To celebrate the CHIO Aachen and the first event of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, Rolex has produced three films featuring Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, winner of the Rolex Grand Prix in 2005; Frank Kemperman, CHIO Aachen Show Director; and Michael Mronz, President of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping Steering Committee for 2013.
In the first of the three films, Rolex Testimonee Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum explains why the CHIO Aachen is such a special place and what impact the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping will have on the sport.
In the second film, Frank Kemperman and Michael Mronz talk about the eight historic decades of equestrian sport in Aachen, how the venue has changed, and how the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping is a natural progression for the sport.
In the third film, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, Frank Kemperman, and Michael Mronz outline how they all prepare for the highlight of their year: the CHIO Aachen and the Rolex Grand Prix.
Calgary, AB – June 27, 2013 – The Spruce Meadows Summer Tournaments are in their third week and the competition is as tough as ever. Two FEI-level events were held today at the ‘Canada One’ Tournament, which runs through Sunday, June 30. Olympic gold medalist McLain Ward and Wannahave sped to their second win in the summer series in the $33,000 AKITA Drilling Cup 1.45m. Ward won his sixth FEI competition of the Summer Tournaments in the $33,000 Cargill Cup 1.50m with Zander.
The tournament wraps up on Sunday with the $100,000 Esso Challenge, the third FEI World Cup qualifier to be held at Spruce Meadows this summer. Admission and parking are complimentary for the ‘Canada One’ Tournament.
The $33,000 Cargill Cup 1.50m had 55 entries, and 19 of those were clear rounds, but in the speed format of the competition, it was all about who was fastest over the course set by Michel Vaillancourt of Canada. Today, that was McLain Ward on Zander, a nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Cantos x Saygon that Ward owns with Grand Road Partners. They finished in 66.114 seconds. Reed Kessler (USA) and Ligist were just behind in second place in a time of 66.790 seconds. Tiffany Foster (CAN) and Victor placed third after they stopped the timers in 67.559 seconds.
Ward said of his ride, “Zander’s really coming along well. I didn’t want to run him off his feet today. He has a really big stride and it was a course where a big stride could come in handy in a lot of the lines. He’s getting so seasoned now at this level of jumping that you can take some nice cuts. Early on, with the wall being a bit funny, and the line to the skinny (fence), I could take a hard cut on it and I knew he was going to respond well. I was actually a little surprised the time held up, but sometimes you get lucky.”
Ward also placed seventh with Cadence, a new ride for him, owned by Procedures Inc. Cadence was previously ridden by Megan Wexler in the grand prix ring. Ward rode Cadence for the first time yesterday and this was their first competition together. “His owner is pregnant, so she asked me to show him. He’s a seasoned grand prix horse and he’s a nice addition to the string,” he said.
With his two victories today, Ward will gain FEI World ranking points. Many FEI competitions are on the schedule at Spruce Meadows, and it gives riders a great opportunity to increase their standing. While Ward said that the world ranking system is suited to the European style of show jumping, it is great to have as many FEI competitions as there are in the Summer Tournaments, “particularly here in North America where we’re a little bit isolated from the European scene.”
He added, “I’m a professional who just can’t pick up my business and spend the year in Europe. I try to find a balance and I want to stay current in the sport. I try to go to Europe enough to know where I’m at against the best in the world. If I do go to Europe, I usually can only take two horses, and if one gets a little tired or injured, you don’t have the luxuries that they have while showing on the continent or we do when competing here at Spruce Meadows or Florida. To have this opportunity, to do this in the same fashion as the Europeans do, it’s a great asset.”
With the devastating flooding in Calgary and the local communities, Ward commented, “It’s a tragedy, and you hear about things more and more with mass media. It was lucky that the weather didn’t affect Spruce Meadows. I’m a big believer that it’s great for things to go forward. It’s terrible when you have a tragedy, whether it be a natural disaster or a death, but you have to continue forward with life the best you can. Whether it’s Spruce Meadows or other public events, I think it’s good for morale to feel like life is normal, as much as possible.”
