classes and her first year qualifying for the finals. Hinson rides with Angela Moore at Stealaway Farm in Dublin, OH, and will show Elaine, an 11-year-old Warmblood mare that she recently leased.
“It is quite surreal to finally be going to the THIS Finals and I’m so excited to have this opportunity,” Hinson noted. “Last year I was in the top 40, but was knocked out in the final week, so it is a relief that I made it this year! Even though it is my third year competing in the THIS medal classes, they didn’t get any easier.”
Hinson is happy to be sitting third in the country coming into the finals and explained that she tried to be as consistent as possible at every show this year.
“The THIS Finals are very hard to qualify for because you have to place well in almost every class you show in to stay in the top 40,” she detailed. “Because the barn I ride with tends to travel to the larger equestrian destinations, I have had the opportunity to compete at the Winter Equestrian Festival, all the way up to the Lake Placid Horse Show in New York where I have gained a lot of experience, which I think will help me greatly. I look forward to the Finals this year and can’t wait to see what it has in store for all of us. I also can’t wait to reunite with my friends that live all over the country that will be there.”
New Artwork by Michael Tang Revealed for 2013 Show Program and Official Poster
Every year, the Capital Challenge Horse Show’s program and official poster feature new artwork by artist Michael Tang. This year’s cover art is a beautiful painting of 2012 World Championship Hunter Rider champion Scott Stewart and one of his top mounts, Dedication, owned by Dr. Betsee Parker.
The process that goes into creating the cover art each year is a great challenge for artist Michael Tang, and he is meticulous in his research and planning.
“Each year, as I begin to think about rendering the painting for the Capital Challenge poster, there is anxiety,” Tang expressed. “Will I be able to find a suitable photo to use as inspiration, one that flatters both horse and rider? In the last eighteen years or so that I’ve created the painting for the poster, there have been only one or two times that I’ve found a photograph that I can utilize straightaway.”
Tang explained, “As one might imagine, there is never one photo that is perfect. There might be good shot of the rider in which his equitation is exemplary, but then he or she is riding a different horse. Little by little, answers are found and forms take shape and there is always relief when the end is in sight, in other words, when I know instinctively how to finish the final painting.”
Father Michael Tang is a professor, priest and an artist who paints large watercolors reflecting his interest in religious subjects, his life in California, and of course his love of horses. Tang received his bachelor’s degree in studio arts from Loyola Marymount University in 1981, as well as a Masters of Fine Art in painting from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1983. He earned two other master degrees in theology and divinity from the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, California.
He is a Professor of Art and Art History at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. The award-winning artist specializes in brilliant watercolors and his sporting art has appeared on the covers of The Chronicle of the Horse, Horse Show, The New York Times Magazine, and Dressage Today, as well as many other publications. When not teaching or painting, Tang enjoys bringing along young show hunters.
Posters will be available for sale at the souvenir stand located on the concourse of the Show Place Arena at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center.
About Capital Challenge In its 20th year, the Capital Challenge Horse Show sets itself apart with a distinct and unique focus on preeminent hunter competition. Held each autumn at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD, this year’s show will take place on September 28 – October 6.
Top competitions include the ARIAT National Adult Medal Finals and the THIS National Children’s Medal Finals, along with the Capital Challenge Equitation Weekend, presented by Bigeq.com. In addition to these prestigious equitation events, the Capital Challenge Horse Show will once again host the World Champion Hunter Rider Finals and will assemble the country’s best horses and riders to compete in junior, amateur, and professional hunter classes.
Lausanne (SUI), 23 September 2013 – The FEI European Four-in-Hand Driving Championships will return to Hungary this week, 42 years after the event’s first edition in 1971 in Budapest. The city of Izsák, located approximately 100 kilometres south of the capital, will host the competitions from 26 to 29 September.
After their inaugural edition in 1971, the championships were held every two years until 1981 when they were discontinued. The event returned to the FEI Calendar in 2011 when Breda (NED) hosted the seventh edition. This year’s championships have attracted 35 four-in-hand drivers from nine nations. Teams from eight countries will be battling it out in the nations competition.
The Dutch driver IJsbrand Chardon is the titleholder and The Netherlands are the defending team champions.
The host nation will be represented by no less than 11 competitors, amongst whom will be Zoltán Lázár, team gold medallist and individual bronze medal winner at the recent FEI World Driving Championships for Pairs in Topol’cianky (SVK).
The town of Izsák has a long history in organising carriage driving events. The city’s traditional arena provides the basis of the show grounds for the European Championships. The mayor is also the president of the organising committee which has been in charge of the Hungarian National Driving Championships for the past 15 years.
