Tag Archives: FEI Nations Cup

Competitions, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Events, FEI, USEF

Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team in Eighth at Military Boekelo CCIO3* Following Dressage

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Boekelo, The Netherlands – The Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team stands eighth in FEI Nations Cup competition as they head into Saturday’s cross country at the Military Boekelo CCIO3*. The final two members of the Nations Cup team, Jennie Brannigan and Jon Holling, performed their dressage today in front of the Ground Jury of Sue Stewart, Eric Lieby, and Helen Christie.

All riders on Friday had to contend with heavy rain throughout the day but the weather didn’t deter Holling (Ocala, FL) from producing a solid test with Constance Ann Holling’s Downtown Harrison. Holling and his winning partner from the 2012 Volvo Bromont CCI3* Three Day Event scored 49.6 for their effort.

“I was really happy with him. To be honest it was his best test in terms of the quality of the work. He scored better at Bromont but the quality here was better, much more uphill.”

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Events, USEF

Montgomery Leads Land Rover U.S. Eventing on First Day of Dressage at the Military Boekelo CCIO3*

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Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen (Stockimageservices.com)

Boekelo, The Netherlands – The United States sent two Land Rover Competition and Training Grant recipients down the centerline Thursday at the Military Boekelo CCIO3* in front of the Ground Jury composed of Sue Stewart, Eric Lieby, and Helen Christie. Leading the U.S. effort in FEI Nations Cup Eventing competition are Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen. The pair performed a pleasing test to score 46.2 and stand in 11th place following the first day of dressage.

“He was good, a little nervous at the beginning. It took a few movements to get him settled but as the test went on he got more and more rideable,” said Montgomery of Loughan Glen.

“The first few movements didn’t score as well as I would have liked but he was great at the end.”

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Events, FEI, USEF

Land Rover Competition and Training Grant Recipients Ready for FEI Nations Cup Eventing Competition at Military Boekelo-Enschede CCIO3*

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Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda (Picsofyou.com)

Lexington, KY – A strong contingent of U.S. horses and riders are set to compete in FEI Nations Cup Eventing competition this weekend at the Military Boekelo-Enschede CCIO3*, October 11-14. The team of Jennie Brannigan, Phillip Dutton, Jon Holling and Clark Montgomery are competing at the premiere Dutch competition as part of the Land Rover Competition and Training Grants program.

Boekelo, the sixth and final competition in the inaugural FEI Nations Cup Eventing series, will host teams from 12 nations, with the U.S. drawing fifth in the order. Additionally, all competitors are vying for top Individual honors in the field of 112.

Brannigan (West Grove, PA) is a well-known competitor on the U.S. scene having collected top placings on both the East and West Coasts. She will ride Nina Gardner’s 10-year-old Thoroughbred cross gelding, Cambalda, in the Nations Cup competition. The pair won the CCI3* at the Galway Downs International Three Event in 2010. They prepared for Boekelo by placing second in the Advanced division at the 2012 Richland Park Horse Trials in August prior to finishing 11th in CIC3* competition at the Plantation Field International Horse Trials during the third weekend in September.

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Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Events, FEI, FEI

FEI Nations Cup Eventing: Spain Triumphant with First Win

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(Left to right): Dr. Mark Lucey (Team Vet), Carlos Diaz Fernandez, Marti Sala Bayes, Albert Farras Hermoso and Maria Pinedo. Photo: Bruno de Lorenzo/FEI.

Lausanne (SUI), 24 September 2012 – Spain, who have really embraced the concept of this inaugural FEI Nations Cup Eventing, have now moved up into second place in the overall rankings after an emphatic win at Montelibretti (ITA), the fifth leg of the series.

The Spanish team riders dominated the final placings in second, fifth, sixth and eighth from a total of 11 out of the 30 starters that completed the competition.

Three nations fielded teams for Montelibretti, which is held at the Centro Militare di Equitazione (Military Equestrian Centre) on the outskirts of Rome and is the southernmost event of the FEI Nations Cup Eventing series.