McLain Ward and Wannahave
Ward and Wannahave Are Tops Again
Showing that the derby obstacles are no match for them, McLain Ward and Wannahave, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Manhattan x G. Ramiro Z owned by The Wannahave Group, sped to victory in the $33,000 AKITA Drilling Cup 1.45m over 61 other entries. Ward and Wannahave took all of the natural obstacles in galloping stride to finish clear in 61.490 seconds for the win.
The course in the All Canada Ring was designed by Anthony D’Ambrosio of the United States. There were 25 clear rounds in the competition. Second place went to Wilton Porter (USA) on Radio City in 61.568 seconds, while Leslie Howard was third with a time of 62.465 seconds on Lennox Lewis 2.
The AKITA Drilling Cup 1.45m was another in a series of competitions at the Spruce Meadows Summer Tournaments that offered the natural derby obstacles in an effort to promote the derby style. Ward appreciates these opportunities.
“They have a series of these derbies, which are nice. Wannahave started out the Spruce Meadows tour a little bit not understanding the derby, and he’s gotten progressively better,” Ward noted. “He won in the second week and then today, so he’s really comfortable with the natural obstacles. That right there makes you faster because you can take a little bit more of a risk to them, as far as angles and leaving out strides. Now that I trust him with that stuff, I can just let his stride carry him and in these big fields, it makes him quite quick.”
Ward said that Wannahave is “jumping better and better” and they plan to show in Saturday’s $25,000 Direct Energy Derby 1.45m and is aiming toward the $140,000 Cenovus Energy Classic Derby during the ‘North American’ Tournament.
Having been a regular competitor at the Spruce Meadows Summer Tournament in the past and for the last three years, Ward has had a lot of success. “Last year didn’t win as much, trying to make the Olympic team and being injured; there was a lot on our plate. We have a good string of horses and it’s nice to pick up a few classes,” Ward acknowledged. “The horses across the board are handling it well, and my student Katie Dinan is doing great, which is exciting.”
With more entries than ever, the Spruce Meadows Summer Tournaments are extremely competitive, Ward said. “I think the level in the last three years has gone up a lot. There were always some good people here and it was always hard to win a class in the summer. But to get good ribbons, you could have a normal round and get a piece. That’s not the case right now,” he pointed out. “These classes are fast, there are lots of clear rounds, and they’re difficult. I think the level is quite good and for the next group down, for horses or riders, I think it’s a great education. You definitely have to be on your game to win here.”
The ‘Canada One’ Tournament continues tomorrow with the $33,000 WestJet Cup 1.45m and the $33,000 Duncan Ross Cup 1.50m in Meadows on the Green. For full results and more information, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
Based in Calgary, Canada, Spruce Meadows is the brainchild of the Southern family who built a Show Jumping complex at the foothills of the Alberta Rocky Mountains. It was in 1976 that the first Spruce Tournaments were held, with annual spectator attendances reaching over 50,000 by the end of the decade. Today, Spruce Meadows boasts one of the greatest outdoor equestrian venues in the world and offers an incredible experience for riders and fans alike. Spruce Meadows focuses on the organization and hosting of show jumping tournaments of unmatched quality for junior, amateur and professional athletes in a manner that reflects basic family values in a clean, green and welcoming environment that celebrates the horse and encourages the breeding and training of quality sport horses and the teaching and development of athletes. For more information on Spruce Meadows, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
Gerco Schröder (NED) has been judged as the winner of the Furusiyya Rider of the Day award at the CHIO Aachen (GER).
Schröder, riding his chestnut stallion, London, rode two outstanding clear rounds, which gave his Netherlands team a fantastic win in the Mercedes-Benz Preis, part of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping. The 34-year-old Dutchman was the only rider in the competition to record two faultless rounds, with his team pipping Belgium to first place by just three points.
