The fabulous new Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping trophy will be claimed by the winning team at the Final of the inaugural Furusiyya 2013 season in Barcelona, Spain next September.
Lausanne (SUI), 1 May 2013 – The Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup 2013 series resumes in earnest this week, with simultaneous action at both Lummen (BEL) and Linz (AUT) on the afternoon of Friday 3 May. Both events are part of the Europe Division 2 series – CSIO 4* Lummen hosts eight teams while a bigger field of 11 nations will line out at CSIO 3* Linz.
The FEI Nations Cup Jumping series celebrates 104 years of team competition in 2013, and in this inaugural season of the new-look series under the Furusiyya banner a total of 41 nations will compete at 22 qualifiers around the globe leading up to the world final in Barcelona (ESP) in September.
Furusiyya is the brand name for the commercial arm of the Saudi Equestrian Fund, which finalised a €16 million four-year sponsorship package with the FEI in November 2012. The series began at Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates in February where The Netherlands came out on top and both Saudi Arabia and Qatar qualified for the Final, while the USA claimed victory on home ground at the second leg in Wellington, Florida in March.
Teams at both venues
Great Britain and Switzerland will field teams at both venues on Friday afternoon. There are 11 events in Division 2, with Lummen and Linz followed by Drammen (NOR), 10 May; Copenhagen (DEN), 24 May; Lisbon (POR), 7 June; Sopot (POL), 14 June; Budapest (HUN), 12 July; Bratislava (SVK), 2 August; Gijon (ESP), 30 August; Arezzo (ITA), 6 September; and Kiev (UKR), 13 September.
Each country can only accumulate points in one of the six different leagues, and can only earn those points at designated fixtures. In Division 2, each country has been allocated five legs at which they can pick up their points, and the four countries chasing down those points in Lummen will be Belgium, Finland, Norway and Sweden.
The other teams competing at the Belgian fixture are France, Great Britain, The Netherlands and Switzerland and the competition promises to be hot, with so many top riders in action. The Belgian squad consists of Dirk Demeersman, Francois Mathy Jr., Olivier Philippaerts and Annelies Voselmans along with reigning world champion Philippe Lejeune.
The team from Finland is made up of Anna-Julia Kontio, Henri Kovacs, Kaarlo Kovacs, Mikko Maentausta and Maiju Mallat, while the experienced French contingent of Aymeric de Ponnat, Marc Dilasser, Julien Epaillard, Olivier Guillon and Jerome Hurel can be expected to make an impression.
Guy Williams, Joe Clee, Simon Crippen, Philip Miller and Daniel Nielsen have been named by the British, while Roelof Bril, Peter Bulthuis, Anne-Liza Markinga, Henk van de Pol and Leon Thijssen will be vying to take one of the four spots available on the Dutch team.
The Norwegian team will be selected from Victoria Gulliksen, Tony Andre Hansen, Cecilie Hatteland, Ole Kristoffer Meland and Line Raaholt, while Switzerland’s Romain Duguet, Martin Fuchs, Andreas Ott, Carlo Pfyffer and Aurelie Wetttstein will also be hoping to impress. Lisen and Peder Fredricson are listed for Sweden along with Niklas Arvidsson, Anders Lidbeck and Angelie Von Essen.
The draw for the order-of-go takes place in Lummen tomorrow, 2 May, at 12.00 CEST (local time) and the competition begins on Friday at 15.00 CEST.
Linz
The action in Linz will begin an hour earlier, at 14.00 CEST (local time), and the order-of-go has already been decided following the draw this evening:
Switzerland
Austria
Germany
Poland
Italy
Russia
Ireland
Denmark
Great Britain
Belarus
Australia
Course designer in Linz is Austria’s Franz Madl, and Australia will field four riders from their squad of six that includes Evie Buller, Rory Hovell, Sarah Isbister, Philip Lever, William James Passy and Alison Rowland. The host nation will choose from Stefan Eder, Julia Kayser, Astrid Kneifel, Dieter Kofler and Christian Schranz, and they will be sure to put their best foot forward on home turf.
Vasil Ivanou, Maxim Kryna, Yahor Morotski and Ibragim Vaskov are listed for Belarus, while the Danish contingent consists of Lars Bak Andersen, Kim Kristensen, Charlotte von Ronne and Andreas Schou. The British have sent Graham Lovegrove, Timothy Page, Jo Pay, Louise Saywell and William Whitaker – the latter a member of the world-famous family that has made such a massive contribution to the sport of Jumping over a long number of years, particularly through the achievements of senior members John and Michael.
There are some familiar names amongst the German crew of Joachim Heyer, Markus Renzel, Mario Stevens, Maximilian Weishaupt and Jan Wernke, while Billy Twomey will undoubtedly be lending his not-inconsiderable leadership skills to the Irish side that includes two of his own protégés, Anthony Condon and 17-year-old wonder-boy Bertram Allen, who will be joined by Irish army rider Captain Michael Kelly.
Fabio Brotto, Davide Kainich, Luca Moneta and Eleonora Zorzetto will fly the Italian flag, while the Polish team will be Igor Kawiak, Lukasz Koza, Ewa Mazurowska and Piotr Morsztyn. The five listed for Russia are Vladimir Beletskiy, Olga Chechina, Sergey Khomashko, Vadim Konovalov and Natalia Simonia, and Switzerland looks very strong indeed with Pascal Bettschen accompanied by Claudia Gisler, Christina Liebherr, and Werner Muff.
The four teams battling for points in Linz are Austria, Belarus, Denmark and Russia.
Allocation of teams to Division 1 Events Europe – here
Allocation of teams to Division 2 Events Europe – here
Linz will be broadcast live on FEI TV – don’t miss a hoof-beat; watch every exciting moment on www.feitv.org.
Facts and Figures:
Both of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup competitions taking place on Friday 3 May 2013 are part of the Europe Division 2 series.
A total of eight nations will line out at the CSIO 4* in Lummen (BEL) – Belgium, Finland, France, Great Britain, The Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland and Sweden.
There will be 11 nations in action at CSIO 3* Linz (AUT) – Australia, Austria, Belarus, Denmark, Great Britain, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Russia and Switzerland.
The FEI Nations Cup Jumping series celebrates 104 years of team competition this year.
The 2013 season comprises 22 qualifiers in as many countries.
Swiss watchmakers Longines are the official timekeepers for the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping series.
41 nations will seek a place at the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final 2013 which will take place in Barcelona (ESP) in September.
Furusiyya is the brand name for the commercial arm of the Saudi Equestrian Fund which finalised a €16 million four-year sponsorship package with the FEI in November 2012.
For further information on the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping series, 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 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 horlogical products. With an excellent reputation for creating refined timepieces, the brand, whose emblem is the winged hourglass, has outlets in over 130 countries.
Left to right: Michael Jung on Leopin FST, Andreas Dibowski on Butts Leon, Team Coach Hans Melzer, Dirk Schrade on King Artus and Frank Ostholt on Little Paint. Photo: Hanna Broms/FEI.
Lausanne (SUI), 25 March, 2013 – The German team produced yet another excellent performance to score victory at Fontainebleau (FRA), the first leg of the FEI Nations Cup Eventing 2013, and seem to be carrying on their winning ways from last year, when they took four out of six competitions in the inaugural series.
Team manager, Hans Melzer, had again fielded an ‘A’ team, made up of Olympic, World and European Champion Michael Jung on his second string Leopin FST (they finished third individually), Olympic team gold medallists Dirk Schrade and King Artus, plus Andreas Dibowski (Butts Leon) and 2011 European bronze medallists Frank Ostholt and Little Paint.
The quartet scored an emphatic victory over the host nation, France, and were dominant from the start, even without Jung’s top horse, La Biosthetique Sam, on which he scored an individual victory in the CIC3*, and Olympic bronze medallists Sandra Auffarth and Opgun Louvo, who finished second.
There were only five clear Cross Country rounds inside the optimum time on Pierre Michelet’s twisting, accuracy-testing course around the forest tracks, and two of them came from Jung. French team member Donatien Schauly riding Seculaire*Mili produced another, finishing on his Dressage score in individual fourth place.
Vittoria Panizzon, riding the little grey mare Borough Pennyz, was one of the fastest across country for two time penalties and, jumping clear for seventh place individually, she led the Italian team to third place, ahead of the Netherlands.
