Tag Archives: FEI Nations Cup

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Sweden Wins FEI Promotional League Final in Barcelona Cliff-Hanger

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(L to R) Rolf-Goran Bengtsson, Svante Johansson, Angelica Augustsson, Malin Baryard-Johnsson and Chef d'Equipe Sylve Soderstrand. Photo: FEI/Nacho Olano.

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Barcelona (ESP), 25 September 2011 – The Swedish team came out the winners at the Promotional League Final in Barcelona, Spain this afternoon and will now rejoin the elite eight-nation FEI Nations Cup series in 2012.  But, on a roller-coaster afternoon, it took a monumental effort from last-line Swedish rider Rolf-Goran Bengtsson to seal the coveted qualifying spot.

Despite the fact that three of the opposing sides were reduced to just three team-members, and were therefore unable to discount one performance, the four-strong Swedish team relied heavily on the man who, just seven days ago, claimed the Individual gold medal at the FEI European Jumping Championships in Madrid.

The host nation of Spain finished second, with just a single-fault advantage over The Ukraine in third, while the Canadians lined up fourth ahead of the Italians who looked threatening to the very end but who had to settle for fifth in the final analysis.  The last two places in the seven-nation line-up were filled by Poland and Russia, each hampered when fielding just three riders, but showing flashes of form that would suggest their time will come in future years.

For the Swedes, today’s result was an enormous relief.  Last Sunday, Bengtsson pointed out during the final press conference in Madrid that, despite his personal triumph and the Olympic qualification earned through the fifth-place finish in the FEI European Team Championship, there was still another big job to be done this weekend in Barcelona.  So for the 49 year old newly-crowned European champion and reigning Olympic silver medallist it was a case of “mission accomplished” as, ably supported by Malin Baryard-Johnsson, Angelica Augustsson and Svante Johansson, he helped restore his country to its rightful place in the premiership of team Jumping.  “I’m very happy,” he said with his usual degree of understatement this evening.

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Competitions, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

Seven Nations Line Out for FEI Promotional League Final in Barcelona

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Lausanne (SUI), 22 September 2011 – The line-up for the next year’s FEI Nations Cup series will be decided on Sunday following the all-important Final of the 2011 FEI Promotional League which takes place in Barcelona, Spain.  The winning team will earn a place in the 2012 Top League alongside Germany, Great Britain, France, Ireland, The Netherlands and Belgium who all re-qualified during this season’s eight-nation tournament.  After a year’s absence, Switzerland is already assured of a return to the elite group, having claimed the 2011 FEI Promotional League title.  Next Sunday’s competition will fill the last remaining qualifying spot.

The Spanish hosts are amongst the seven nations who will battle it out, and they certainly cannot be overlooked.  They just missed out on one of the three Olympic qualifying places available at last week’s thrilling FEI European Jumping Championships on their home turf in Madrid.  Pilar Cordon was particularly impressive over the early days of the competition, eventually slotting into 23rd individually, and the 38 year old rider is joined by an experienced crew that includes Julio Arias, Sergio Alvarez Moya, Rutherford Latham and Antonio Marinas Soto.  Adding an extra dimension of excitement for the Spanish contestants is the centennial celebration of CSIO Barcelona which was first staged in 1902.

CANADIAN SELECTION
Olympic champion, Eric Lamaze, heads up the Canadian selection, and will be joined by Jill Henselwood, Chris Pratt and Jenna Thompson.  Italian Chef d’Equipe, former Swiss jumping star Markus Fuchs, has five riders to choose from, and with Juan Carlos Garcia, Emanuele Gaudiano, Giulia Martinengo Marquet, Luca Marziani and Luca Maria Moneta on call-up, has no shortage of talent and experience available to him either.  The Polish team cut their teeth in the Top League last summer and, although their presence was short-lived, they showed dramatic improvement as the season progressed.  So team manager Rudiger Wassibauer will be hoping for a good result from Msciwoj Kiecon, Andrzej Lemanski, Antoni Tomaszewski and Lukasz Walilewski on Sunday afternoon.

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Competitions, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

Swiss Win FEI Promotional League Series by Convincing Margin

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Steve Guerdat was one of the riders who helped secure Switzerland's return to the top-level FEI Nations Cup 2012 through victory in the 2011 FEI Promotional League series this season. Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton.