The Furusiyya Rider of the Day award is presented to the horse & rider combination that is judged to have best displayed qualities such as harmony, partnership, balance and skill throughout their two rounds; values represented and embodied by Furusiyya. The award was judged by Frank Rothenberger, Course Designer at the CHIO Aachen.
– At the 2012 FEI General Assembly in Istanbul, it was announced that Furusiyya would become sponsor of the FEI Nations Cup until 2016.
– “Furusiyya” is a single Arabic word and conveys so much, embracing the idea of horsemanship, chivalry, and equestrian knowledge in general. The term is a derivation of faris, or horseman and faras, a horse.
– The new structure of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping has come about through intense consultation between the Saudi Equestrian Fund and the FEI with the sport’s stakeholders around the world.
– 39 countries have signed up to take part in the 2013 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping and 21 Nations will host qualifiers.
– The Saudi Equestrian Fund was created by HM King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz by Royal Decree in November 2009 to give the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia a lasting legacy in equestrianism through sport and cultural events.
– The Saudi Equestrian Fund supports the Kingdom’s national show jumping team, Saudi Equestrian, which won a team bronze medal at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
– The Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping is now a genuinely international competition which gives all nations – whether from developed or developing countries – the opportunity to compete on a level playing field and qualify for a highly prestigious Final.
– The Final of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping will be staged at the Real Club de Polo in Barcelona, Spain from 26-29 September 2013.
Gerco Schroder produced the only double-clear performance of the competition to help The Netherlands to victory in the Mercedes Benz Prize. Photo: FEI/Kate Houghton.
Aachen (GER), 27 June 2013 – The Netherlands won the Mercedes Benz Prize, part of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping 2013 series at Aachen, Germany tonight. In yet another thrilling leg of this inaugural season, the result lay in the hands of the final few riders. And it was Gerco Schroder’s double-clear with the fabulous stallion London, the only one recorded on the day, that proved pivotal for the winning side when a last to go mistake from Ludo Philippaerts saw it slip from Belgium’s grasp.
This was always going to be an almighty clash, with the home team determined to rack up as many points as possible in their quest to qualify for the series final at Barcelona, Spain in September. The Dutch had a terrible day on their home turf in Rotterdam just a week ago where Germany reigned supreme, but tonight revenge was sweet as the host nation had to settle for third place behind Belgium and it was the flag of The Netherlands that was flying high over the hallowed Soers Arena.
Eight Nations
A total of eight nations lined out, and France slotted into fourth ahead of Ireland in fifth, Switzerland in sixth, Great Britain in seventh and Saudi Arabia in eighth place. There were only three team members in the Saudi Arabian side so they were always going to be under pressure, and they were already lying bottom of the order after the opening round as Frank Rothenberger’s imposing 12-fence track took its toll.
Even the opening vertical claimed a significant number of victims, while the rustic-coloured oxer at fence four also proved influential. However, it was the line from the oxer at fence six to the following open water and on to two further verticals that posed one of the biggest questions of the day. Time and again horses seemed a little startled at the open water which had an unusual looking turreted take-off board, and Belgian chances took a heavy blow when pathfinder, Gregory Wathelet, returned with 20 faults on the board after Desteny van het Dennehof seemed to give himself a fright here. The last vertical in this line also fell regularly when the distance didn’t come up comfortably while the penultimate triple combination, with its opening planks and long stretch to the final oxer, played a significant role.
Halfway Stage
Despite Wathalet’s big opening score however it was the Belgians who were out in front at the halfway stage, counting just the single time fault from Dirk Demeersman and Bufero van het Panishof after both Nicola Phillipaerts (Cortez) and his father Ludo (Challenge V Begijnakker) went clear. They had a significant six-fault lead over the French who were lying second even though Olivier Guillon and Lord de Theize were eliminated at the triple combination, both Patrice Delaveau (Orient Express HDC) and Eugenie Angot (Old Chap Tame) collecting just a single time fault while anchorman Kevin Staut (Quismy des Vaux HDC) returned with five faults on his first tour of the track.