An all-female British team lay second after Dressage, with Kitty King and Zidante in individual fourth place behind the German trio. However, King and Izzy Taylor, riding KBIS Starchaser, both faulted at the influential fence 18c on the Cross Country, a narrow brush fence on a curving line in water. The team dropped to fifth and Emily Llewelyn and Pardon Me, who had started out as the discard score after Dressage, ended up best of the quartet in 17th place with a clear Jumping round.
Fence 18c was also the downfall of the New Zealand team, as both Mark Todd on Regent Lad and Megan Heath (St Daniel) faulted here, and the Kiwis were unable to finish any higher than sixth, ahead of Spain in seventh.
The next FEI Nations Cup Eventing leg is on British soil in May, at Houghton Hall, where it will be interesting to see if the home side can resurrect their fortunes once more. Further nations, such as Australia, Ireland and Belgium, will also be expected to make their seasonal débuts.
The FEI’s first team Eventing series, the FEI Nations Cup Eventing, has seven events and 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. Visit the FEI Nations Cup Eventing series hub here for rules, results and Organiser details.
Left to right: Michael Jung, Bettina Hoy, Julia Krajewski and Ingrid Klimke with Chef d’Equipe Hans Melzer. Photo: Jon Stroud/FEI.
Lausanne (SUI), 20 March, 2013 – Three members of the German Olympic gold medal team are heading to the Complet International de Fontainebleau (FRA) this weekend, where the opening leg of the second FEI Nations Cup Eventing test series will take place (21-24 March).
The Germans, winners of last year’s first test series, will be taking no chances and Chef d’Equipe Hans Melzer has a wealth of talent to choose from. Michael Jung, the reigning Olympic, World and European Champion will be heading to Fontainebleau with his fantastic horse La Biosthetique Sam FB and Leopin FST, third at Pau (FRA) CCI4* in 2012. He will be joined by London 2012 team mates Sandra Auffarth and Dirk Schrade, as well as Andreas Dibowski, Kai-Steffen Meier and Frank Ostholt.
Germany scored a runaway victory in the inaugural FEI Nations Cup Eventing last year, after winning a total of four legs, but other countries such as Spain, who finished second, also took a determinedly structured approach.
It is anticipated that other nations will now be working out a plan to do better in this second test series, which was given a resounding stamp of approval by riders and team officials in 2012.
Great Britain has announced a pool of six prospective team riders who will also use the FEI Nations Cup Eventing to gain valuable experience for Championships: Laura Collett, Pippa Funnell, Kitty King, Emily Llewelyn, Gemma Tattersall and Izzy Taylor.
The New Zealanders are also expected to present a stronger challenge in this year’s series, with Olympic bronze medallists Sir Mark Todd and Jonelle Richards joined by Megan Heath at the Grand Parquet.
A total of eight nations are in a position to field teams of a minimum of three or maximum of four riders for this year’s series: France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand and Spain.
“We are extremely proud to be hosting the opening leg of the second FEI Nations Cup Eventing test series at the prestigious Grand Parquet in Fontainebleau”, said François Lucas, President of CREIF (Comité Régional d’Equitation d’Ile de France).
“Spectators will have the opportunity to see top-class Eventing in our historical surroundings, making this a truly thrilling three days of competition, and a fitting start to the 2013 series.”
One more venue has been added to the FEI Nations Cup Eventing calendar, at Waregem in Belgium. The first six legs will be run as short-format (CICO3*) competitions, with the option of running the Cross Country as the last phase. The final leg, at Boekelo (NED) in October, will be long format (CCIO3*).
“We were very pleased with the way the first year went, especially with the commitment and enthusiasm from smaller Eventing nations such as Spain, the Netherlands and Brazil,” commented Catrin Norinder, FEI Director, Eventing and Olympic.
“We hope to continue to expand the series. One more competition has been added this year at Waregem, and we expect the last leg at Boekelo to be a much closer affair as more nations begin to plan more tactically and use the FEI Nations Cup Eventing to help up-and-coming riders get a feel for the Championship experience. It will be a really exciting series this year.”
Lausanne (SUI), 14 March 2013 – The Real Club de Polo of Barcelona (ESP), venue for the equestrian events at the Barcelona Olympic Games in 1992, will play host to the inaugural Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final with a €2 million prize fund on offer, the largest ever in Nations Cup history. The event, which is open to the best 18 teams of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping 2013 season, will take place from 26 to 29 September.
“The Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final is one of the highlights of the international equestrian year and we are delighted that it will be held at such a prestigious location as the Real Club de Polo of Barcelona,” FEI Secretary General Ingmar De Vos said. “Barcelona has always put on top-class events and now that the FEI’s oldest Jumping series has taken on a truly global dimension we are looking forward to a really spectacular season finale in the Catalan capital.”
“The city of Barcelona and the Real Club de Polo are very honoured to be hosting the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final 2013. Teams from up to 18 nations will be travelling to our city and we are already hard at work to ensure absolutely first-class facilities,” CSIO Barcelona Director Daniel Garcia Giró commented.
“It is great news that the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final 2013 will be taking place at such a beautiful place,” Ziyad Abduljawad, Managing Director of the Saudi Equestrian Fund, declared. “The Arabic word Furusiyya encompasses horsemanship, equestrian skills and knowledge, as well as chivalry and the Real Club de Polo of Barcelona, the history of which spans over 100 years, is the perfect setting for an event which perfectly combines tradition with a truly global reach.”
In this inaugural Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping season, 22 events will take place in the build-up to the Final. A total of 18 teams will be eligible to compete at the Final, with nine from Europe, two each from North & Central America & the Caribbean, South America, Middle East and Asia/Australasia, and one from Africa. If the host nation Spain does not qualify for the Final, they will still be permitted to compete, bringing the number of teams to 19.
The Swiss watchmaker Longines, which is the official timekeeper of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping series, will also be official timekeeper at the Final in Barcelona.
The Final will be run over three competitions, with all teams starting in the opening one-round class which is not against the clock. The top eight teams from this competition will go through to the third and final decider, while the remaining teams will compete in the Consolation class which will be held on 28 September, the day before the Final competition.
All nations start on a zero score on the last day, and four riders from each team will compete in the first round. If there is a tie for first place after this round, then three riders from each team will go through to a jump-off against the clock, guaranteeing a tense and thrilling finale to decide the first Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping champions.
A total of 37 countries will be aiming to qualify for the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final in Barcelona. The original number of 41 has been reduced by four following confirmation from Croatia, Estonia, Latvia and Syria that they will not take part in the series this year. The 37 nations confirmed for the 2013 series are: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Belarus, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, United States of America.
Furusiyya
“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
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 watchback. 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.
Venezuelan Junior Team riders Emmanuel Andrade, Daniela Stransky, Victoria Karam and Gustavo Machado.
Wellington, FL – March 3, 2013 – Top show jumping riders representing Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Sweden and the United States vied for top honors during Hollow Creek Farm FEI Children’s, Junior, and Young Rider Nations Cups at the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival on March 2, 2013. But many of the talented team members not only rode for their country, but also championed the international charity Step by Step Foundation during the exciting show jumping competitions at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida.
While many of the riders, including teen talents Daniela Stransky, Emanuel Andrade, Jose Fernando Bonetti, Victoria Karam, Gustavo Machado, Maria Gabriela Brugal and Maria Jose De La Torre, along with adult showjumpers Mario Gamboa and Juan Ortiz competing in the Grand Prix, were putting their best efforts for their individual countries, they were also riding as members of “Team Step by Step,” a group of riders of all ages and levels who help raise awareness for the international children’s charity.
The Hollow Creek Farm FEI Nations Cup classes consisted of two rounds for each division shown over courses set by Anthony D’Ambrosio of Red Hook, NY. The first round for each age group was held during the day session in the International Arena and all three second rounds were held at night under the lights. The team from USA won in the young rider’s class and the teams from Brazil won in the junior and children’s classes.
Step by Step founder Liliane Stransky and her daughter Daniela Stransky, member of the Team Step by Step and Venezuelan Junior Bronze Winning Team
“Our children, junior, young riders and of course our Grand Prix veterans, were amazing,” continued Step by Step founder Liliane Stransky, the owner of Stransky’s Mission Farm. “I am so proud to have such a wonderful group representing Step by Step! The kids have all worked so hard to secure a spot on their team, but they are also part of a larger ‘Team’ all year round, one that helps spread the word and raise funds for the non-profit at competitions around the globe!”
