Tag Archives: FEI World Cup

Star-Studded Line-Up Emerges from North American FEI World Cup Jumping Qualifying Leagues

Richard Spooner and Cristallo won the North American West Coast FEI World Cup Jumping qualifying series and will line out at 's-Hertogenbosch. Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton.

Lausanne (SUI), 4 April 2012 – The 2011/2012 North American FEI World Cup Jumping qualifying leagues concluded last weekend at Tampa in Florida (USA), yielding a star-studded selection of contenders for the 34th Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final at ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands which is now only two weeks away.

Two separate leagues take place on the North American continent. The East Coast league began at Blainville in Quebec (CAN) last July, while the West Coast league kicked off at another Canadian fixture, Langley CSI2*-W, a month earlier. A total of four groups of athletes can qualify from this region – two from Canada, another two from Mexico, three from the USA West Coast League and seven from the USA East Coast series. And many of the riders who have made the cut for this season’s decider are big names that are likely to make their presence felt when the action gets underway at the Brabanthalle on 19 April.

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USEF Names Riders for 2012 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final

Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) will be represented by two American dressage riders at the 2012 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final to be held in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands, April 18-22.

The United States will be represented by the top two riders from the North American League. The following horse/rider combinations qualified during World Cup Qualifying Events held throughout the 2011-2012 season:

Name/Age/Hometown/Horse/Age/Breed/Sex/Owner

Jan Ebeling/53/Moorpark, CA/Rafalca/15/Oldenburg/Mare/Amy Ebeling

Jim Kofford/49/Raleigh, NC/Pharaoh/13/Belgian Warmblood/Gelding/Hannah Shook and Mitzi Presnell

Please visit the USEF World Cup Final page for further information: http://usef.org/_IFrames/breedsdisciplines/discipline/alldressage/WorldCupTM.aspx.

Details about the Final are available here: http://www.indoorbrabant.com/en/.

For more information, contact Jenny Van Wieren-Page, Director of Dressage High Performance Programs at (859) 225-6949 or email jvanwieren@usef.org.

Satisfaction Springs a Nice Surprise for Kutscher in Gothenburg

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Marco Kutscher and Satisfaction pictured with Magali Dubois-Vaucher from Rolex after winning the last qualifying leg of the 2011/2012 Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Western European League series at Gothenburg, Sweden today. Photo: FEI/Roland Thunholm.

Gothenburg (SWE), 26 February 2012 – Germany’s Marco Kutscher admitted he was very pleasantly surprised when finding himself the winner of the last qualifying round of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Western European League 2011/2012 series at Gothenburg, Sweden today.  “This was my first World Cup competition with this horse and my last chance to make sure that he could compete at the final in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, so I’m delighted with the way things have worked out!” the 36 year old rider said afterwards.

Second to go in a five-horse jump-off against the clock, he clinched it with the coolest of performances, and completes the 12-leg qualifying series in fourth place.  It is Frenchman, Kevin Staut, who is the leading rider at the end of the qualification season however, having competed at every event from the outset in Oslo, Norway last October and finishing third today with Le Prestige St Lois de Hus behind runner-up Ludo Philippaerts from Belgium partnering Kassini Jac.

Ukraine’s Katharina Offel filled fourth spot while Germany’s Philipp Weishaupt slotted into fifth on an afternoon when clear rounds were at a premium.

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Glory in Gothenburg for Kittel and Toy Story

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Patrik Kittel recorded his third success of the 2011/2012 Reem Acra FEI World Cup series when winning tonight’s last qualifying round at Gothenburg (SWE) riding Toy Story. Photo: FEI/Roland Thunholm.

Gothenburg (SWE), 25 February 2012 – Patrick Kittel was the crowd-pleaser on home ground in the Scandinavium Arena at Gothenburg, Sweden tonight when steering Toy Story to victory in the last qualifying leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 Western European League series.  It was a nervous wait for the 35 year old Swede however, as the result was delayed due to an electrical fault that disrupted the scoring system.

In the absence of his marks, it was Great Britain’s Richard Davison and Hiscox Artemis who were heading the scoreboard in the closing stages, with Denmark’s Lone Joergensen and FBW de Vito close behind.  But these two were relegated when Kittel’s score of 78.525 was eventually confirmed, leaving him well clear of all challengers.

Today’s success brought Kittel’s tally for the season to three, following previous wins at Stockholm, Sweden in November and at Mechelen, Belgium in December.  He has pipped Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg for the 2011/2012 league title – a first for Sweden according to the FEI’s Director of Dressage, Trond Asmyr.  “I’m really pleased about that, this has been a good day!” Kittel said tonight.

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Langehanenberg Leads German Whitewash at Neumunster

Helen Langehanenberg and Damon Hill NRW won the penultimate qualifying leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Western European League series at Neumunster. Photo: FEI/Thomas Hellmann.

Neumunster (GER), 19 February 2012 – Helen Langehanenberg had the biggest smile of all as she headed a German whitewash at the eighth leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 Western European League series at Neumunster, Germany today.  Host nation riders filled five of the top six places, led by the 29-year-old from Havixbek and her popular stallion, Damon Hill NRW, while yesterday’s Grand Prix winners, Isabell Werth and El Santo NRW, had to settle for runner-up spot this time out.

One of the biggest cheers of the morning was reserved for third-placed Uta Graf and her very handsome stallion Le Noir who really rose to the occasion in the intense atmosphere that undermined many of the other contenders, while Dorothee Schneider and the mare, Diva Royal, slotted into fourth.

Last of the 15 horse-and-rider combinations into the arena, it was Denmark’s Lone Jorgensen and FBW De Vito who broke the German stranglehold at the top end of the scoreboard when lining up fifth ahead of Germany’s double Olympic team gold medallist Nadine Capellman riding Girasol.