Germany lay third carrying eight faults, Christian Ahlmann and Codex One providing the only clear as Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and Bella Donna put a foot in the water and collected a time fault for the discard score while Daniel Deusser (Cornet d’Amour) and Ludger Beerbaum (Chiara) each made a single mistake.
The Dutch were in fourth and seemed to be already consigned to a minor placing with 14 on the board after nine-fault efforts from both opener Marc Houtzager (Sterrehof’s Tamino) and third-line rider Harrie Smolders (Emerald), a five-fault effort from Leon Thijssen (Tyson) and their only clear from anchorman Schroder. Ireland were in fifth with 21 faults, the British were in sixth with 22, the Swiss were next in line with 23 while Saudi Arabia were already burdened with 34 faults as the second round got underway.
Under the Lights
But how fortunes would change as the second round evolved under the lights. The Belgian lead looked vulnerable when Wathelet didn’t appear this time. “My horse was maybe a bit injured after the jump at the water. We tried him over a few fences in the warm-up and he wasn’t happy so we decided he wouldn’t jump again,” the rider explained afterwards. So when Nicola Philippaerts left the two verticals following the open water on the floor they would now be obliged to add those eight faults to their tally. Demeersman steadied the ship with a great clear from Bufero however, and by now the French had disappeared from reckoning with an additional 16 faults, Guillon bravely returning to the ring but unable to assist his side when collecting 18 faults with Lord de Theize this time out.
The Germans meanwhile could not produce a single clear at their second attempt, Ahlmann picking up five faults, Deusser collecting four at the bogey vertical at fence nine, Michaels-Beerbaum’s Bella Donna again putting a foot in the water while her brother-in-law Ludger, hero of the day in Rotterdam a week earlier with Chiara, lowered the oxer three fences from the finish line.
Rallied
The Dutch however really rallied with brilliant clears from Houtzager and Thijssen. Smolders nine-year-old stallion went into the water and lowered the first element of the triple combination but when Schroder and London produced the second of their spectacular fault-free performances then all the pressure was transferred to Belgian anchorman Ludo Philippaerts.
As he entered the ring for a second time the Dutch tally stood at just those 14 first-round faults while the Belgians had victory in their sights with only nine on the board. Ludo could even afford a fence down and they would still come out ahead by a single point, and that’s how it seemed it would end as he rode down to the last with just the poles from the oxer at fence four on the ground. But in his haste to get to the finish he saw a very long stride to the final vertical and the packed stadium of spectators gasped as he struck the fence. “I rode for the time after the triple combination and went forward, but the horse backed off the last and it was too far; we had no chance,” a disappointed Philippaerts said afterwards.
Plenty to Celebrate
There was plenty to celebrate in the Dutch camp however. Tonight’s success has earned the valuable 100 maximum points and moved them up two places to third spot on the Europe Division 1 leaderboard which continues to be headed by the Swiss followed by France in second place. It was “mission accomplished” for Dutch Chef d’Equipe Rob Ehrens, who said, “We had mistakes in the first round but we fought back and the team did a marvellous job in the second round. I’m very happy about that!”
It was a particularly great day for Schroder who took the Furusiyya Rider of the Day award for his classic double-clear with the very handsome 11-year-old stallion London with which he claimed double-silver at the London 2012 Olympic Games. “I had two fantastic rounds. London was in great shape yesterday; I was going to jump him in a small class but I decided to go in the bigger one and he was brilliant. I’m really happy with him,” he said tonight.
His team-mate, Harrie Smolders, said, “It was fantastic how we came back in the second round. This morning we had some problems with our horses and my nine-year-old had to compete in his first Nations Cup of his life, so to win in Aachen is fantastic.”