Each Team Step by Step member was thrilled to be able to make their nation’s team; they also agreed that Nations Cup competitions offered a wonderful opportunity to draw more attention to the charity and the children who are less fortunate.
“It was such an honor to be able to represent Venezuela and Step by Step at the same time,” stated Daniela Stransky, who piloted her 12 year old WB gelding Twister to double clean rounds to help the Venezuelan Junior Team secure the Bronze Medal. “This gave us a chance to be on two different teams; one for our own country and the other for a charity that is working to change the world. Either way, we were all winners!”
“This was my first opportunity to show in the International Arena and the first time I jumped the water, which we cleared!” explained Jose F. Bonetti, who rode his bay gelding Umare competing for the DR in the Juniors. “When you are a part of a team you feel a great deal of responsibility to not only do well for yourself, but for them too!”
The Hollow Creek Farm FEI Junior Nations Cup had six teams make it to the second round of competition with a win for Brazil. The teams of Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela, USA, and Argentina all showed under the lights on Saturday night. “It has wonderful to lead these young riders,” stated Venezuela Chef d’Equipe Leo Godoy. “Each of the teams showed such promise and I see a bright future for them all!”
All of the riders from every one of the teams were thrilled with the result and agreed that it was a fantastic opportunity to compete.
The Step by Step Foundation works to enhance the lives of underprivileged children by creating and supporting, health, nutrition, water, education and other programs that substantially impact the human rights and development of children worldwide (www.stepbystepfoundation.com).
Brazil Sweeps Children’s and Junior Hollow Creek Farm FEI Nations Cup Classes; McLain Ward and Super Trooper de Ness Win $33,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic; Katie Dinan and Glory Days Victorious in $25,000 Ariat Jumper Classic; Nolan Wein and Aaron Pick Up Victory in THIS National Children’s Medal 15-17
Wellington, FL – March 2, 2013 – The Hollow Creek Farm FEI Children’s, Junior, and Young Rider Nations Cups were featured at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) on Saturday, March 2, at the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) in Wellington, FL. With the first round for each age group held during the day session and all three second rounds held at night under the lights, the team from USA won in the young rider’s class and the teams from Brazil won in the junior’s and children’s classes.
Week eight CSIO competition, sponsored by G&C Farm, runs February 27 – March 3, 2013. The $150,000 CSIO 4* Grand Prix, presented by Wellington Equestrian Realty, will be held on Sunday afternoon. The 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival features 12 weeks of competition running from January 9 – March 31, 2013, and will be awarding almost $7 million in prize money throughout the circuit.
The Hollow Creek Farm FEI Nations Cup classes were a huge success thanks to the vision, innovation and support of the Andrade Family. Equestrian Sport Productions’ CEO Mark Bellissimo recognized Hollow Creek Farm for their dedication to the advancement of the sport.
“Thank you to the Andrade Family for their support of these fantastic classes,” Bellissimo stated. “The event exceeded expectations in its first year and we were thrilled with the enthusiasm and passion of everyone involved. We look forward to making this even bigger and better next year.”
Saturday’s Nations Cup competition consisted of two rounds for each division shown over courses set by Anthony D’Ambrosio of Red Hook, NY. After the first round, each team dropped their highest score. In the second round, all eligible teams returned in order of highest to lowest total faults. The winner was determined by the lowest total of each team’s top three riders from each round.
The Hollow Creek Farm FEI Young Rider Nations Cup was a very close class with teams USA and Canada coming into round two tied at the top and the American riders taking the win. Colombia and Brazil also showed in the final round and finished third and fourth respectively.
The U.S. team, represented by Catherine Pasmore and Pasmore Stables’ Z Canta, Mattias Tromp and Beyaert Farm, Inc.’s Casey, Abigail McArdle and David McArdle’s Cosma 20, and Liza Finsness and Ormsby Hilll, was coached by Chef d’Equipe Michelle Grubb.
Grubb was thrilled with the way her team performed and stressed upon them the honor of competing for their country. “They were terrific,” Grubb smiled. “This has been a fantastic week. Our juniors and young riders really came through tonight. The only rider who has competed for the USA is Catherine, but all the other riders really stepped up. I told them that there is no greater honor then being able to represent your country in the sport that you love. I’m proud that they won, but more proud of their performance this week.”
Abigail McArdle and Cosma 20 put in the only double clear rounds for Team USA. Catherine Pasmore was the drop score of eight in round one, but came back strong to jump clear in the second round. Mattias Tromp had one time fault in the first round and five faults in round two. Liza Finsness had four faults in round one and then did not have to return in round two after it was determined that their team could not be beat. Team USA finished on ten faults total.
The Canadian team finished in second on a 15 point total. Their riders included Bretton Chad aboard Santa Catarina LS, owned by Stone Ridge Farms LLC, Nicole Walker riding High Yummy, Amelia Vernon on Jaime Auletto’s Udolente, and Kara Chad riding Alberto II, owned by Stone Ridge Farms, LLC.
In round one, Bretton Chad and Walker jumped clear and Vernon and Amelia Chad each had five faults with one of those scores dropped. In round two, Vernon’s score of nine was dropped, Bretton Chad had five, Walker had four, and Kara Chad incurred one time fault.
After watching their senior team jump to victory in Friday night’s $75,000 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup presented by G&C Farm, the young U.S. riders were encouraged to bring their country a win and all agreed that it was a great experience.
“I’m honored to be able to represent the USA on a team for the first time,” Abigail McArdle stated. “Being on a team is a little bit of added extra pressure since you aren’t just jumping clean for yourself, but for a team. It is a great feeling to have the added pressure, especially when it pays off.”
Catherine Pasmore is the only rider on the team that has had Nations Cup experience. She jumped double clear in Hagen and jumped clear for a U.S. win in Buenos Aires. She had a rough start to the day, but had a great show in the end.
“We definitely turned it around tonight,” Pasmore proclaimed. “I’m really happy with it. It is an amazing feeling to represent your country. Whether it’s young riders or a senior team, it is an honor every time they play the National Anthem. I was happy to be a part of this great team and Michelle does a great job bringing everyone together.”
U.S. Chef d’Equipe Michelle Grubb added a thank you to Hollow Creek Farm for their support. “Thank you to the Andrade Family for this week. It has been a fabulous experience for everyone,” she acknowledged. “It has been an honor to lead these riders, be there for them, and enjoy their progress and enthusiasm. The South Americans, especially the Brazilians, are so enthusiastic and they really gained our respect with their really great performances. We applaud them.”
The Hollow Creek Farm FEI Junior Nations Cup had six teams make it to the second round of competition with a win for Brazil. The teams of Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela, USA, and Argentina all showed under the lights on Saturday night.
It was another very close class as Teams USA and Mexico each went into round two with four faults, Brazil with six and Venezuela with eight. Brazil scored the victory as three of their riders cleared the second round course and they were able to drop one four fault score to stay on six faults.
Mexico had two riders with four faults in the second round along with two clear rounds, so they added four to their first round faults to finish in second place on eight. Venezuela had two clear rounds, one time fault and one four fault score in round two. They dropped the four to add one point and finish on nine for third place honors.
The winning junior Brazilian team consisted of Carolina Drummond riding LaLa de la Hurie, owned by Madame Catherine Potin, Sofia Scheer riding Levin Z, Stoeterij Zangersheide, Giulia Scampini riding Constantino Scampini’s Keep On Fighting, and Fernando Penteado riding Petit Paul de Beaufou, owned by M. Eric Levallois Et S.A.R.L Pilou. They were coached by Chef d’Equipe Caio Sergio de Carvalho.
Giulia Scampini was the only rider from Brazil’s junior team to jump two clear rounds in the class. Drummond had four and four, Scheer had two time faults and then a clear round, and Penteado had eight and zero.
All of the riders were thrilled with the result and agreed that it was a fantastic opportunity to compete. Sixteen-year-old Penteado has had his horse, a Selle Francais gelding, for two years. “My horse is a young horse at only 8 years old,” he stated. “I bought him in Europe. He’s good, but inexperienced.”
On riding in the class, Penteado smiled, “It is great to represent our country. I feel really happy.”
Eighteen-year-old Carolina Drummond was very happy with her mare and said a special thanks to the sponsor. “I’m really happy to have the opportunity to ride here,” she stated. “We don’t get this all the time. I think we did a great job to win for our country. It’s mind blowing. Thank you to Hollow Creek for the opportunity.”