The show grounds are located near the 15,000-year-old lake Kolon not far from the bird-watching swamp of the Kiskunság National Park.
The European Championships start on Thursday, 26 September with the horse inspection. The dressage will take place on Friday, 27 September. The marathon will follow on Saturday, 28 September. The design of the marathon obstacles is in the capable and experienced hands of international O-course designer Gábor Fintha (HUN), who was also responsible for the course at the FEI World Pair Driving Championships in Topol’cianky. The final obstacle driving competition and medal ceremony are scheduled for Sunday, 29 September.
The Ground Jury is chaired by Peter Bonhof (NED) and has Bert Jambon (BEL), Pierre Cazas (FRA), Rainer Wannenwetsch (GER) and Jiri Kunat (CZE) as members.
For more information, please consult the event’s official website.
The NRPS stallion Barnike claimed the Six-Year-Old title at the FEI World Breeding Jumping Championships for Young Horses in Lanaken, Belgium today with Ireland’s Bertram Allen on board. Photo: FEI/Dirk Caremans.
Lanaken (BEL), 22 September 2012 – The annual clash of Young Horse champions produced more sensational winners today as the FEI World Breeding Jumping Championships for Young Horses 2013 drew to a thrilling close at Lanaken in Belgium. The host country’s Royal Belgian Sports Horse Society, better known as the SBS, claimed gold in the 7-Year-Old category while the Dutch Riding Horse and Pony Studbook (NRPS) reigned supreme in the 6-Year-Old division. And there were big cheers in the Irish camp when the Irish Sport Horse Studbook (ISH) clinched the coveted 5-Year-Old title.
Despite some poor weather earlier in the week, the event attracted another enormous crowd of enthusiastic breeders, producers, riders, trainers, owners and experts from around the globe who thoroughly enjoyed their annual reunion on Belgian soil. These Championships have long been recognised as the perfect place to share ideas, and compare the merit, development, innovation and success of the studbooks, old and new, which produce the latest stars of our modern sport of Jumping.
Five-Year-Olds
There was an unusually large number through to today’s Five-Year-Old Final competition. A total of 63 started in the class and 25 jumped clear to go into a second-round jump-off against the clock.
The gold-medal-winning partnership of Greg Broderick and the ISH Arraghbeg Clover were eighteenth to go, and they set an unmerciful target when breaking the beam in 39.72 seconds after a scorching round in which the Tipperary rider took every risk. This mare, by Captain Clover who is a son of the legendary Irish stallion Clover Hill, has a mix of breeding that combines the toughness of the Irish horse with the quality of the thoroughbred, Bonnie Prince, on his dam’s side and with the Dutch influence of Animo.
Broderick said, “The first qualifier for the Five-Year-Olds was very, very tough. It was technical and the time was short and my mare had a big week, but she just kept fighting on.” The rider, who celebrated his 28th birthday yesterday, is a prolific producer of good Irish horses and Arraghbeg Clover has earned €19,000 in prize money in the last few months having won the Irish Sport Horse Studbook 5-Year-Old League and the Breeders Classic, while also finishing third in her age category at Dublin Horse Show in August. Arraghbeg Clover – Captain Clover x Bonnie Prince – is jointly-owned by her rider and Declan Orpen.
It was fellow-Irishman, the prodigiously talented 18-year-old Bertram Allen, who clinched silver medal spot with the KWPN gelding Castlefield Denver – Quasimodo Z x Ulft – owned by Ballywalter Farms. They broke the beam in 40.86 seconds while French rider, Guillaume Batillat took the bronze with the BWP mare Invisible Star – Winningmood van de Arenberg x Skippy ll – which competed for Les Ecuries d’Ecaussinnes and was less than two seconds slower in the timed round.
Six-Year-Olds
Allen went one better when steering Ballywalter Farm’s bay stallion, Barnike – Baldwin B x Animo – to victory for the NRPS Studbook in the Six-Year-Old division. Just 12 of the 40 starters qualified for the second round of this Final, and just six went double-clear.
The winning horse was purchased from Enda Carroll at Ashford Farm in Belgium a few months ago and had only competed at three shows with his new rider. “We never jumped higher than 1.10m or 1.15m before. The two qualifying classes were not too difficult, but the Final was really big so I didn’t know what to expect today. As it turned out, he just has so much scope!” Allen pointed out after his big win.