Talking about the course, Smolders said, “It was great, but not a typical Aachen course because the fences came up very quickly and the course was not so long. For us though it was a great day!” Schroder agreed with Smolders’ assessment of Frank Rothenberger’s test. “It was a nice course; maybe everything came a little faster than we are used to; the time was quite short and if you lost time it was expensive – that made it more difficult,” he explained.
French team anchorman, Kevin Staut, said, “When we come to Aachen everyone is expecting a place on the podium, so we are down a bit. We had some good rounds from Patrice, and Eugenie jumped really well. My horse didn’t have any Nations Cup experience at all, and a big foot in the water jump in the first round coupled with Olivier’s horse not being completely in the competition meant that we finished where we did.”
“It’s an amazing atmosphere, and it’s always nice to ride in a Nations Cup in Aachen. I thought that this year was especially difficult, although it was two fair rounds with strong teams, and it was great that there was suspense right until the end.”
It was certainly another great day in the history of the sport of Nations Cup Jumping and, with the Europe Division 1 series now really hotting up with only three further legs to go, the next round will take place in Falsterbo, Sweden in two weeks’ time. There will also be a leg of Europe Division 2 taking place on the same afternoon at Budapest in Hungary so there is another feast of equestrian action in prospect on Friday 12 July.
For information on the fourteenth leg of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping 2013 series at Aachen (GER), check out website www.chioaachen.de or contact Press Officer Niels Knippertz at Email niels.knippertz@chioaachen.de, Tel +49 241 9171 182. The next two legs take place on Friday 12 July – at Falsterbo, Sweden, Europe Division 1 continues and for all information on the Swedish fixture go to website www.falsterbohorseshow.com or contact Press Officer Elisabeth von Schrowe, Email elisabeth@falsterbohorseshow.com. Budapest, Hungary hosts the next leg of Europe Division 2. Check out website www.csiobudapest.hu or contact Press Officer Dorottya Strobi, Email strobi.dorottya@lovasszovetseg.hu.
Facts and Figures:
The World Equestrian Festival at CHIO Aachen presents Germany’s largest and most prestigious sporting event.
During the 10-day fixture, organisers are expecting over 350,000 visitors and 112,000 had already attended by Wednesday evening.
The event has attracted 557 horses and 375 athletes from 30 nations who are competing for 2.67million euros in prize-money.
CHIO Aachen presents Nations Cups in five disciplines since 2008 – Jumping, Dressage, Eventing, Driving and Vaulting.
The main stadium where the Jumping events takes place has a seating capacity for 40,000 spectators.
8 teams competed in today’s Europe Division 1 leg of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping series at Aachen.
4 teams were chasing qualification points for the Final which will take place in Barcelona, Spain in September – The Netherlands, Germany, Ireland and France.
Sweden won the first-ever Nations Cup at Aachen staged in 1929.
France claimed the FEI Nations Cup honours in 2012.
Today’s team from Saudi Arabia consisted of just three riders while all the other nations fielded teams of four.
The oldest horse in today’s class was the 16-year-old mare Tinka’s Serenade ridden by Ireland’s Billy Twomey.
The youngest horses were both nine-year-olds: Never Last ridden by Switzerlands’ Werner Muff and Quismy des Vaux HDC competed by Kevin Staut for France.
1 double-clear performance in tonight’s competition – from The Netherlands’ Gerco Schroder and London.
2 eliminations – Olivier Guillon and Lord de Theize (FRA) in round one and Great Britain’s Tina Fletcher who had a fall at the water with Unique IX in the second round.
Quotes:
Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER) – “I went into the water in both rounds. After the first round we analysed it – I had been too deep, so I tried not to be too deep the next time and I came too big! It’s Bella’s first Nations Cup at Aachen and her first under lights. I’m hoping to improve her water jumping for sure.”
German Chef d’Equipe, Otto Becker, talking about his team’s performance – “We didn’t have enough clear rounds. You need clear rounds, especially in the second round; we were not good enough today.”
Standings – Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping, Europe Division 1 after today’s competition HERE.
