Tag Archives: Rolex

Dubbeldam Dominates Star-Studded Field at Oslo Opening Leg

Jeroen Dubbeldam and BMC Utascha SFN on their way to victory in the opening leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2012/2013 series. Photo: FEI/Annette Boe Ostergaard.

Oslo (NOR), 14 October 2012 – The Netherlands’ Jeroen Dubbeldam won the thrilling opening leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Western European League 2012/2013 series at Oslo, Norway this afternoon partnering BMC Utascha. The competition attracted a star-studded field that included three individual Olympic champions including the current title-holder, Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat. But it was the Dutchman, who claimed gold in Sydney, Australia 12 years ago, who earned those all-important maximum points.

The cream really came to the top, and it was 2007 Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping series winner, Switzerland’s Beat Mandli, who slotted into runner-up spot with Louis, while Spain’s Sergio Alvarez Moya showed the potential of his new partnership with the former Nick Skelton ride, Carlo, when finishing a very close third. Fourth place went to another Dutchman, Maikel van der Vleuten with VDL Groep Verdi, while British riders filled fifth and sixth – the London 2012 Olympic team gold medal winning duo of Scott Brash and Hello Sanctos slotting in ahead of Will Funnell and Billy Congo.

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Mac Cone – The Rolex One to Watch for October 2012

Mac Cone with his bay gelding, Amor van de Rostal, during their performance in the CAN$1,000,000 CN International. Photo: Cealy Tetley/Rolex

12 October 2012 – The Rolex One to Watch for October 2012 is awarded to Mac (Malcolm) Cone (CAN). During the month of September, the 60-year-old jumped from 299th to 220th – a move up the Rolex Rankings of 79 places.

Cone was born in Memphis, Tennessee (USA), and is based in King, Ontario (CAN) where he runs Southern Ways Stable. Cone moved to Canada in 1979 and is one of only two riders to have ever competed internationally for both the Canadian and United States Equestrian teams (1984 FEI World Cup Champion Mario Deslauriers being the other). Cone has now competed at two Olympic Games, with his most successful result coming in Beijing in 2008 where, alongside Eric Lamaze, Jill Henselwood and Ian Millar, the Canadian team won the silver medal.

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New Season of Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Just Around the Corner

At the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final 2011/2012 in 's-Hertogenbosch, L to R: runner-up, Switzerland's Steve Guerdat; winner, USA's Rich Fellers; third-placed Pius Schwizer from Switzerland. Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton

Lausanne (SUI), 9 October 2012 – Just a few days ahead of the opening of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2012/2013 Western European League series, horses are prepared, lorries are en route, and riders, owners, trainers and spectators are looking forward to another new beginning.

The Telenor Arena in Oslo, Norway hosts the first leg of the new season next Sunday, and the excitement is building by the day. This, after all, is the first step on the road to the 35th annual Final of a series that has quality written all over it. The taking of the prestigious Rolex FEI World Cup crown has been a defining moment in the careers of so many of the greatest horse-and-rider combinations in the history of the sport of international Jumping. It’s the one they all want to win.

And there is always something special about a season that concludes at Gothenburg in Sweden, because it is was here that the very first champion was crowned, when, back in 1979, the then-36-year-old Hugo Simon from Austria paved the way for many more to come as he galloped to victory with the big, bold Gladstone.

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Alexandr Belekhov – The Rolex One to Watch for September 2012

Alexandr Belekhov with his bay gelding, Sancho Pansa, during their performance in the Grand Prix at the CSIO5* Bitsa, Moscow (RUS). Photo: Liza Zatravkina

19 September 2012 – The Rolex One to Watch for September 2012 is awarded to Alexandr Belekhov (RUS), who is currently based at the St Petersburg Horse Club (RUS). During the month of August, the 40-year-old jumped from 418th to 224th – a move up the Rolex Rankings of 194 places.

Belekhov, who started to ride when he was 10 years old, spent much of his early career training in St Petersburg, where he was also born and raised. Belekhov’s first trainer was Larisa Tciganova, and throughout his career he has been trained by Nikolay Lekkin, Viktoriya Romanova, Viktor Romanov and Igor Samodurovskiy.

Belekhov’s career highlights include winning an International 3* horse show in Moscow (RUS) in 2007, and also being crowned Russian champion at numerous indoor and outdoor shows. Belekhov most admires the German Show Jumper, Marcus Ehning, and his dream is to one day represent Russia at the Olympic Games.

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Katie Monahan Prudent – The Rolex One to Watch for August 2012

Katie Monahan Prudent with her gelding, V, following her fourth place finish in the 1.30m Class at the CSI2* Chantilly (FRA) 2012. Photo: SPORTFOT / Rolex

20 August 2012 – The Rolex One to Watch for August 2012 is awarded to Katie Monahan Prudent (USA). Monahan Prudent divides her time between Rosières aux Salines (FRA) and Plain Bay Farm, which she runs with her husband in Middleburg, Virginia (USA). During the month of July, the 54-year-old jumped from 361st to 244th – a move up the Rolex Rankings of 117 places.

Monahan Prudent spent much of her early career training at Cherry Blossom Farm in Virginia, where she gained invaluable experience in the hunter jumper rings. Monahan Prudent went on to show her potential as a junior rider, winning both the Medal Maclay Finals along with multiple championships in the hunter ring, earning her a place in the hunter “Hall of Fame”. Monahan Prudent then emerged as an international Jumping star, claiming victory in every major Jumping Grand Prix in the United States, and helping the 1986 United States Jumping team win gold at the World Championships in Aachen. As a result, Monahan Prudent has been hailed US Rider of the Year three times by the American Grand Prix Association.