KWPN horses, ridden by Dutch riders, took silver and bronze. The bay mare Calimera – Van Gogh x Perion – owned by M. Willems and Stal Ger Poels, clinched the silver with Marcel Willems on board. “It seems I’m always second with this horse!” Willems said. “We were second in the Dutch Young Horse Championship this year as well!”
The bronze medal went to the bay stallion Cidane – Heartbreaker x G. Ramiro Z – ridden by Kristian Houwen for owners J. C. Boekee and Houwen Sporthorses BV. “I did everything I could, but I couldn’t have gone any faster,” said Houwen of his ride against the clock. “Bertram went for it from the beginning to the very end, and he never took a pull with his horse,” he added.
Seven-Year-Olds
Two different Dutch studbooks took gold and silver in the Seven-Year-Old division while the Zangersheide Studbook claimed the bronze. And Belgian riders Gudrun Patteet and Jos Lansink stood on the top two steps of the podium when producing the only double-clear performances.
Riding the SBS gelding, Sea Coast Atlantic – Schilling x Aramis de la Cense – Patteet was undisputed in the race against the clock when breaking the beam in 40.76 and leaving the full course intact. The 28-year-old rider talked about the chestnut horse which is owned by Sea Coast Horses – “We bought him a year ago and a lot of people didn’t believe in him. He’s not beautiful but he has a lot of quality and he even helped me on the course today when I had a wrong distance in the jump-off – he just went for it!” Patteet explained.
Lansink was delighted with the silver medal won by VDL Stud’s stallion Bacardi VDL – Corland x Kannan – representing the KWPN Studbook. “I saw this horse as a five-year-old and wanted to buy him, but eventually VDL sent him to my stable instead. This is a horse that will do very big classes later in his career, but I didn’t go for it in the jump-off today. He still spends too much time in the air and he wasn’t ready for it, so I went for a nice clear round instead,” pointed out the 2006 World Champion. The chestnut Bacardi VDL is an approved stallion but has not yet been used for breeding. Lansink said he expects he will begin breeding next year following his great result today.
Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa steered Gustavo Mirabal’s chestnut mare, GC Atlanta Z – Andiamo Z x Heartbreaker – into bronze for the Zangersheide Studbook. This pair produced the quickest time in the jump-off when clearing the line in 37.66 seconds, but they left one fence on the floor. The FEI World Breeding Championships for Young Horses are the brainchild of Leon Melchior of Zangersheide Stud where the event takes place, so it is particularly satisfying when horses carrying the stud’s world-famous banner take a spot on the medal podium as they have done many times before.
GC Atlanta Z was bought at an auction in Lummen, Belgium and produced many good results in Wellington, Florida, USA early this year. “She’s very fast and she’s really careful, not a 1.60m horse but she’ll be a real winner at 1.40m and 1.50m,” Pessoa said. “She has the character of a chestnut mare, sometimes you have to do what she wants, although I tell her she also has to listen to me a little – she has great quality, and she’s a fighter,” the rider added. The mare will now return to the USA and will take a break before being prepared for the Florida circuit once again this winter.
The winning British team at Montelibretti (ITA), left to right: Nicky Roncoroni, Dani Evans, Emilie Chandler and Paul Sims. (Photo: Massimo Argenziano/FEI).
Lausanne (SUI), 23 September, 2013 – Great Britain has closed to within two points of Germany in the FEI Nations Cup Eventing 2013 after a convincing victory at Montelibretti (ITA) at the weekend.
Britain finished nearly 40 penalties ahead of the host nation, Italy, with a three-man German team taking third.
The British quartet, all of whom were competing in their first FEI Nations Cup Eventing competition this year, finished first, second, fourth and sixth, with Nicky Roncoroni leading from the start to take individual honours on the Irish-bred Trig Point.
Emilie Chandler was second on the impressive nine-year-old Coopers Law and Paul Sims was fourth on Calador. Dani Evans, who has just graduated from the Young Rider ranks, slipped from third to sixth after incurring 18 Jumping penalties on Raphael ll when the horse became a little “free” over what was described as an up-to-height track with plenty of related distances. All four achieved clear Cross Country rounds inside the optimum time.
“They all went well and it was a very pleasing result,” said team manager Philip Surl. “When we walked the course we thought there were quite a few places where you could make a mistake, and also that the time would be hard to get. Paul was riding on a team for the first time and he did a great job as trailblazer – cool, calm and collected.
“It was quite a logistical challenge for us to get down to Montelibretti and involved two overnight stops, but the horses all arrived well and we had a couple of personal bests in the dressage.”