For further information on the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping series, check out this link.
“Furusiyya” (Arabic: فروسيه) this single Arabic word conveys so much, embracing the idea of horsemanship, chivalry, and equestrian knowledge in general. The term is a derivation of faris, or horseman and faras, a horse.
Calgary, AB – June 26, 2013 – The Spruce Meadows Summer Tournaments continue this week at the ‘Canada One,’ held June 25-30. Today was full of team competition and camaraderie, with the Paramount Resources Prix des Nations competitions held for junior and amateur riders at levels 1.10m-1.40m. There was also a 1.00m Friends of the Meadows Prix des Nations.
The tournament wraps up on Sunday with the $100,000 Esso Challenge, the third FEI World Cup qualifier to be held at Spruce Meadows this summer. Admission and parking are complimentary for the ‘Canada One’ Tournament.
This was the 14th year that the Paramount Resources Prix des Nations have been held and they offer a fantastic opportunity for junior and amateur riders to experience team competition, which is not often found at show jumping events in North America.
Caitlin Ziegler, a member of the 1.40m Prix des Nations winning team who has ridden in the competition three times, stated, “It’s so much fun just to be able to have a group who really get together and support each other. It’s a chance to experience what a Nations Cup is. The sport is so competitive (and) it often sets people against one another, so it’s great to have a chance to work together toward something.”
The winning team of the $10,000 Paramount Resources Prix des Nations 1.40m showed poise and rode to all-important clear rounds when it counted. Led by Chef d’Equipe Nick Dello Joio, the America Team notched three clear rounds and did not have to send their anchor rider in for the second round. They had six faults in round one to lead and added just four in round two to take victory.
The lead-off rider for the Team America was Greer Hindle (USA) on Viper P, who had five and four faults. Lucas Porter (USA) and Phineas had six in the first round, but returned with a clear in round two. Caitlin Ziegler (USA) and Butragenia had just one time fault in the first round and were clear in the second round to seal the win. Wilton Porter (USA) and Neolisto van het Mierenhof were clear in the first round and were able to sit out the second round.
Ziegler explained the team’s plan for round two, “Coming into round two, the teams were at six, seven, and ten (faults), and they were all within one rail. What we wanted to do is have everybody be at least as good as our first round, if not better, and eliminate our time faults. I think we all managed to do that, so it was great.”
Having ridden Butragenia for three years, Ziegler knew she would do well in the Prix des Nations. “She’s fantastic for these High Junior and Amateur courses. She’s a horse you can really count on. In a class like this where you need two clear rounds, she’s perfect for it,” she said.
The “America” team donated all of their prize money to the Calgary Flood Relief to help the area after the terrible flooding in the city and surrounding areas. Ziegler expressed, “The last week has been really devastating for Calgary. It means so much to us – not just Spruce Meadows, but the entire city and community here is so supportive. We want to do whatever we can to give back and help them through this.”
The second place team was Chafing the Dream with Chef d’Equipe Dick Carvin, who finished on 17 total faults. They were led by a double clear performance from Bretton Chad (CAN) on Tjengo. Kara Chad (CAN) and Oura de Rouhet had five and one faults, while Alec Lawler (USA) and Acoradus scored eight and 13. Vani Khosla (USA) and Dynamo had five and six faults.
The JMSCBK Team with Chef d’Equipe Sarah Segal were third with a total of 23 faults. Lead-off rider Katherine Strauss (USA) and Capacity had eight and four faults, Isabella Salles (BRA) on Angel Rose had five and 19, Francesca Bolfo (USA) and Lalique were clear in the first round and had seven faults in the second round, and Wesley Newlands (CAN) rode Lapacco to two and four faults.
$7,500 Paramount Resources Prix des Nations 1.30m
The $7,500 Paramount Resources Prix des Nations 1.30m was very exciting competition full of clear rounds that helped four teams tie on a zero score after two rounds of jumping. Those four teams then chose a representative to compete in the jump-off.