After the Dressage phase, it was the hosts, Italy, who were in the lead. Stefano Brecciaroli performed a typically beautiful test to head the leaderboard on 30.4 penalties with his Olympic horse, Apollo V/D Wendy Kurt Hoeve, and team mate Marco Biasia was in third place on Tatchou.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

Irish Make It a Double in Dublin as Germany Claims the 2012 Title

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(L to R) Darragh Kerins, Richie Moloney, Chef d’Equipe Robert Splaine, Cian O’Connor and Clem McMahon. Photo: FEI/Tony Parkes.

Dublin (IRL), 17 August 2012 – The Irish recorded a back-to-back double when winning the last leg of the FEI Nations Cup 2012 on home turf in Dublin, Ireland today.  The result rocketed them up the leaderboard to third place behind France in the final standings, but, despite a disappointing day when finishing an uncharacteristic last, it was Germany that claimed the series title for the fifth time in the 10-year history of the top-level league.

A 29-fault total put paid to German chances this afternoon, but, as Chef d’Equipe Sonke Sonksen said afterwards, “we are still walking away with a big cheque!” having collected the winner’s prize of €100,000. “We’ve had a fantastic season right up until Hickstead, and then the Irish showed us that they are getting stronger and stronger.  This is one of the best teams they’ve ever had,” he pointed out.  And there was certainly excitement in the Irish camp as the comparatively young foursome of Clem McMahon, Richie Moloney, Darragh Kerins and Cian O’Connor secured the win with considerable comfort, anchorman O’Connor not jumping in the second round as the destination of the coveted Aga Khan trophy was already decided.

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Competitions, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

France to the Fore at Final Leg in Dublin

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FEI Jumping Director, John Roche, pictured with Pat Hanley, Show Director for Dublin Horse Show during the draw for the last leg of the FEI Nations Cup 2012 series in Dublin (IRL) today. Photo: FEI/Tony Parkes.

Dublin (IRL), 16 August 2012 – The French will be first to go as the final leg of the FEI Nations Cup 2012 gets underway at the Royal Dublin Society showgrounds in Dublin, Ireland tomorrow afternoon.  Monsoon-like weather conditions descended on the Irish capital city yesterday making conditions very difficult for competitors on the opening-day. But the sun returned this morning, and all is set for an exciting conclusion to the eight-leg, eight-nation annual series.

The draw was conducted by FEI Jumping Director, John Roche, and Dublin Horse Show Show Director Pat Hanley. And there was a big smile on the face of Irish Chef d’Equipe, Robert Splaine, when his side got the coveted last-to-go spot.  “The time-allowed is likely to be tight and the course will be technical, so it’s always helpful to be drawn last. Running late gives us time to assess things,” the Irishman pointed out.

The order-of-go for tomorrow’s competition is: 1, France; 2, Sweden; 3, Belgium; 4, Great Britain; 5, The Netherlands; 6, Switzerland; 7, Germany; 8, Ireland.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

New Olympic Medallists Line Out at FEI Nations Cup 2012 Series Finale in Dublin

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Steve Guerdat, pictured with Nino des Buissonnets on his way to taking individual jumping gold at the London 2012 Olympic Games, will be a member of the Swiss team in the last leg of the FEI Nations Cup 2012 series. Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton.

Dublin (IRL), 14 August 2012 – With the roars of the crowd at Greenwich Park still ringing in their ears, five medallists from the London 2012 Olympic Games will be in action as the last leg of the FEI Nations Cup 2012 gets underway at the Royal Dublin Society showgrounds in Dublin (IRL) next Friday afternoon.  And it promises to be a real battle, because just 3.5 points separate the bottom six teams as the premier eight-leg, eight-nation contest draws to a close.

The defending series champions from Germany hold a strong 10-point lead over France at the head of affairs, but Great Britain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Ireland and Belgium are all bunched closely together, and none of them want to finish up at the bottom of the pile.

The Swiss side boasts the new Olympic individual jumping champion, Steve Guerdat, while Olympic team gold medallist, Nick Skelton, is included in the British selection.  Team silver medallists, Jur Vrieling and Marc Houtzager, will be lining out for The Netherlands and the Irish crowd will be celebrating the return of Cian O’Connor who clinched individual Olympic bronze.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

Surprise Victory for Ireland at Hickstead

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(Left to right) Richie Moloney, Darragh Kerins, Chef d’Equipe Robert Splaine, Clem McMahon and Shane Breen. Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton

Hickstead (GBR), 20 July 2012 – The Irish produced the shock of the season when beating crack sides from Germany and France to win the seventh leg of the FEI Nations Cup 2012 series at Hickstead (GBR) this afternoon.