Lausanne (SUI), 8 September 2011 – As predicted, Switzerland has qualified for the 2012 FEI Nations Cup series having secured the 2011 FEI European Promotional League title by a convincing margin.  Finishing the season with 60.5 points, the Swiss completed with an advantage of 6.5 points over the runners-up from Sweden, while Italy placed third ahead of Spain.

The Swiss and Swedes were the main protagonists in the closing stages of the battle for the single qualifying spot available to the Promotional League Champions, each looking strong when making guest appearances in the top-level FEI Nations Cup 2011 series on their home turf this summer.  At St Gallen in June, the Swiss finished equal-second alongside the first-division British, while at Falsterbo in July the Swedes divided runner-up spot with the defending series champions from France.

In the end, it was their success in the final leg of the Challengers Series that clinched it for the Swiss as they collected the maximum 16 points available at Bratislava in Slovakia which boosted their position as the best six scores from their outings in both the Promotional and Challengers Leagues were calculated.

STRONG SWISS FOURSOME
It was the strong Swiss foursome of Martin Fuchs (Principal), Janika Sprunger (Uptown Bo), Steve Guerdat (Nino des Buissonnets) and Hensueli Sprunger (Kepi de Valse) that lined out at the Slovakian fixture, but they only pipped the runners-up from The Ukraine by a single fault, while Austria slotted into third.  A total of 16 faults in the first round put paid to Swedish chances here, as only the best eight nations returned in round two.  At the previous leg of the Challengers League in Sopot, Poland the situation had been reversed when the Swiss failed to make the cut while the Swedes picked up points for third place.

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

Beezie Madden and Coral Reef Via Volo Win the Longines International Grand Prix of Rotterdam

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Beezie Madden and Coral Reef Via Volo. Photo: Beatrice Scudo

Rotterdam, The Netherlands – Beezie Madden and Coral Reef Via Volo triumphed after a 10-rider jump off to win the Longines International Grand Prix of Rotterdam – the last day of the 2011 FEI Nations Cup Series.

In front of a sold-out arena, Madden edged out the Dutch rider Jeroen Dubbeldam, who ended up in second place on Bmc Van Grunsven Simon in a jump-off time of 39.11. Madden came in 0.8 seconds faster in a time of 38.31 seconds. German rider Carsten-Otton Nagel came in third on Corradina in a time of 40.33 seconds. Four riders jumped clear in the jump off.

“It was fantastic,” Madden said of her win on her 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare.

“The show grounds improved significantly and did great despite all the rain that has fallen today and over the past days,” she added. “Our horses became lighter, faster and more careful.”

Madden also won the overall Longines award for the leading rider – building on the strong form she has kept up throughout the summer, collecting top placings in both North America and Europe.

Sunday’s grand prix hosted 47 entries, with Madden returning after the U.S. Team’s disappointing Nations Cup performance on Friday to take the CSIO5* Grand Prix win.

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

Germany Wins Final Round and FEI Nations Cup 2011 Series

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The German team celebrate their double victory in Rotterdam (NED) tonight where they won the last leg of the FEI Nations Cup 2011 along with the series title - L to R - Carsten-Otto Nagel, Ludger Beerbaum, Otto Becker (Chef d'Equipe), Marco Kutscher and Thomas Voss. Photo: FEI/CHIO Rotterdam Press.

Rotterdam (NED), 26 August 2011 – Germany did the double when winning both the last leg of the series, and the overall FEI Nations Cup 2011 title, at the thrilling finale in Rotterdam, The Netherlands this evening. Birthday boy, Ludger Beerbaum, was the hero of the day, but it was a desperate fight to the very end, with a strong challenge from the impressive British that was only settled by a third-round jump-off against the clock.

The Dutch hosts, who headed the leaderboard throughout the closing stages of the eight-leg tournament, had seemed likely to clinch the honours in front of their home crowd following a great run of form.  But yesterday German Chef d’Equipe, Otto Becker, warned that his side would pounce if the opportunity arose, and today, when it did, they seized it and held on tight.

It was a sad day for the USA however.  Despite their best efforts they could only manage sixth place, one spot behind the Belgians who were also lying in the relegation danger-zone.  And although Belgium collected 17 faults in a high-scoring competition, the 18 collected by the Americans was simply too much, and they now join the long-resigned Danish side in the Promotional League for 2012.

