Tag Archives: FEI World Cup

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

Vakin Roars to Victory at Minsk

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Maksim Vakin (RUS) and Harley Davidson are pictured with (L-R) Aleh Kachan, Minister of Sport and Tourism of the Republic of Belarus; Vladimir Tishkin, Foreign Judge; Carlheinz Boess, President of the Ground Jury; and Viktar Mikhadziuk, Event Director and Director of the Olympic Equestrian and Breeding Centre of Belarus.

Lausanne (SUI), 18 June 2012 – Russian rider Maksim Vakin, 32, riding the 11-year-old Harley Davidson, led from the start to win at Minsk (BLR), the second leg of the FEI World Cup Eventing 2012. Vakin now moves into second place in the series standings behind Germany’s Sandra Auffarth, winner of the inaugural competition at Strzegom (POL).

Last year’s winner Alena Tseliapushkina (BLR), a regular participant in this FEI World Cup Eventing series, finished second and third on Goliaf and Elga, but as her results did not meet the minimum eligibility requirements, the Belarusian did not earn any World Cup points.

Boris Vasilev (RUS) was lying third after Cross Country on Naftenat, but had a less than happy time in the final Jumping phase, picking up 33 faults to drop to fifth. He was also sixth on Osoka, but he too does not earn any FEI World Cup Eventing points for his efforts.

The Jumping phases proved influential: there were five clear Cross Country rounds but none in the Jumping. Six riders were eliminated for three Cross Country refusals, including Tseliapushkina on her most experienced horse, Passat, her ride at the 2008 Olympic Games, and Aliaksandr Faminou (BLR), who finished third on last year’s FEI World Cup Eventing leaderboard.

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

Auffarth Takes Control for Germany in Strzegom

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Left to right: Hans Melzer, Chef d’Equipe for the German Eventing Team with Frank Ostholt, Sandra Auffarth, Andreas Dibowski and Elmar Lesch being presented with their trophy by the Mayor of Strzegom Zbigniew Suchyta.

Lausanne (SUI), 5 June 2012 – Germany is proving the nation to beat this year, after European silver medallist Sandra Auffarth opened the 2012 FEI World Cup Eventing with a convincing victory at Strzegom (POL) at the weekend and led her team to a second win in the FEI Nations Cup Eventing series.

Germany, which won the inaugural competition at Fontainebleau (FRA) in March, now has a commanding lead of 13 points over Spain at the halfway mark in the FEI’s brand new team Eventing series.

Auffarth made her team début in the winning German quartet at last year’s HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships in Luhmühlen (GER), and had won an HSBC Training Bursary for her outstanding performance at the HSBC FEI Classics in Luhmühlen – her first 4* event – only six weeks previously. She stamped her Olympic credentials at the weekend by leading from the start in the CICO3*-W on the 10-year-old chestnut Opgun Louvo and, adding nothing to her excellent Dressage score of 36.7, set an unmatchable target. The 26-year-old was also eighth on Parancs.

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

Eleven Nations Line Up for Eventing “Double” in Poland

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Clarke Johnstone (NZL) clinched the FEI World Cup Eventing 2011 victory on Orient Express after setting an unmatchable target from the start of the season. Photo: PSV J. Morel.

Lausanne (SUI), 1 June 2012 – A total of 44 starters from 11 nations will be competing in the FEI World Cup Eventing 2012 series at this weekend’s Strzegom Horse Trials (POL), which doubles as the third leg of the FEI Nations Cup Eventing 2012, the FEI’s first team Eventing series.

Some high-profile combinations will be aiming to take an early lead at the first of the four-leg FEI World Cup Eventing series, which this year celebrates its 10th birthday. These include Kenki Sato, who helped secure Japan’s team qualification for Eventing at the London 2012 Olympic Games and will be going all out on Chippieh and Toy Boy.

Six nations will also be taking the opportunity to secure valuable points for the FEI Nations Cup Eventing at Strzegom.

Germany, top of the FEI Nations Cup Eventing leaderboard since the first leg of this exciting trial series in Fontainebleau (FRA), has nominated a strong team in a bid to build on its current five-point lead over France, which has not sent a team to Strzegom.