The riders spoke about what it was like showing in the impressive International Arena at PBIEC in an important night class. Drummond summed it up, noting, “Showing under the lights is very different for us as we don’t have this in Brazil, so it was very shocking when we arrived. We were really excited to be a part of this.”
Scampini, who is fifteen years old, acknowledged all of the hard work that went into making this event happen. “It’s really good to be here and win,” she said. “All of the effort to make this possible is incredible.”
Chef d’Equipe Caio Sergio de Carvalho was very proud of his team and how they pulled through the competition strongly. “Today was a very difficult day,” he admitted. “After the first round the teams were very close and the riders had to do clear rounds. Concentration was very difficult in this time and I am very pleased with the result.”
Carvalho also coached Brazil’s children’s team to a victory in the Hollow Creek Farm FEI Children’s Nations Cup where four teams were eligible to return for the second round. The teams from the United States, Venezuela, Brazil, and Argentina were represented. In the end, it was extremely close between Brazil and Argentina, and Brazil took top prize.
The team from Brazil had only three riders compete in the two rounds of competition after one of their riders had to withdraw from the competition, so all of their scores counted. Their competitors included Siew Chiang Cheng riding Up to You, owned by Yuri M. Guerios, Laura Ramos Rait riding LF Ponderosa, owned by Lincon Goncalves Fernandes, and Vittorio Burger riding Yves Sportiello’s Cheese Z.
In their first round, Chiang and Burger each had one time fault and Rait jumped a clear round. The team went into the second round on two faults and all cleared the course, keeping their score at two for the win.
The children’s team from Argentina was represented by Candela Oyarzabal riding La Pasion Arkansas Z, owned by Omar Gonzalez, Melina Vernengo riding Luis Vernengo’s Nero, Manuel Chechic riding Hector Chechic’s Margarita J I A, and Iara Veron riding Norit Larino, owned by Marcelo Luis Brandolino.
In round one, Oyarzabal, Vernengo and Chechic all cleared the course and Veron was the drop score of six. They went into round two on zero. The second round saw four faults for Oyarzabal, two clear rounds from Vernengo and Chechic, and a drop score of five from Veron. With just the four faults from round two for their score, the team finished in second.
The team from Venezuela had nine faults total to place third. Team USA finished on 13 faults to place fourth.
Fourteen-year-old Laura Ramos Rait and LF Ponderosa were the only pair to jump two clear rounds for team Brazil on their way to a win in the children’s class. Ponderosa is an eight-year-old Finnish mare whom Rait deemed “the best mare in the world.”
Thirteen-year-old Burger rode Cheese Z, an eight-year-old Argentinian bred gelding. Chiang’s horse Up to You is a nine-year-old Belgian Sport Horse gelding. All three riders were very happy to win for their country and get the opportunity to show in these classes.
“I am very happy because this is a big opportunity to represent my country, Brazil,” Rait stated. “It made a good reputation of us because we did well.”
Burger noted, “It was very interesting because we got to compete against many countries and get to see how they ride and what their strategy is.”
Chiang added, “This was my first nations cup in my life and it was really exciting. It was really hard because it was against many countries and it was a lot of pressure for our team because we had to go zero and fast.”
Although he was not able to compete today, team member Rodrigo Jadin da Rosa was happy to take part in the win with his fellow riders. “I liked it very much because it was a very good experience. I got to jump in another country and know how they do it here. Even if my horse wasn’t able to jump today, I found it very good to be here because I got to meet other people from the U.S. and other countries.”
Leading rider awards were also presented for each division for the overall performance of the riders throughout the week’s competition, including their Welcome Stakes, Classics and first round Nations Cup performance. In the children’s division, the top rider was Venezuela’s Constanza Romer. In the juniors, USA’s Katherine Strauss was the champion. Manuel Fernandez Hache of Dominican Republic topped the young rider division.
Second Win of the Week for McLain Ward and Super Trooper de Ness
Also showing on Saturday, McLain Ward (USA) and Grant Road Partners’ Super Trooper de Ness were on a roll with their second big win of the week. In a class of 37 entries in the $33,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic, ten jumped clear rounds over Anthony D’Ambrosio’s speed track and Ward and Super Trooper were fastest yet again with their time of 61.81 seconds.
Jessica Springsteen (USA) and Stone Hill Farm’s Vornado Van Den Hoendrik held the lead for most of the class with their time of 61.98 seconds to eventually finish second. Daniel Deusser (GER) and Stephex Stables’ Mouse placed third in 62.03 seconds. Alvaro de Miranda (BRA) and RD Jumping Higher Ltda.’s Show Show were fourth in 62.98 seconds, and Reed Kessler (USA) stopped the clock in 65.02 second aboard Ligist to place fifth.
Ward and Super Trooper, an eleven-year-old Belgian Sport Horse stallion by Vigo d’Arsouilles x Polydor, have been building their partnership since the start of the circuit and have had progressed quickly with several big wins. During week two they won a $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m jump-off class and a $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic. They also topped this week’s modified $43,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 8, which was held as a speed class. Ward is gearing the horse toward the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France.
Katie Dinan and Glory Days Victorious in $25,000 Ariat Jumper Classic
In the $25,000 Ariat Jumper Classic later in the morning, Ward’s student Katie Dinan and Grant Road Partners Glory Days jumped to victory in the $25,000 Ariat Jumper Classic. Sixty-one entries showed in the class and 13 advanced to the jump-off. Dinan and Glory Days won it in 36.66 seconds over Rodrigo Pessoa and Double H Farm’s HH Let’s Fly with their time of 37.15 seconds. Kirsten Coe and Ilan Ferder’s Calypso placed third in 38.78 seconds.
This was Dinan’s second big win of the circuit aboard Glory Days, a 12-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding by Cardento 933 x Diamond Serpent, that her family recently purchased from rider Daniel Zetterman. Dinan and ‘Glory’ won the $15,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix during week six and are working their way up to the bigger classes as they get to know each other.
“He felt great today. It was very exciting,” Dinan smiled after her win. “We are trying to take it slowly, but not too slowly. After the last win we decided that it would be good to do the two national 1.45m and 1.50m classes this weekend to get two more rounds under our belt that are a little bit bigger with the hope that maybe we can step up to some FEI classes by the last few weeks of WEF.”
“I couldn’t be happier with him; he felt fantastic,” Dinan said. “It was a 13-horse jump-off with some very fast riders and I went fifth, so I knew that there were going to be people going fast behind me and I tried to really set down a good pace. I felt like I was really fast in the beginning and the last few jumps felt really good.”
Dinan was rocking her pink gear this week to raise awareness for the American Cancer Society and this weekend’s Pink Party in Wellington. Glory also wore his pink saddle pad and boots for a good cause. The new pair is doing quite well together and will show again in Sunday’s 1.50m class.
“He had a pretty light beginning of the year, so we are just getting back into the groove,” Dinan noted. “I am thrilled. So far he has been great and I feel like I am really getting to know him. There have been things that we have been working on that I have been able to do in the ring. It is so nice to have these two classes here over the weekend and this is such a fun weekend.”
Nolan Wein and Aaron Pick Up Victory in THIS National Children’s Medal 15-17 at FTI WEF
Nolan Wein and her own Aaron bested a class of twenty-four aspiring equitation champions in the Taylor Harris Insurance Service (THIS) National Children’s Medal 15-17 class during week eight of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Wein, of Gladwyne, PA, and her eight-year-old Warmblood gelding topped the class with a score of 89. The top four was rounded out by Kelsey Brown and Califernia with a score of 88, Isabella McCary and Balou Grand with a score of 87, and Adam Rittenberg aboard Alchemy with a score of 86.
Wein imported Aaron from Europe six months ago and is more than pleased with her quick progress with him. “This is his first season in Florida, but so far he’s been great,” Wein commented. “He’s really sweet, very straight-forward and super nice. We love him!”
Wein has found an ideal partner in the big bay gelding and was delighted with their performance in Saturday’s class. “The course rode really well. I played to our strengths and just tried to go in there and ride very naturally. I can get him in a good rhythm and he’s very straight-forward and easy to the jumps. He’s not spooky at all,” Wein described.
“I thought the test was pretty challenging,” Wein continued. “There were definitely some decisions that had to be made [when deciding what track to take], but I made my plan and stuck to it.”