LYING LAST
The Danes were already lying last at the end of the first round with 21 faults on the board.  But the big surprise was the 16 faults collected by the Dutch who were positioned seventh of the eight competing nations at the halfway stage.  Irish chances were hampered by the elimination of Alexander Butler when his grey, Will Wimble, slammed on the brakes at the 4-metre-wide open water at fence eight and they were carrying 14 faults, while the Belgians appeared to be seriously compromised when racking up 12-first round faults – 2010 world champion Philippe Le Jeune (Vigo d’Arsouilles), 2006 world champion Jos Lansink (Cavalor Valentina Van’T Heike) and Gregory Wathalet (Copin van de Broy) each coming home with single errors while young Nicola Philippaerts (Carlo VHPZ) had the discount score of nine.

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Competitions, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping, USEF

Ready for Rotterdam: U.S. Jumpers Face Big Task in FEI Nations Cup

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Lexington, KY – The U.S. Jumping riders have a big task before them in tomorrow’s FEI Nations Cup at CSIO5* Rotterdam. They take to the final leg of the 2011 FEI Nations Cup Series in the Netherlands and jump to maintain their position in the Series for 2012.

Currently ranked seventh out of the eight teams in the Series, the U.S. needs to finish at least three places ahead of Belgium tomorrow in the Nations Cup to earn a spot to return in 2012. Belgium is currently two points ahead of the United States. The two lowest-placed teams will be relegated after Rotterdam, and Denmark is already out of consideration.

The four riders set to represent the U.S. are up for the challenge for Chef d’Equipe George Morris:

Lauren Hough and Quick Study just won the Longines Grand Prix at CSIO5* Dublin in an epic victory over a top-flight field. She will lead off the U.S. effort.

Christine McCrea and the ultra-consistent Romantovich Take One will follow Hough into the ring; they have been quietly racking up solid results all summer. They jumped two clear rounds in the Nations Cup at CSIO5* St. Gallen and went on to finish third in the Longines Grand Prix of Switzerland two days later.

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FEI Nations Cup 2011 Round 8

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FRENCH GET THE BEST OF THE DRAW, AT LAST by Louise Parkes

The draw for the eighth and final leg of the FEI Nations Cup 2011 series took place in Rotterdam (NED) today.

Rotterdam (NED), 25 August 2011 – The luck of the draw went in favour of France for the first time this season today, so the defending double-champions will be last into the arena for tomorrow’s final leg of the FEI Nations Cup 2011 in Rotterdam (NED). French form has been unexpectedly weak throughout the series, and they are one of three nations that could possibly face the prospect of joining Denmark, already assured of relegation, in the Promotional League in 2012.

The order-of-go for the eighth leg of the series is as follows: 1, Germany; 2, The Netherlands; 3, Denmark; 4, Great Britain; 5, USA; 6, Ireland; 7, Belgium; 8, France.  And there is plenty of tension in the air ahead of the final clash.

The rules dictate that, after the last of the eight legs in the premier tournament, the two lowest-placed nations are demoted to the second-tier Promotional League.  And the countries in most danger of joining the Danes are the Americans and Belgians. But after the previous round in Dublin (IRL) three weeks ago, the French are lying fifth on the leaderboard and just four points ahead of Belgium.  Should they experience yet another bad day, the country that has dominated the sport of Nations Cup Jumping for the last two seasons could be in a very vulnerable position.

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Competitions, Events, FEI, Show Jumping, USEF

Lauren Hough and Quick Study Win Longines International Grand Prix of Ireland

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Lauren Hough and Quick Study celebrate (Beatrice Scudo Photo)

Dublin, Ireland – The U.S. show jumpers dominated the final day of the Royal Dublin Horse Show by picking up three wins. Highlighted by Lauren Hough’s major score in the Longines International Grand Prix of Ireland with Quick Study, the U.S. rebounded from a fifth place FEI Nation’s Cup finish on Friday with a trifecta of success. Hough dominated the star-studded field of 40, and she was one of only two riders to jump two clear rounds. Her second round time was three seconds faster than French rider Michel Robert, who ended up second on Kellemoi De Pepit.

“It was a difficult course today there were only two clear in the first round,” said Hough. “My horse felt great in the first round and that gave me confidence. I had a good feeling about it and I had the advantage of going last in the jump-off.  My horse is naturally a fast horse; Michel went clear (in the jump-off) but went conservatively. I didn’t have to push too much because he is such a fast horse, so I just I just went medium.”