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Margie Engle and Indigo Win $125,000 FEI World Cup Qualifier Grand Prix

Elizabeth Faraci Sweeps FarmVet Amateur-Owner 18-35 3’3″ Hunters

Margie Engle and Indigo. Photos © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – February 11, 2012 – Margie Engle (USA) and Indigo emerged victorious in the $125,000 FEI World Cup Qualifier Grand Prix presented by Spy Coast Farm under the lights in front of a crowd of 5,200 spectators at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center on Saturday night. Engle and Indigo, owned by Gladewinds, Griese, Garber, and Hidden Creek, were the fastest of two clear rounds in an eleven horse jump-off over Darragh Kerins (IRL) and Lisona, owned by Kevin Babington. Pablo Barrios (VEN) and G&C Quick Star 11, owned by Gustavo Mirabal, were third.

Week five of the FTI WEF, sponsored by Spy Coast Farm, will conclude tomorrow. The 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of competition that conclude on April 1, 2012, and they will be awarding more than $6 million in prize money through the circuit.

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Male Champion Looser Retires at the Top While Eccles Family Dominate Female Final

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Patric Looser and his horse Record RS Von der Wintermuehle made an emotional retirement from the sport after winning the 2011/2012 FEI World Cup Vaulting Final. Photo: FEI/Christophe Bricot/Jumping International de Bordeaux.

Bordeaux (FRA), 5 February 2012 – Emotions ran high at the 2011/2012 FEI World Cup Vaulting Final in Bordeaux, France today where Switzerland’s Patric Looser made the perfect exit from the sport when taking the Male title in style, and Great Britain’s Joanne Eccles pipped her younger sister, Hannah, for the Female honours.

This first official FEI World Cup Vaulting season visited five qualifying venues over the winter months, and today’s closing stages saw the sport at its very best.  Looser was determined to produce a better result than he did in yesterday’s first round.  “I’m going to try to enjoy every second of my Freestyle today” he said before the competition began.  “Yesterday was not my best performance – I was a bit stiff in my body although I didn’t make any mistakes, but I’m in first position by a good distance as the competition begins today and I intend to be more relaxed and just enjoy my routine and my horse!” he explained.

He succeeded in doing just that, adding this new title to the one he earned at the Final in Leipzig, Germany last April and to his career-defining gold medals at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky in 2010 and last year’s FEI European Championships.

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Boyd Exell Writes History at Bordeaux

Boyd Exell (AUS) has written history at Bordeaux by winning the FEI World Cup Driving title for the fourth consecutive time. ©Rinaldo de Craen/FEI

BORDEAUX (FRA), 5 February 2012 – Boyd Exell (AUS) has entered the history books by winning the FEI World Cup Driving Final for the fourth consecutive time.

Dutch drivers IJsbrand Chardon (NED) and Koos de Ronde (NED) fought like lions but were unable to beat Exell, who was simply unbeatable.

Class of his own
Last starter Boyd Exell felt the pressure on his shoulders despite his 8-second head start on Chardon after the first competition on Friday evening. Boyd however proved to be in a class of his own again, cheered on by the many enthusiastic spectators. The triple FEI World Cup Driving Champion put down an amazingly fast and clear round with his solid team of horses and widened the gap further on Chardon and De Ronde, who were in second and third place.

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Staut and Silvana Are Brilliant in Bordeaux

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Kevin Staut is presented with a Rolex watch by Arnaud Reverdin, Commercial Director, Rolex France. Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton.

Bordeaux (FRA), 4 February 2012 – French hero, Kevin Staut, won the eleventh qualifying round of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2011/2012 series on his home turf at Bordeaux tonight.  Riding the 13 year old grey mare, Silvana HDC, he devastated the opposition in the ten-horse jump-off with a display of class and courage that snatched the honours from Australian runners-up Edwina Top-Alexander and Cevo Itot du Chateau.  Belgium’s Rik Hemeryck slotted into third with Quarco de Kerambars, while Ireland’s Denis Lynch finished fourth with his exciting new stallion, Contifex.

But tonight’s competition was as much about the battle for positions on the Western  European League leaderboard as anything else.  Following the next, and last, qualifying leg at Gothenburg, Sweden, the top-18 riders will make the cut for the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping final which will take place in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands at the end of April.  So the placings all the way down the line are critical at this stage, and the pressure is at boiling point.

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Boyd Exell Takes the Lead in FEI World Cup Driving Final in Bordeaux

Boyd Exell is on his way to win the FEI World Cup Driving Final for the fourth consecutive time. ©Rinaldo de Craen/FEI

BORDEAUX (FRA), 4 February 2012 – Triple World Cup winner Boyd Exell (AUS) has taken the lead in the FEI World Cup Driving Final in Bordeaux (FRA) after the first competition on Friday 3 February.

Many spectators attended the first competition of the FEI World Cup Driving Final despite it ending close to midnight. Boyd drove an excellent round in a thrilling competition which kept the spectators on the edge of their seats. The defending World Cup champion managed to put a 15-second lead between himself and Jozsef Dobrobitz (HUN), who was leading the competition. Exell drove a clear round, using the same four-in-hand team with which he amazingly won at Mechelen (BEL) at the end of December 2011, using his best horse Bill.

Flat out
Second into the arena Jozsef Dobrovitz took a risk by using a completely new horse to lead his team. The seven-year-old bay gelding Horus Alom only arrived at Dobrovitz’ stables last October. Dobrovitz drove the horse in his team at an indoor competition last weekend and got so excited that he decided to bring it to Bordeaux. Dobrovitz went flat out through the rather technical course, designed by German course designer Falk Böhnisch, setting the time to beat.

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