Wein’s plan clearly paid off, securing her first victory in the class with Aaron. Nolan’s trainer, Rebecca Conway, viewed today’s win as indicative of their path to qualifying for the THIS National Children’s Medal Finals, held in October at the Capital Challenge Horse Show. “Every week she’s shown in the Taylor Harris she’s gotten better and better. We’ve gone from fourth to third and now she’s won it. I hope this means good things for finals and that she’ll keep improving,” Conway stated.
“Nolan has the fundamentals of being a great rider,” Conway continued. “She has a good eye and the horses like her. She’s a hard worker and [Aaron] is a good horse.”
Taylor will continue to compete in the THIS National Children’s Medal 15-17 class during the upcoming weeks of the FTI WEF to hopefully accrue more points towards her goal of qualifying for finals. She enjoys migrating south to the FTI WEF for more than just the Florida weather. “The horse show is really nice. Everything is beautiful here and obviously it’s warm, but we love the show in general because it’s run so well,” Wein concluded.
Week eight of the FTI WEF, sponsored by G&C Farm, will conclude on Sunday with the ASPCA Maclay, presented by Sidelines and Alessandro Albanese, hosted in Ring 9 of the PBIEC. The $150,000 CSIO 4* Grand Prix, presented by Wellington Equestrian Realty, will be featured in the International Arena to complete the week. For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.
Lauren Fisher and Laura Cardon for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival The 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 9 through March 31. The FTI WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are “AA” rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $7 million in prize money will be awarded. For more information, please visit www.equestriansport.com.
About FTI Consulting FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With more than 3,800 employees located in 24 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management, strategic communications and restructuring. The company generated $1.56 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2011. More information can be found at www.fticonsulting.com.
The U.S. Young Rider Team Tops the Podium (Sportfot).
Young Riders Prove Unbeatable; Juniors and Child Riders Both Claim Fourth Place Honors
Wellington, FL – The International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center belonged to the future of the sport as Young Riders, Juniors and Child Riders went to task over beautifully built courses by Anthony D’Ambrosio. The first rounds of the three FEI Nations Cup competitions, which were being held as part of CSIO Wellington, were jumped during the windy afternoon session, with riders returning for a second round under the lights.
The U.S. fielded three strong teams which, under the guidance of Chef d’Equipe Michelle Grubb, demonstrated the next generation of American jumpers are an exciting and talented group. In the $10,000 FEI Young Riders Nation Cup presented by Hollow Creek Farm the U.S. completed a dominating performance to win on home turf with a score of 10. The American Juniors demonstrated consistency as they cruised to fourth place in the $2,500 FEI Junior Riders Nations Cup presented by Hollow Creek Farm on a 12 fault total. The Child Riders also displayed tact in a fourth place effort to finishing with a total of 13 faults in the FEI Children’s Nations Cup presented by Hollow Creek Farm.
“This has been a great week,” said Grubb. “This is the start of something really special.”
$10,000 FEI Young Riders Nations Cup presented by Hollow Creek Farm
The U.S. Young Rider Team of Catherine Pasmore, Mattias Tromp, Abigail McArdle and Liza Finsness drew the enviable starting position of third in the four country field for the first round Saturday afternoon.
Pasmore (Wellington, FL) and Pasmore Stables’ nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare Z Canta led off the U.S. jumping effort with eight faults, incurred at fences five and 12, in the first round. But the veteran pair rebounded in their second trip to jump an immaculate clear, setting the tone for the U.S. under the lights.
“She’s been great,” said Pasmore. “I rode terribly in the first round but we turned it around in the second round which was great. I’m happy to be part of this great team.”
Riding in the second spot for the United States were Tromp (North Salem, NY) and Baeyaert Farm Inc.’s Casey. The 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding produced a clear jumping effort but was just over the time allowed; incurring a one fault round in afternoon. They returned for the evening’s second round and after rolling the back rail at the first fence settled into a rhythm just adding an additional time fault for a second round total of five.
“I started out today with a time fault and had an unlucky rail and another time fault (in the second round) but this was a great experience.”
McArdle (Barrington, IL) brought David McArdle’s Cosma 20 in to Saturday’s competition and produced an efficient and faultless round in the afternoon. In round two the 10-year-old Hanoverian mare again never looked as though she thought of touching rail in a second foot perfect round for McArdle. She was the sole competitors to jump a double clear in Saturday’s Young Rider competition.
“Being able to represent your country is such an honor,” said an ecstatic McArdle. “This was a great experience and I hope we can do it again.”
Finsness (Wellington, FL) anchored the U.S. Young Rider Team with her veteran 16-year-old Warmblood gelding Ormsby Hill. In the first round the combination were penalized four faults for a foot in the open water at fence six.
After the first three U.S. riders completed the second round, Finsness did not need to make a return trip to the International Arena as the United States had clinched victory with the clears by Pasmore and McArdle and Tromp’s five fault round.
“Ormsby was amazing today; we had the water; I pushed him too hard,” said Finsness. “We didn’t have to go tonight because my teammates were awesome.”
Placing second behind the U.S. was Canada with 15 faults and third went to the Colombian Team with 48 faults.
$2,500 FEI Junior Riders Nations Cup presented by Hollow Creek Farm
The $2,500 FEI Junior Riders Nations Cup presented by Hollow Creek Farm hosted a truly international field, as eight nations sent teams into the International Arena Saturday afternoon. With the top six teams from round one returning for a second time under the lights. Collecting the winner’s spoils was the team from Brazil with a total of six faults. Mexico and Venezuela were second and third respectively with eight and nine faults.
Sydney Shulman (Greenwich, CT) jumped Back Country Farm’s Little Lady D’Elle in the lead off position for the Americans. In both rounds the 14-year-old Selle Francais mare got strong on the approach to the vertical at fence nine incurring four faults marring otherwise beautifully executed performances.
Next up for the U.S. was Lucas Porter of Bartonville, Texas and Sleepy P Ranch, LLC’s 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding Phineas. The talented pair jumped a forward clear round in their first trip around D’Ambrosio’s testing track. They returned for round two looking to secure a double clear for the U.S. but it was not meant to be as they just clipped the oxer jumping into the combination at six for a four fault total.
Chloe Reid and Chloe D. Reid, LLC’s Damascus produced a four fault effort in the afternoon after rolling the top rail at fence nine. Reid (Washington, DC) and the 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare returned under the lights and again presented a stylish round but were caught out at the vertical at nine for a second time Saturday, resulting in another four fault total.
Anchoring the U.S. Junior Team was Lillie Keenan (New York, NY) on Chansonette Farm, LLC’s 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding Londinium. In round one the pair produced a stylish clear round that never looked in doubt. They returned in round two and again jumped an effortless fault-free round.
Keenan was one of only three competitors to jump a double clear in the $2,500 FEI Junior Riders Nations Cup presented by Hollow Creek Farm.
“This was a really exciting experience and thank you to Hollow Creek Farm. There are not very many opportunities to get to be part of a team like this. I love the energy of being on a team and I think we learned a lot today. It was a good lesson for the U.S.,” said Keenan. “I really match well with my horse; this is the first team competition with him and he jumped a bunch of clear rounds this week which was good.”
Jumping as an individual in CSIOJ competition, the United States’ Katherine Strauss (South Hampton, NY) earned the leading rider title after collecting 51 points with Katherine Strauss, LLC’s Chellando Z.
FEI Children’s Nations Cup presented by Hollow Creek Farm
The U.S. team of McKayla Langmeier, Jordyn Freedman, McKenzie Kasper and Brett Burlington put forth a determined effort over two rounds of jumping in the FEI Children’s Nations Cup presented by Hollow Creek Farm which saw six teams line-up for the first round. At the end of round two Brazil stood on a total of two faults to clinch victory over Argentina, with a four fault total, and Venezuela on nine faults.
Riding Missy Clark’s Looping Star, Langmeier (East Granby, CT) got things started for the U.S. with a solid trip, just barely tapping the rail at fence nine in the afternoon session. The 16-year-old Hanoverian gelding returned in the evening and jumped impeccably in round two to produce a fault-free effort.
Freedman (Longmeadow, MA) and her own 14-year-old Warmblood gelding Swag entered the ring second for the U.S. team and looked well on their way to a clear in round one, but added one stride too many at the final vertical, fence 12, and incurred four faults. The pair returned under the lights and again was penalized four faults after rolling the top rail of the vertical jumping into the double at four.
In the third spot for the U.S. were Kasper and her own Tum Tum. The Alpharetta, Georgia native and 13-year-old KWPN mare jumped two eight fault trips, incurring penalties at 4A and 11 in their initial round and lowering the heights of 4A and 12 under the lights.