Emilie Portale was the best of the Italian team, third individually on Rubens Delle Sementarecce, backed up by Roberto Riganelli and Stinger du Meugon, fifth, and Pietro Sandei, 11th on Mouse, a horse he bought from Mark Todd (NZL). Marco Cappai withdrew Sunshine Sweet before the Jumping phase.
Italy is now fourth in the FEI Nations Cup Eventing leaderboard behind Germany, Great Britain and New Zealand with two events to go, Waregem (BEL) this weekend (26-29 September) and the last leg at Boekelo (NED) on 11-14 October.
The Germans fielded their top championship combinations at Fontainebleau (FRA), Houghton Hall (GBR) and Aachen (GER), but they sent a new trio on the long journey down to the Italian military base just south of Rome. Robert Sirch finished best in seventh on Killcross, but Bodo Battenburg was hampered by a Dressage mark of 75.2 on Cadgold and Martin Drescher had to withdraw Gandalf VM before the final Jumping phase.
Britain has concentrated on a designated pool of up-and-coming riders for the series this year, aided by funding from UK Sport, with the aim of giving younger riders team experience. Laura Collett, Lucy Wiegersma, Izzy Taylor, Sarah Bullimore and Jodie Amos will be travelling to Belgium this weekend, where Philip Surl is hoping to overtake the mighty Germans. “If we can pick the right horses, we should have a good team and just might have a chance,” he said. “This is a great series and I think it will grow and grow.”
The FEI’s first team Eventing series, the FEI Nations Cup Eventing, is open to all nations fielding one team composed of 3 or 4 riders at each leg. The series runs under FEI Eventing rules at CICO and CCIO 3* level and riders accumulate points under a dedicated system created for the new series.
Conor Swail and Lansdowne won the $35,000 CSI2* RAM Equestrian Caledon Cup Phase 2. Photo Credits – Shoot Photographic.
Palgrave, Ontario – For the second day in a row, Ireland’s Conor Swail emerged victorious to win the $35,000 CSI2* RAM Equestrian Caledon Cup, Phase II, presented by Aviva, and claim the coveted Caledon Cup trophy at the CSI2* Canadian Show Jumping Tournament held September 18 to 22 at the Caledon Equestrian Park in Palgrave, ON.
On Saturday, Swail had topped a 22-horse starting field to win Phase I of the RAM Equestrian Caledon Cup competition riding Lansdowne. A day later, their fortunes remained the same, as the pair led the victory gallop after holding off jump-off challengers Ljubov Kochetova of Russia, David Arcand, the father and son double threat of Ian and Jonathon Millar, and their student, Jordan MacPherson.
While 10 had found their way around Michel Vaillancourt’s track on Saturday without incurring faults, only eight would be successful on Sunday. However, MacPherson’s was the only new face amongst the jump-off line-up, as Vaillancourt once again pitted the best against the best in the all-deciding final round. The individual silver medalist at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, Vaillancourt has been appointed course designer for the show jumping events at the 2015 Pan American Games, which will be hosted by the Caledon Equestrian Park.
For the second day in a row, Russia’s Ljubov Kochetova jumped clear with Wilford 2, only to be caught by the clock for one time fault, leaving her ninth in the final placings. Chris Sorensen of Caledon East, ON, who will be representing Canada next month in Nations’ Cup competition in Brazil, turned in the fastest four-fault performance riding The Jolly Group’s Wriomf to round out the top 10.
23-year-old David Arcand of Mont-Royal, QC, produced the only four-fault performance in the jump-off to slot into eighth position with Vledder, his 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding.
With seven riders again producing clear rounds in the jump-off, time would be the final decider. Jonathon Millar of Perth, ON, was the first rider back to attempt the shortened jump-off track with Contino 14, turning in a time of 41.51 seconds. He would soon be overtaken by the next rider in the line-up, Swail riding Game Ready, owned by Susan Grange, who stopped the clock in 39.03. Shaving exactly three seconds off the Irishman’s time was Jordan MacPherson, 23, who stopped the clock in 36.03 seconds with Piccobello du Val de Geer. No strangers to the winner’s circle at the Caledon Equestrian Park, the Toronto native and her 14-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare had won the $35,000 CSI2* RAM Equestrian Grand Prix in August.
Ljubov Kochetova of Russia took a shot with Aslan, falling short in 38.81 seconds to place fourth overall while MacPherson’s coach, 10-time Canadian Olympian Ian Millar of Perth, ON, came close with Star Power, crossing the timers in 37.33 seconds to take third place for Team Works.