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

Fellers and Flexible Record First US Victory in 25 Years at Thrilling Rolex Finale

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FEI YouTube Channel: http://youtu.be/d2JtelPdJVE

On the podium at the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final in 's-Hertogenbosch (NED) today, (L to R), runner-up, Switzerland's Steve Guerdat, winner USA's Rich Fellers and third-placed Pius Schwizer from Switzerland. Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton.

‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED), 22 April 2012 – America’s Rich Fellers and the amazing Irish-bred stallion Flexible stormed to victory in a thrilling third-round jump-off at the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands today. Only Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat and his 11-year-old gelding, Nino des Buissonnets, were left to challenge the US partnership against the clock in the closing stages, but despite a superb effort, they had to yield to the pure determination of a horse and rider who, quite simply, never give up.

Flexible was all but written off twice during his career due to severe injury, but overcame the odds to return to the top of the sport each time. For the legion of fans who have followed the 16-year-old son of Cruising and his rider from Oregon (USA) who bought the chestnut stallion in Cavan, Ireland 10 years ago, today was a dream come true. Unorthodox in his movement and jumping style, and the oldest in the competition at 16 years of age, Flexible showed the same kind of spirit as his sire, Cruising, who was runner-up at the FEI World Cup Jumping Final 13 years ago in Gothenburg (SWE). Flexible was second at the same venue himself in 2008, and has competed at all of the last five Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Finals, but today it was his turn to stand under the spotlight. And the courageous stallion and his rider fought every inch of the way, bringing the packed stadium at the Brabanthalle in ‘s-Hertogenbosch to their feet in an emotional tribute after their incredible round in the jump-off, while it was Guerdat who stood second on the podium ahead of fellow-countryman Pius Schwizer in third.

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Competitions, Contributors/Press, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping, USEF

Fellers Ends 25 Year Drought and Wins the 2012 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final for the U.S.

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Fellers and Flexible (Susan J. Stickle/PhelpsSports.com)

‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands – The 2012 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final came to an exciting conclusion Sunday afternoon at the Indoor Barbant in the final competition, held over two rounds. Louis Koninck once again challenged riders over two stiff courses. However, a total of four rounds of competition were not enough to crown a winner of the 2012 Finals. Rich Fellers of the United States and Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat remained tied on one fault following the conclusion of the second round. They would need to return to the ring for a final jump-off to decide a winner.

When Fellers (Sherwood, OR) and Harry and Mollie Chapman’s Flexible entered the ring as the second combination in the jump-off the U.S. was amidst a 25 year drought of Rolex/FEI World Cup Finals winners.

No more.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Events, FEI, FEI, USEF

US Riders Produce Upbeat Freestyles at the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final

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Jan Ebeling and Rafalca (Susan J. Stickle/ PhelpsSports.com)

‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands – The United States’ two representatives produced solid, fun Freestyle tests this afternoon at the Indoor Brabant in the final round of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final. Jan Ebeling and Shawna Harding utilized the lessons learned in Friday’s Grand Prix to produced better performances; both riders witnessed improved marks from the Grand Prix to the Freestyle.

Ebeling (Moorpark, CA) put the mistakes of the previous day behind him and displayed an improved rhythm to score 69.875 for 15th place. Riding Amy Ebeling’s Oldenburg mare, Rafalca, Ebeling stayed perfectly in tune with the up-tempo music throughout his ride. The pair had a dramatic finish to their test with piaffe on the centerline and culminating with one-handed piaffe into the salute. A slight spook following the two-time changes performed on the rail was one of few mistakes in a pleasing effort.

“I’m very happy with my test today; there were little mistakes in the twos but that’s difficult on the rail there; there was a little spook. But it’s not an Operating Room in there; it’s a live arena. And we got more exposure and next time we’ll be better.”