Rounding out the U.S. Team effort was Burlington (Coral Gables, FL) on her own nine-year-old Zangersheide mare ‘Tis Picobello Z. As the anchor leg, the pair scored one fault for finishing just over the time allowed in the first round. They returned under the lights to jump faultlessly and cruise around D’Ambrosio’s course easily within the time.
George H. Morris Retirement Ceremony
In a special ceremony held before the second round of the $2,500 FEI Junior Riders Nations Cup presented by Hollow Creek Farm, the USEF honored legendary trainer and Chef d’Equipe, George Morris with a retirement ceremony held in the center of the International Arena. Former students, team members and U.S. team officials gathered to celebrate the storied career of one of the greatest icons of the sport, with speeches and a video tribute.
“Thank you for your years of service to Team USA,” said USEF President Chrystine Tauber. “We are forever indebted to you.”
Ever the horseman and the consummate supporter of the American Team and its programs, Morris thanked all those that had made his journey possible.
“Thank you to all my riders and their owners and the support staff. We had a great run and we are going to have a better run. I’m very passionate about the American style of riding and I will continue to support it,” said Morris. “Don’t think about pulling off my shoes; in 2013 I’m working harder than ever.”
$10,000 G&C Speed Stake Victory Goes to Darragh Kenny and Delilah; LDM Dramatik and Amy Smith Secure Championship Title in Low Adult 2’6″ Hunters Section A
Wellington, FL – March 1, 2013 – The powerhouse U.S. show jumping team of Kent Farrington, Reed Kessler, Laura Kraut and Beezie Madden earned victory in Friday night’s $75,000 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup presented by G&C Farm, at the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL. Teams representing seven different countries participated in the evening’s competition with a win for Team USA over Canada in second and Germany in third.
Week eight CSIO competition runs February 27 – March 3, 2013. The Hollow Creek Farm FEI Children’s, Junior, and Young Rider Nations Cups will be featured on Saturday, March 2. The $150,000 CSIO 4* Grand Prix, presented by Wellington Equestrian Realty, will be held on Sunday afternoon. The 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival features 12 weeks of competition running from January 9 – March 31, 2013, and will be awarding almost $7 million in prize money throughout the circuit.
Friday’s nights Nations Cup competition consisted of two rounds shown over a challenging course set by Anthony D’Ambrosio of Red Hook, NY. Teams of four represented the countries of Canada, Mexico, Ireland, Germany, USA, Colombia and Venezuela.
After the first round, each team dropped their highest score. In the second round, all seven teams returned in order of highest to lowest total faults. The winner was determined by the lowest total of each team’s top three riders from each round.
Watch an interview with U.S. Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland
The winning team from the United States was represented by Kent Farrington and RCG Farm’s Uceko, Reed Kessler and her Cylana, Laura Kraut and Cherry Knoll Farm, Inc.’s Cedric, and Beezie Madden riding Abigail Wexner’s Simon under the guidance of new Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland.
In round one, Farrington had four faults aboard Uceko and Kessler, Kraut and Madden all jumped clear rounds to lead the way into the second phase of competition. In round two, Farrington and Kessler each jumped clear rounds, Kraut and Cedric had four faults, and when it was determined that the USA could not be beat, the team decided that Madden and Simon did not have to jump. They finished on a two round total of four faults for the victory.
Beezie Madden had a little trouble at the water in round one but still jumped clear for her team. She noted, “I probably had the most interesting round. Other than the water jump, he felt great. He was fantastic. I looked at the scoreboard afterwards; I thought he was clear of it. I knew he hit the box, but that was probably putting it mildly. I was just happy he recovered from that and he finished off with a clear.”
Eighteen-year-old Reed Kessler had her first win as well as her first double clear in a Nations Cup class and was very excited.
“To ride on the home team in front of the home crowd is a really big honor so I’m thrilled that it went the way it did,” Kessler smiled. “Cylana was awesome. She has shown pretty lightly all of circuit to prepare for this. It’s my favorite thing when I ride her to hear the crowd scream and she gets so animated and so wild. When she heads to the first jump, she has total focus. She could not have done better.”
Kent Farrington had a rail in round one but came back strong for the second round. He commented, “I’ve known that horse a little while and our first ride wasn’t our best. Towards the end of the round he just got too strong and he took over at the last oxer. I was actually pleased with how he came back in the second round. He performed more like himself and was more relaxed.”
Laura Kraut had a great night with Cedric and enjoyed winning on home turf.
“I was thrilled with Cedric tonight,” Kraut smiled. “Both rounds he was fantastic. The second round I was maybe a little overly cautious down the last line and he had such a light rub. I think he thinks he was double clear. I think he’s pleased right now. As Reed said, it was very comforting to ride tonight. Normally, I would be very tense about riding in front of the home crowd, but when you have three horse/rider combinations going with you, I felt pretty comfortable that if I did something really stupid they’d be there to back me up. I’m thrilled that we won and I’m really happy for Robert because he was really nervous. He just sort of listened to what we thought we wanted to do and supported us. We’re all getting to know each other and our new system. But I think it worked quite well.”
Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland was very happy with his team and admits to being a little nervous.
“I was told I was pacing a lot,” Ridland laughed. “What do you do? For me, this has been a long journey and great to get here. It was about a year ago that I was named coach and we went through the Olympic trials and all that. At the same time, Furusiyya and the FEI changed the Nations Cup and there are a lot of us that feel this is one of the best things that will have happened to the sport in a long time. It will revive the Nations Cup. We knew this was going to be a really big deal coming in being a qualifier for the Final and we made it a huge priority before the beginning of the year, not only to try to win this, but to be in a good position for the Final.”
Friday night’s Canadian team consisted of Eric Lamaze and Morningside Stud & Torrey Pines Stables’ Wang Chung M2S, Tiffany Foster and Artisan Farm LLC’s Victor, Mac Cone and Chadburn Holdings, Inc.’s Amor van de Rostal as well as Ian Millar and Ariel and Susan Grange’s Dixson with Chef d’Equipe Mark Laskin.
In round one, Lamaze had five faults for a rail and one time fault, Foster and Millar jumped clear, and Mac Cone was eliminated for the drop score. All four riders continued on into round two where Lamaze, Foster and Millar all jumped clear. Mac Cone’s score was once again dropped to leave the team on five faults total for their second place finish.
Third place finisher, Team Germany, included Janne Friederike Meyer aboard Meyer, Friedrich and Anne Sophie’s Cellagon Lambrasco, Johannes Ehning and Nybor Pferde GMBH & Co. KG’s Salvador V, Andre Thieme and his Contanga 3, and Daniel Deusser aboard Stephex Stables & Pedro Veniss’s Cornet d’Amour headed by Chef d’Equipe Dietmar Gugler.
In round one, Germany dropped Ehning’s score of eight and kept Meyer’s four fault score and Theime’s one time fault with a clear round from Daniel Deusser. In round two, Deusser once again jumped clear, Meyer was clear, and Ehning and Theime each had four faults, one of which was dropped. The team finished on five faults from round one and four faults from round two for a nine point total.
The fourth place team from Ireland finished with eleven faults. Other teams included Colombia, who finished on a score of 41 to place fifth, Venezuela, who had a two round total of 48 to finish sixth, and Mexico, who finished on a score of 59 to place seventh.
All in all, there were five double clear rounds for the night, including Reed Kessler, Tiffany Foster, Ian Millar, Daniel Deusser and Cian O’Connor on Splendor. Foster was especially enthusiastic about her performance aboard Victor.
The 2013 season has seen the introduction of a new formula for the FEI Nations Cup. Following a new sponsorship deal with the Saudi Equestrian Fund, this historic series will now be known as the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup. Under the new rules, the world has been divided into six regions for the purpose of qualifying teams for a World Final. The six regions are Europe 1 and 2, North America, South America, Middle East, Asia and Africa.
On behalf of Furusiyya, HH Prince Faisal Al Shalan was present for the class and commented on the evening. “First of all we are very happy for the American team for their win today,” he stated. “They were amazing and they had really good horses coming in. The other teams also performed really well and it was very close.”