Quick Study, a 12-year-old Selle Francais gelding owned by Laura and Meredith Mateo, returned from an inconsistent Nations Cup performance on Friday to take his first CSIO5* Grand Prix win.

“He wants to do the right thing,” said Hough about her World Equestrian Games veteran. “I didn’t let him on Friday (in the Nations Cup) – he was in such good form in Florida, then I got over here and it’s been a little up and down; he hasn’t had any major mistakes, they’ve been more my mistakes. He’s a great horse and he did everything right tonight.”

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

British Pip the Irish in Dublin Duel

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Great Britain won the seventh leg of the FEI Nations Cup 2011 in Dublin, Ireland today. Pictured (L to R): Michael Whitaker, Robert Smith, Chef d'Equipe Rob Hoekstra, Nick Skelton and Scott Brash. Photo: FEI/Tony Parkes.

Dublin (IRL), 5 August 2011 – The British pipped their old rivals from Ireland in the seventh leg of the FEI Nations Cup 2011 at the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show in Dublin, Ireland today.  Just a week after the exciting jump-off at Hickstead (GBR) in which Germany won through, it came down to yet another three-round thriller with Nick Skelton going head-to-head with Billy Twomey.  And Skelton was in a class of his own as he steered Carlo home to clinch it for the British for the 25th time in the 85-year history of the event.

Belgium and France finished joint-third, while the USA slotted into fifth ahead of Germany.  The long-time league leaders from The Netherlands had a less successful day today when having to settle for seventh place, and Denmark came in last.  It was an improved performance from the Danes however.  Although they may be making an early departure from the top-level series at the end of their inaugural season, they will be stronger for the experience, and they have shown great courage and resilience throughout.

The countries really feeling the heat at the end of today’s classic clash were the Belgians and Americans, because only two points separate them on the league table going into the final leg in Rotterdam (NED) in three weeks’ time.  One of them is likely to join the Danes as the two lowest-placed teams on the FEI Nations Cup 2011 leaderboard are relegated to the FEI Promotional League at the end of the series.

LOST THEIR MOMENTUM
The French held sway on a zero score at the halfway stage this afternoon, but they lost their momentum when all four riders produced single errors second time out.  Alan Wade’s course proved plenty testing, with the triple combination at fence seven, the following vertical with water-tray, and the tricky planks all claiming a number of victims.  Britain’s Michael Whitaker explained, “Yes the combination was difficult, a triple bar to vertical to oxer, and it was tight in there, and then it was a short six to the water tray vertical.  It was a really good course, plenty difficult,” he pointed out.

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FEI Nations Cup 2011 – Draw, Round 7, Dublin

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FRENCH WILL BE PATHFINDERS AT PENULTIMATE LEG IN DUBLIN TOMORROW by Louise Parkes

FEI Director Press Relations, Grania Willis, and Pat Hanly, Show Director at the draw for order-of-go at the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show in Dublin, Ireland yesterday. Photo: FEI/Tony Parkes.

Dublin (IRL), 4 August 2011 – The French are drawn first to go in tomorrow’s crunch leg of the FEI Nations Cup 2011 series at the Discover Ireland Horse Show in Dublin, Ireland.  It’s getting down to the wire with just one more leg remaining following the Irish fixture, and the draw took place this morning at the gracious Royal Dublin Society showgrounds which is widely recognised as the birth-place of the sport of show jumping.

The order-of-go is as follows: 1, France; 2, The Netherlands; 3, Belgium; 4, Denmark; 5, USA; 6, Great Britain; 7, Ireland; 8, Germany.

The host nation is not under great pressure, as the Irish are lying comfortably third on the series league table which is headed by The Netherlands followed by Germany, while the British are in fourth. But there’s nothing quite like the expectation of the Dublin crowd.  As team manager Robert Splaine acknowledged today, “The last time we won at home was in 2004, and the Aga Khan Cup is one of the most coveted trophies in the world – we want to do well tomorrow and give the home spectators something to cheer about, and we’ll be going out there to give it a try!”

NO ROOM FOR COMPLACENCY
The pathfinders from France however are amongst the four nations occupying the lower end of the FEI Nations Cup league table, and the double-champions have no room for complacency going into tomorrow’s competition. Denmark has picked up only eight points from the previous six rounds, and seems destined for a return to the Promotional League in 2012, but just 4.5 points separates the French, winners in 2009 and again last season, from the Americans who are in second-last place behind Belgium.

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