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Brianne Goutal – The Rolex One to Watch for July 2012

Brianne Goutal riding Mon Gamin in the 1.40m Class at the Spy Coast Farm Speed Challenge at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, Wellington, Florida (USA). Photo: SPORTFOT / Rolex

12 July 2012 – The Rolex One to Watch for July 2012 is Brianne Goutal (USA). Currently based out of Cloverleaf Farm LLC in Wellington, Florida, the 23-year-old has jumped from 413th to 226th – a move up the Rolex Rankings of 187 places.

Brianne Goutal made history as the first junior rider to win all four major equitation finals: the 2004 United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Show Jumping Talent Search Finals-East; the 2004 Washington International Equitation Classic Finals; the 2005 USEF/Pessoa Hunter Seat Medal Finals; and the 2005 American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Maclay National Championships.

In 2005, when she trained with Frank Madden of Beacon Hill Show Stables, , Brianne experienced a momentous year, and not only in terms of competition wins. At the age of 17, Brianne was awarded the ‘Lionel Guerrand-Hermes’ Trophy, awarded to her by the United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation and recognising her as the Junior Rider best identifying the ideals of sportsmanship and horsemanship. In the same year, Brianne was featured on Animal Planet’s TV series: “Horse Power: The road to Maclay”, a major Championship which she won riding the nine-year-old Logan. Further victories include both individual and team gold at the North American Young Riders’ Championship and the USEF National Junior Jumper Championship.

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Mrs. Beverley Widdowson Named as Owner of the Year 2011

from L-R: Mr. Gary Widdowson; Mr. Nick Skelton (aboard Carlo 273); Mrs. Beverley Widdowson; Dr. Hanfried Haring; Mrs. Madeleine Winter-Schulze; and Mr. Anthony Schaub.

11 July 2012 – Beverley Widdowson, owner of the 11-year-old grey gelding Carlo 273, has been awarded the prestigious title of “Owner of the Year” by the FEI and International Jumping Owners Club. Carlo 273 and British rider, Nick Skelton, have had a string of impressive performances during 2011 and 2012, notably; at the CSIO5* St. Gallen; at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida, USA; at the CSIO5* La Baule; and at the CSI5* GCT Hamburg.

The presentation of the award to Mrs. Beverley Widdowson was made by Mrs. Madeleine Winter-Schulze, member of the Jumping Owners Club; Anthony Schaub from Rolex; and Chair of FEI Group II, Dr. Hanfried Haring. The ceremony took place during the 2012 CHIO World Equestrian Festival in Aachen, Germany.

Formed in 2005 and supported by Rolex, the Jumping Owners Club is an exclusive organisation of international owners which works towards growing the popularity of the sport around the world. It is the only body which represents the views and opinions of the owners, and works closely alongside the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) in building the profile and inclusiveness of Jumping.

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Michael Whitaker (GBR) Won the Rolex Grand Prix at the World Equestrian Festival, CHIO Aachen 2012

8th July 2012 – Riding GIG Amai, Whitaker won the title following two clear rounds, and was fastest in the jump-off with a time of 49.73 seconds. In 2nd place was Thomas Voss (GER) riding Carinjo, and 3rd place was Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER) riding Bella Donna.

For the full results please visit: http://www.chioaachen.de/en/starterlisten?iEventId=971&sListLabel=Results%20S17&bNonMobilePage=true.

James Paterson-Robinson – The Rolex One to Watch for June 2012

James Paterson-Robinson. Photo: Equestrian Federation of Australia

The Rolex One to Watch for June 2012 is James Paterson-Robinson (AUS). Currently based at Ger Poels Horses stables in The Netherlands, the 33-year-old has jumped from 427th to 237th – a move up the Rolex Rankings of 190 places.

James established himself as a young talent when making his international debut at the Young Rider Challenge tournament in India in 1998. Two years later, at the age of 21, James moved from his hometown of Victoria (AUS), where he was based at Barwon Heads Pony Club, to pursue his riding career in Europe. In 2001 and 2003, James won the five-year-old division of the FEI World Breeding Young Horse Jumping Championships, and many other notable wins followed.

James and the 11-year-old black stallion, Niack de l’Abbaye, had many successes in 2010, having won the CSI4* Geesteren (NED) Grand Prix; finishing in second place in the Nations Cup at the CSIO3* Linz-Ebelsberg (AUT); finishing second in the Nations Cup at the CSIO4* Lummen (BEL); and placed 13th in the Grand Prix at the CSI5* San Patrignano (ITA).

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George Whitaker – The Rolex One to Watch for May 2012

George Whitaker proudly wearing his team bronze medal at the FEI European Jumping Championships for Children, Juniors and Young Riders 2011 in Comporta (POR). Photo: SPORTFOT/Rolex

9 May 2012 – The Rolex One to Watch for May 2012 is George Whitaker (GBR). Currently based in Huddersfield, Yorkshire in Northern England, the 19-year-old jumped from 354th to 231st during May – a move up the Rolex Rankings of 123 places.

George is from the most successful family in the sport of Jumping, and he forms part of the next generation of the Whitaker dynasty, along with his brother William, and cousin Ellen. His uncles, John and Michael, have been the cornerstone of the British Jumping team for the last 30 years; they both won team silver at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games as well as numerous European and World Championship medals.

George is part of the British Equestrian Federation’s UK Sport-funded World Class Development Programme, which works with talented riders to maximise their potential and deliver success in Dressage, Eventing and Jumping. He is also currently undergoing an apprenticeship with the intention of gaining skills in horse care and management.

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