“To start off, Furusiyya is a single Arabic word and it is based on embracing the idea of horsemanship, chivalry and equestrian knowledge in general,” he added. “The term is a derivation of ‘faris,’ the horseman and the horse, so it’s a combination of both. In time, Furusiyya will become the brand name under which Saudi Arabian equestrian products will be licensed and marketed. To date, there is a perfume called Furusiyya which is a product for sale in Saudi Arabia. It is our duty in Saudi equestrian to sponsor Saudi equestrian activities for the nobility. Not only in the narrow sense of their history and heritage, but rather in the cultural and behavioral aspects that surround the sport in celebration of the horse. It has instilled chivalry, honor, value and virtue. This is the essence of our mission in the Saudi Equestrian Fund-the connection between horse and rider is universal and we are fortunate that the horse is so noble that they allow us to share their strength and passion.”
Class and weekly sponsor Gustavo Mirabal of G&C Farm also spoke about the evening. “I am very proud to again be the Nations Cup sponsor as well as many FEI classes,” Mirabal stated. “I think we have to do this in America-more FEI classes and more FEI points so we can have more riders in the top of the world. I recognize all of the American riders as amazing riders and people, and I am proud to be the sponsor.”
Also commenting on the class, John Madden, representing the FEI, noted, “I think we witnessed a little bit of history tonight. This is the first Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup here in North America. Last week we witnessed it in Abu Dhabi and we think it’s a really bright future for our sport.”
“I would like to, on behalf of the FEI, thank the USEF as our host federation and ESP, Michael (Stone) and everybody for a great job this evening,” Madden acknowledged. “I think we really have to thank Gustavo and G&C. They really bring the hemisphere together. They bring the Americas together like a family and we really have to thank His Highness Prince Faisal and Furusiyya. Thank you, on behalf of the FEI for bringing the world together.”
Equestrian Sport Productions’ CEO Mark Bellissimo added, “I’d also like to thank the sponsors and His Highness. This is an amazing start of a tradition in the United States and it is great that the U.S. team was able to prevail here. Canada and Germany also did very well and I think we’re just pleased to have top sport in Wellington.”
“I’d like to thank my friend Gustavo Mirabal, who stepped up very early in our ownership of this and has just been an amazing sponsor and supporter through all dimensions of the sport,” Bellissimo said. “It takes great sponsors to elevate the sport in the United States and we hope this is a relationship for many years to come. Again, we thank the FEI and USEF for creating the platform for this great demonstration.”
Darragh Kenny and Delilah Dash to Victory in $10,000 G&C Farm Speed Stake
G&C Farm’s $10,000 Speed Stake was also held on Friday with a win for Ireland’s Darragh Kenny and Delilah, owned by Derbypie, LLC. In a field of 35 international starters, Kenny and Delilah completed the fastest of 9 clear rounds in 59.07 seconds. Germany’s Johannes Ehning and Cayenne 162, owned by Winley Farm LLC, finished second in 59.63 seconds. USA’s Reed Kessler and Ligist were third with a time of 61.54 seconds.
Delilah is a 13-year-old KWPN mare by Lancelot x Gracio owned by young American rider Hasbrouck Donovan, who has shown successfully in the junior jumpers. Kenny explained that he has been keeping the mare fit for her rider over the winter and asked if he could use her as a speed horse this week.
“It is a super horse,” Kenny stated. “She is so easy and brave and uncomplicated and careful. She has a huge stride and you can really gallop with her. She wants to win, so it makes my life really easy.”
Commenting on Friday’s class, Kenny noted, “It was a really nice result. I thought it was a really good course for a speed class. There were enough questions and tight turns, but also a lot of galloping. It was really interesting because in a really good speed class you have to be careful about leaving the jumps up too and a good few people at the start had faults. You just had to be a little bit careful and then you had to go pretty quick.”
Kenny is frequently one of the fastest riders in any class and explained that confidence in his horses is key. “I am lucky; I just know how to go fast,” he smiled. “At this stage I have had a lot of practice. It is a simple thing. If you can trust your horses to jump the jumps clear, then speed comes a lot easier. Delilah is so careful and she tries so hard that when I turn back to anything, even if I am not at the perfect distance or even if I am going too fast, I know she is going to try. That makes it easier; it gives you more room to go faster.”
Also showing in the International Arena on Friday, McLain Ward and Tequestrian Farm’s Coco 135 earned a victory in the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m Speed Challenge. Johannes Ehning and Appearance 2, owned by Nybor Pferde GMBH & Co. KG, triumphed in the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m jump-off class.
LDM Dramatik and Amy Smith Secure Championship Title in Low Adult 2’6″ Hunters Section A
Amy Smith and her newly acquired mount, LDM Dramatik, topped the Low Adult 2’6″ Hunter Section A division during week eight of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Smith and her fourteen-year-old Westphalian mare were fifth and fourth over fences on day one of competition for the division. The pair was second, fourth and first over fences on day two.
Reserve championship honors went to Elizabeth Reed and her own Serenade. Reed and Serenade were third over fences day one and earned a blue ribbon over fences on day two.
Smith bought LDM Dramatik from Lynn Berg only two weeks ago, who was competing the mare in Adult Amateur divisions at the FTI WEF. While their relationship may be new, the pair is clearly a winning match.
“She’s been awesome. Last week, [during World Championship Hunter Rider Week], we were fifth in the classic out of 73 and ninth and eleventh out of 73 in the other two over fences classes,” Smith recalled.
Smith has enjoyed getting to know her new mount as the two continue their success at the FTI WEF. “My horse that I had for six years was totally different from her – it’s like night and day. She stays consistent, while he would change at every jump. If you saw a long one on him, he might go for it or you might chip. I’m adjusting to her well. She makes it easy,” Smith described.
“She’s such a good girl, she’s really right there for you,” Smith continued. “She helps you out and she never changes unless she needs to.”
Smith also praised LDM Dramatik’s way of going for making her so competitive at a high-caliber competition like the FTI WEF. “A lot of it is the way she goes across the ground. She’s just so smooth and she jumps the same style from any distance. She doesn’t stay in the air too long over jumps and she’s got just the right amount of arc. She can cover up your mistakes, also. If you get a little too deep to a fence, she’ll still jump it very well,” Smith explained.
Smith has been competing at the FTI WEF since 1990. She looks forward to her annual trip south from Nashville for more than just the Florida sunshine. “The facilities are beautiful, first of all. The competition is the toughest in the country which makes me ride better. It makes me more competitive,” Smith commented.
“And of course, who couldn’t love being in Palm Beach in the winter?” Smith added with a smile.
Week eight of the FTI WEF, sponsored by G&C Farm, will continue Saturday, March 2, 2013, with the THIS National Children’s Medal 15-17 class in Ring 8 of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. The Hollow Creek Farm FEI Children’s, Junior, and Young Rider Nations Cups will be held in the International Arena. For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.
Lauren Fisher and Laura Cardon for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival The 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 9 through March 31. The FTI WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are “AA” rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $7 million in prize money will be awarded. For more information, please visit www.equestriansport.com.
About FTI Consulting FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With more than 3,800 employees located in 24 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management, strategic communications and restructuring. The company generated $1.56 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2011. More information can be found at www.fticonsulting.com.
Wellington, FL – March 2, 2013 – The International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center was filled with an array of colors on Friday, March 1, when spectators gathered at the $75,000 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup presented by G&C Farm. Laura Kraut and Cherry Knoll Farm’s Cedric were one of the four pairs to represent the United States, bringing the Nations Cup winning title home to Wellington with a phenomenal win.
In 2012 the United States was faced with a disappointing Nations Cup; however, Kent Farrington and Uceko, Reed Kessler and Cylana, Laura Kraut and Cedric, and Beezie Madden and Simon rode brilliantly over the two-round competition last night, securing the 2013 win for Team USA.
Kraut and Cedric have been long-time partners, and their relationship was apparent under the lights Friday night. The pair showcased the same form and athleticism that helped them clinch the Team Gold for the U.S. during the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Kraut piloted the 15-year-old Holsteiner gelding to an impressive first round clear effort. They made the task at hand appear seemingly effortless, and although they did roll the rail from the vertical in the final combination [11A] during the second round, their efforts proved enough for the U.S. to bring the winning title back to their home turf.
“I was thrilled with Cedric tonight; I thought he jumped both rounds fantastic. The second round I was maybe over cautious coming down the last line. He had such a light rub that I think he thinks he was double clear so he’s pleased right now,” Kraut smiled.