MacPherson’s time had only to withstand one last challenger in the form of Swail and Lansdowne, who had claimed victory in dramatic fashion one day earlier. Proving to be on form, the pair tightened their turns and sailed around Vaillancourt’s track almost two seconds faster, stopping the clock in 34.07 seconds for victory.
“It always helps to go last, although Jordan was very quick and she made it where I had to take all the risks and hope that everything worked out,” said Swail, 41. “My horse was terrific. There were a few turns where a horse with less quality might not have come back with the same result that he did. He’s obviously one of the favourites at the show, but it’s nice that he’s expected to do well and that he doesn’t let you down. That’s the sign of a top horse.”
Of the conditions, the rider who hails from County Down commented, “The new footing makes a huge difference, and it even showed in the results. The course was well-built, but the footing was so good that I think the horses jumped well off of it. There were more clears than I thought there would be.”
In addition to winning the $35,000 CSI2* RAM Equestrian Caledon Cup, Phase II, presented by Aviva, Swail was also awarded the RAM Equestrian Caledon Cup.
“It worked out well for Lansdowne,” said Swail of the 10-year-old chestnut Dutch Warmblood stallion owned by Sue and Arial Grange of Cheltenham, ON. “It’s his last show of the year, and it’s great for him to finish off on the best note possible. Now he gets a well-deserved rest.”
Sunday’s victory marked the fourth one of the year for Swail at the Caledon Equestrian Park. Before winning back-to-back grand prix events at the Canadian Show Jumping Tournament with Lansdowne, Swail won the $20,000 Adequan Open Welcome with Martha Louise and the $30,000 RAM Equestrian Grand Prix with Game Ready, both owned by the Grange family, back in May. Before this year, he had never before competed at the Caledon Equestrian Park.
And Caledon Equestrian Park is the ideal host to international competition. Athletes come from all over the world to compete at the world-class facility, and the CSI2* Canadian Show Jumping Tournament was no exception.
“The riders jumped in reserve order of finish from yesterday, and the cream rose to the top,” said Craig Collins, managing partner of Equestrian Management Group, which operates the Caledon Equestrian Park. “It was an exciting jump-off. After Jordan MacPherson went, I didn’t think anyone would beat her, but the turn that Conor did at the top of the course was unbelievable! Lansdowne jumped beautifully and deserved to win.”
Collins continued, “Michel Vaillancourt did a great job and was complimented by everyone on his courses. Yesterday was a supreme test of the new footing with all of the rain, and everyone commented on how good the ground was and how good the footing was. We had riders from Ireland, Russia, Vanessa Mannix from Calgary, and Quebec was very well-represented. We had competitors from right across the country. And it was great to have Jonathon Millar back with us, qualifying two horses for the jump-off.”
Sydney Vince rode Echodancer van de Heffinck to victory in the inaugural $20,000 MVS Solutions Junior/Amateur Pan Am Challenge
While the Caledon Cup was the featured event of the day, the inaugural $20,000 MVS Solutions Junior/Amateur Pan Am Challenge proved to be a spectacular addition to the Tournament’s schedule. Riders qualified throughout the season in the 1.20m, 1.30m and 1.40m divisions, and went head-to-head jumping at their respective heights at the Canadian Show Jumping Tournament. Sydney Vince, competing in the 1.30m section of the competition, emerged victorious riding Echodancer van de Heffinck, earning $6,000 in prize money for owner Trinity Farms of Burlington, ON. Page Mawson and her own Under Pressure took second place and $5,000 in prize money while Adrien Vilcini and her Gervantus earned $3,000 for their third place finish.
The CSI2* Canadian Show Jumping Tournament is proud to benefit the Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada, raising more than $15,000 in 2013 for the non-profit organization. This year’s fundraiser saw corporate partners uniting to underwrite the costs of hosting a two-day Children’s Wish celebration which included brunch and ringside tables for Saturday and Sunday’s grand prix events. Thanks to the generosity of Alberta Premium, Brick Brewery Co., Brookvalley Developments, Schickendanz Brothers, TechPower Developments, and Gourmandissimo Catering and Fine Foods, every dollar from the purchase of tickets went directly to the Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada.
With the final event of the season having come to a conclusion, phase two of construction now begins at the Caledon Equestrian Park in preparation for hosting the 2015 Pan American Games. A new grand prix stadium, spectator pavilion, indoor complex, and new FEI barn are all expected to be complete by spring of 2014.
For more information on the CSI2* Canadian Show Jumping Tournament, including full results, please visit www.equiman.com.
Contact: Jennifer Ward
Starting Gate Communications
Cell: (613) 292-5439 www.startinggate.ca