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Events, FEI, FEI

Cornelissen and Parzival Clinch Back-to-Back Reem Acra Titles in Style

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FEI YouTube Channel: http://youtu.be/Zpg21UEWx20

Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival claimed the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage title for the second year in a row. Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton.

s’-Hertogenbosch (NED), 21 April 2012 – Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival, the defending champions from The Netherlands, clinched the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage title for the second consecutive season when topping the Freestyle on home turf in ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED) today. But Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg really pressurised the dominant Dutch duo with a spectacular performance that left them a close second, while Italy’s Valentina Truppa was a huge hit with the packed stadium of spectators when finishing third with Ermo del Castegno.

As Ground Jury President, The Netherlands‘ Ghislain Fouarge, later confirmed the level of competition at the Brabanthalle was much improved in today’s decider. “The judges were a bit disappointed after yesterday’s Grand Prix, and Adelinde was not at her best, but it was completely different today,” he said. A score of 86.250 clinched the title for Cornelissen, who went fourth from last in the field of 18 starters, and that put her just over a single point ahead of runner-up Langehanenberg.

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Competitions, Contributors/Press, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

Weishaupt Wins Second Leg, but Schwizer Heads Rolex Leaderboard Going into Sunday’s Final

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FEI YouTube Channel: http://youtu.be/WCejiOhGoIw

Philip Weishaupt on the way to victory in the second leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final. (Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton)

Germany’s Philipp Weishaupt won tonight’s second leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final at ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED) in a thrilling three-way jump-off against the clock. But it is runner-up, Switzerland’s Pius Schwizer, who holds the advantage going into Sunday’s final competition which will decide the fate of the 2011/2012 title.

As the going got tough this evening, the cream rose to the top, and clear rounds proved very elusive indeed. Weishaupt’s fellow-countryman, Marco Kutscher, was the only other starter to find the key to the course set by Louis Konickx, but reigning Olympic champion, Canada’s Eric Lamaze, was unlucky to miss out on the final barrage when stopping the clock just 500ths of a second off the pace for a single first-round time penalty to finish fourth and is in serious contention going into the closing stages.

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Awards, Contributors/Press, FEI, FEI, Media/Radio/TV Sources, Show Jumping

Jumping Verona Wins Rolex FEI World Cup Press Office Award for 2011/2012

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Left to right: Grania Willis (Director of Press Relations, FEI), Anthony Schaub (from Rolex), Caterina Vagnozzi (Jumping Verona Press Officer), Eleonora Ottaviani (Jumping Verona Event Director) and Magali Dubois Vaucher (of Rolex). Image: Kit Houghton/FEI.

Lausanne (SUI), 21 April 2012 – Jumping Verona has won the Best Press Office award for the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Western European League 2011/2012 as voted by journalists and photographers covering the series’ 12 Western European League qualifiers.

The Best Press Office award was introduced at the start of the Rolex FEI World Cup 2010/2011 season to celebrate the hard work of the event organising teams. Press offices were judged on several key media services, including on-site and online media services, press conferences and swift information supply throughout the qualifiers.

The Jumping Verona media team numbers eight, and is led by Caterina Vagnozzi. Caterina has been press officer of Jumping Verona, which hosted the fourth qualifier of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Western European League 2011/2012 series, since 2003. She has also been press officer at the Rome CSIO for the past 23 years, was Press Officer at the FEI World Equestrian Games in Rome in 1998, and at all the Pavarotti International Horse Shows at Modena.

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

US Qualifies Seven for Final Competition of Rolex/FEI World Cup Final; Fellers Lies Second Overall

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Rich Fellers and Flexible (Photos by SusanJStickle/ PhelpsSports.com)

‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands – Valuable World Cup points were at stake Friday evening in the Rolex/FEI World Cup Final as riders vied for a place in Sunday’s final competition. Louis Koninck tested the 33 riders that returned for round two over a demanding track in the Indoor Brabant. Riders within the top 25 of the placings following tonight’s round qualify to contest Sunday’s final competition, of those entries seven will be representing the U.S.

Rich Fellers, Thursday’s round one winner, guided the diminutive Flexible to a near flawless round just faulting at one fence. Fellers (Sherwood, OR) and Harry and Mollie Chapman’s 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse stallion jumped another efficient round only adding four faults at the middle oxer of the triple at fence 11. The pair finished tonight’s class in eighth place.

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