Friday’s Nation Cup has become even more important in 2013 with the added pressure of qualifying for the inaugural Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Finals riding on the event. The $75,000 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup is also the only CSIO in the United States, and it is the second of the 22 qualifying legs to be held across the globe with the Finals taking place in September 2013. Friday night’s phenomenal performance earmarked a page in history for America as U.S. Show Jumping Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland stepped forward for his first Nations Cup in his recently acquired position.
“Normally I would be very tense about riding in front of the home crowd, but I felt pretty comfortable that they were there to back me up,” Kraut admitted of her team. “I’m thrilled that we won and I’m very happy for Robert because he was really nervous. He really listened to what we thought and what we wanted to do – he supported us. We’re all kind of getting to know each other and our systems, but I think it worked quite well.”
For owner Margaret Duprey, Friday night’s victory was momentous on several levels – the sport and her first Nations Cup as Cedric’s owner.
“It’s very exciting. It was my first Nations Cup, and I am thrilled,” Duprey exclaimed. “All I could think is he’s back! He was having a good time out there and really enjoying himself. It was a great night; I couldn’t be more excited.”
Duprey concluded, “I am really happy for Robert Ridland, too. What a good way for him to start his new position with the USEF. To have this event at home, and be defending home territory with such a great win, is fantastic.”
Cedric is known for his spry jumping, athleticism and quick feet, and was a solid selection for participation in CSIO Wellington FEI Nations Cup. Kraut is on par with her athletic mount, and is leaving nothing to chance as she heads into the International Arena to defend her turf at home throughout the Winter Equestrian Festival. For more information on Cherry Knoll Farm, Inc., please visit http://www.cherryknollfarminc.com/.
Kendall Bierer for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland surrounded by the winning team from the USA, Kent Farrington, Beezie Madden, Reed Kessler and Laura Kraut with HH Prince Faisal Al Shalan. Photo: FEI/StockImageServices.com
Wellington (USA), 1 March 2013 – The host nation secured a convincing win in the second leg of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping 2013 series at Palm Beach International Equestrian Centre in Florida, USA tonight. Their final score of four faults belied the fact that Kent Farrington (Uceko), Reed Kessler (Cylana) and Laura Kraut (Cedric) had the result secured without calling on their anchor partnership of Beezie Madden and Simon in the second round, leaving the remaining six teams to battle it out for the minor placings in the closing stages.
Bolstered by foot-perfect performances from Tiffany Foster (Victor) and Ian Millar (Dixon), and despite first-round elimination for Mac Cone (Amor van de Rostel), Canada finished second with a final tally of just five faults, while Germany won through in a battle with the Irish for third place. Venezuela finished fifth, Colombia slotted into sixth and Mexico finished last of the seven competing countries.
Just three nations – USA, Canada and Mexico – are competing for the two available qualifying spots from the North American, Central American and Caribbean League. And the USA now carries the maximum 100 points into the second of the two regional qualifiers at Spruce Meadows, Canada in June where the hosts will be snapping at their heels as they lie just 10 points behind their traditional rivals. For Mexico however it will be a tough ask, as their last-place finish tonight saw them earn just 65 points in the battle for a spot at the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping 2013 Final in September where just 18 teams from the 22 qualifying rounds over seven leagues will line out.
Improved Performances
Course designer, America’s Anthony d’Ambrosio, had to create a track that would test the best without over-challenging the less-experienced and, as a testament to his skills, there were many improved performances in the second round.
The double at fence three proved relatively trouble-free, the following oxer hit the floor on a number of occasions but the real pressure began after the wall at fence five with the run to the open water at six followed by a double of vertical to oxer at fence seven. Ridden on a right-hand bending line this penalised a number of competitors whose horses were running too freely, while the water-tray oxer and vertical at fences eight and nine also proved influential. However it was the final line from the penultimate double of flimsy verticals at fence eleven to the final oxer at twelve that spoiled the chances of many who looked set to return perfect scores.
Impressively, Colombia’s Mario Gamboa and Unico demonstrated just how much they had learned on their first tour of the track during which they collected 12 faults when registering a really nice clear second time out.
Already in Control
The Americans were already in control by the halfway stage, with the only blemish on an otherwise clean scorecard the final-fence four faults picked up by their opening partnership of Farrington and Uceko. Germany, Ireland and Canada were all next in line with five faults apiece, the time-allowed of 77 seconds playing its part throughout the competition, while Venezuela had 12 on the board, Colombia had 24 and the Mexicans were already bringing up the rear with 30.
Farrington got it absolutely right second time out, and when 18 year old US sensation Reed Kessler followed with the second part of a fabulous double-clear from her London 2012 Olympic Games ride Cylana, the USA looked fairly invincible already.
Eric Lamaze strengthened Canadian chances when improving from a five-fault first round effort with a clear at his second attempt with Wang Chung M25 who was much bolder this time out, while team-mate Tiffany Foster was double-clear with Victor to hold Canadian ground. German pathfinders Janne Friederike Meyer and Cellagon Lambrasco were fault-free in round two, but Johannes Ehning, a member of the winning German side at this fixture in 2011, lowered the oxer at fence four and when third-line rider Andre Theime and the extravagant Contanga added four faults to their tally it seemed the Irish might take advantage.
Vulnerable
But they had become vulnerable when first-line rider Shane Sweetnam withdrew, and although Richie Moloney again picked up just one time fault with Ahorn van de Zuuthoeve and Olympic individual bronze medallist Cian O’Connor completed a double-clear with Splendor, they needed a clear from Darragh Kerins and Lisona to fend off the Germans.
By now, Canadian anchorman and living legend Ian Millar had secured runner-up spot with his double-clear from Dixon which negated another difficult round for Mac Cone, while Daniel Deusser had ensured the final German scoreline of nine faults with his second clear performance of the night from Cornet d’Amour.
The Irish would finish on six faults if Kerins could leave all the fences up, but the very last oxer claimed him as one of its many victims.
It was the first part of the previous double that fell for America’s Laura Kraut, but as she crossed the line with the gallant little grey, Cedric, the crowd erupted in the knowledge that the home team had clinched the Furusiyya honours without even having to call on the services of their final partnership. It was especially significant from a US perspective, as this result brings the host nation onto level pegging with Canada in the roll of honour for this annual FEI Nations Cup clash with five wins each.
Thrilled
The youngest US team-member, Reed Kessler, said afterwards, “It was my fourth time to ride on the team and my first win and my first double-clear in a Nations Cup – I’m thrilled!”
The prodigiously talented young lady, who hails from Kentucky, described it as “a great honour” to compete alongside Beezie Madden and Laura Kraut “because since I was little I’ve always looked up to them,” she said. Kessler has been competing against top US riders since she was 15, but due to her age wasn’t permitted to ride at Grand Prix level until last year when she instantly burst to prominence with Olympic selection. She describes Cylana as “the horse of a lifetime”, and pointed out tonight that although they have turned into an amazing partnership, her early competition experiences with the mare were “a bit of a disaster”.
Talking about their time together she said, “I have her for about a year and three months, she was doing small classes in Switzerland before I got her, she was a speed horse and it took about four or five months for us find our way together. She’s a monster! She has to jump and she has to show – it’s what she loves to do!”
And she added, “Now that I’ve won a Nations Cup it’s really fun – and I’d like to do it again!”.
The Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping 2013 series now moves to Europe where legs will be staged at both Lummen in Belgium and Linz in Austria on Friday 3 May.
Facts and Figures:
The second leg of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping 2013 series took place at Palm Beach International Equestrian Centre in Wellington, Florida, USA tonight.
Seven nations competed, but just three – Canada, Mexico and USA – were battling for qualifying points for the Final which will take place at the end of September.
Canada, Mexico and USA are competing in the North American, Central American and Caribbean League and will line out again at the second and final qualifying opportunity for this region at Spruce Meadows, Calgary, Canada in June.
A total of 41 nations will seek a place at the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping 2013 Final.
The series consists of seven leagues with 22 qualifying competitions.
A total of 18 teams will qualify for the Final.
Course designer at Wellington tonight was America’s Anthony D’Ambrosio.
This was the fifth win for the USA at Wellington, and puts the host nation on level pegging with their rivals from Canada who have also recorded five FEI Nations Cup victories at the Florida venue.
Five riders recorded double-clear performances in tonight’s competition – Canada’s Tiffany Foster (Victor) and Ian Millar (Dixon), Ireland’s Cian O’Connor (Splendor), Germany’s Daniel Deusser (Cornet d’Amour) and the USA’s Reed Kessler (Cylana).
Furusiyya “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.