Trailing at the bottom of the league table after an inconsistent run that included a miserable last-place finish in Falsterbo, Sweden just seven days ago, Robert Splaine’s side appeared to have it all to do in this penultimate round of the eight-leg tournament. But they came out with all guns blazing to finish with just four faults for a definitive victory over the French who completed with eight, while Germany slotted into third with 12.  The host nation lined up fourth when collecting a total of 20 faults, and Sweden and Belgium shared fifth with 24 apiece.  A first-round total of 20 put paid to Dutch chances and they concluded the day with 28 faults on the board for second-last spot ahead of the Swiss, whose 40-fault result left them last by a long margin.

As always, the Hickstead fences took their toll, but faults were spread all around the track set by Great Britain’s Bob Ellis – the man who will build the courses for the forthcoming London Olympic Games at Greenwich Park.

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Competitions, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

British to Show the Way on Home Turf at Hickstead

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FEI Commercial Manager Nathalie Taylor (left) and Show Director John Farmer (right) at the draw for the starting order in tomorrow’s seventh leg of the FEI Nations Cup. Photo: FEI/Lotte Stevens.

Hickstead (GBR), 19 July 2012 – The host nation is unfazed by being drawn first to go in the penultimate leg of the FEI Nations Cup 2012 series at Hickstead (GBR) tomorrow afternoon.  A week ahead of the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games the British are in bullish form, and Chef d’Equipe, Rob Hoekstra, said today, “I am not really concerned by starting first, the riders I brought have ridden here many times and they know what they’re doing. It’s brilliant to be at Hickstead a week prior the start of the Games – riding in front of your home crowd is a great test,“ he added.

The order-of-go for the seventh leg of the series is: 1, Great Britain; 2, Netherlands; 3, Germany; 4, Ireland; 5, Sweden; 6, France; 7, Belgium; 8, Switzerland.

Experienced

The British contingent is indeed an experienced one, and includes Peter Charles who will fly the Union Jack at Greenwich Park when the Olympic Jumping competition gets underway on 8 August.  He has been selected for the Games with Vindicat, but will line out tomorrow with Nevada.  Joining him in tomorrow’s team will be Tina Fletcher, riding the Olympic reserve horse Hello Sailor, and of course no side at Hickstead ever seems quite complete unless a member of the legendary Whitaker family is included.  John Whitaker, who has enjoyed many famous days at the Sussex venue, will partner Argento while William Funnell rounds up the team with Billy Angelo.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

Sweden Wins Through in Three-Round Thriller at Falsterbo

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Jens Fredricson’s brilliant jump-off performance with Lunatic clinched the honours for Sweden in today’s sixth leg of the FEI Nations Cup 2012. Photo: FEI/Lotta Gyllensten.

Falsterbo (SWE), 13 July 2012 – Sweden snatched victory in the sixth leg of the FEI Nations Cup 2012 on home turf at Falsterbo today. As the competition progressed it seemed that glory was destined for France for the second week in succession, but in the best tradition of top Nations Cup competition it was unpredictable to the very end, and the result came down to a three-way, third-round race against the clock.

And it was London-bound Jens Fredricson who clinched it for the host country, in confident and convincing style, riding his super-fast 14 year old gelding, Lunatic.  This was Sweden’s fourth FEI Nations Cup victory on home soil in the last 10 years and the host country fielded its full team of Olympic riders, although not all were partnering their Olympic mounts.

Great Britain slotted into runner-up spot when William Funnel’s pathfinding jump-off time with Billy Angelo was almost three seconds off the pace and the French, who had looked sure-fire winners in the opening stages, had to settle for third as Jerome Hurel and OHM De Ponthual left a pole on the floor third time out.  “This was no Olympic Games,” said Fredricson afterwards. “You certainly can’t compare it to what we will expect in London, but it was so great to win at home in front of our own crowd and it’s the perfect result with the Olympics only a few weeks away now.”

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