Leading off was Maria Costa (USA) on Reno for The Fighting Irish team, who were guided by Chef d’Equipe John Roche. They were clear in 31.583 seconds, which would finish in third place. Costa was double clear in the first two rounds, as was her teammate Wilton Porter (USA) on Punch. Wilton’s brother Lucas rode Patriot to scores of zero and five, while Sarah Kerins and (USA) and Hot Wheels contributed one time fault and were clear.
Beatriz Franco Sol and La Guayaba
The margin for victory in the competition was extremely slim, with the winners, Team San Lorenzo, taking the top spot by only 3/10ths of a second. The win was gained by Beatriz Franco Sol (MEX) on La Guayaba, a horse she has ridden for five years. They were also clear and just a bit faster in 31.273 seconds.
Franco Sol did not have to return in the second round since her three teammates were all clear. “She’s a really fast, fast mare,” Franco Sol said. “It’s her stride that is so fast; that’s why they told me to go in the jump-off. It was easier because I didn’t have to go in the second round.”
The San Lorenzo Team was led by Chef d’Equipe Antonio Maurer. Alejandro Pascencia (MEX) and Sultan de la Nutria were double clear, as were Jacobo Martinez (MEX) and Queens Darling. Claudia Lorenza O Farrill (MEX) and Etoile van den Bisschop had four faults in round one and then returned clear.
Second place in the 1.30m Prix des Nations went to the Thirty and Flirty Team with Chef d’Equipe Kent Farrington. His student, Meagan Nusz (USA), rode Willow in the jump-off and finished just off the pace with no faults in 31.580 seconds. Nusz did not have to show in the second round either since her team were all clear. Abigail McArdle (USA) and Quality were double clear, as were Alex Crown (USA) and Quadrant. Teri Kessler (USA) contributed a second round clear after nine faults in the first round.
Last in the jump-off was Katherine Strauss (USA), who rode Chellando Z. They had four faults at the last jump, and their team, Madden Madness with Team Chef d’Equipe Jennifer Griffiths, were fourth. Strauss was double clear in the first two rounds, as were her teammates Isabella Salles (BRA) on Carlos H and Wesley Newlands (CAN) on Wieminka. Genevieve Meyer (USA) and Coral Reef Santos Utopia had four and eight faults.
This was Franco Sol’s second time riding in the Prix des Nations competition. “I really did think we had a good chance of winning. It was a good team and everybody was really all together. It’s really nice to win, and I hope everybody is happy!” she expressed.
$5,000 Paramount Resources Prix des Nations 1.20m
The $5,000 Paramount Resources Prix des Nations 1.20m came down to one fault for the winning team. Going in as the anchor rider, Katherine Strauss (USA) on Urginia had to be clear for her team to win. She did just that, leading the Madden Magic team, led by Chef d’Equipe Ann Karrasch, on a final score of zero. Strauss did not have to show in the first round since her teammates were all clear. Also on the winning team was Isabella Salles (BRA) and Umora (0, 0 faults), Genevieve Meyer (USA) on Coral Reef Casello (0, 4), and Gwendolyn Sontheim Meyer (USA) with Coral Reef Fundskerl 3 (0, 0).
Second place with just one total fault was Bob’s Babes, named for Chef d’Equipe Bob Henselwood. Their riders were Ali Ramsay (CAN) on Alonzo (0, 0), Jaclyn Duff (CAN) and Caesar (1, 4), Jillian Halina (CAN) on Coupe Champagne (0, 0), and Skylar Edmonds (CAN) with Boomer (elim, 0).
The Iztlazihuatl team placed third. Led by Chef d’Equipe Monica Burrilla, they finished on five faults. Sofia Larrea (MEX) and Balero 7 (6, 1), Gabriel Guerra (MEX) on Phenix de la Nutria (0, 0), Miguel Torres Hernandez (MEX) with Future SM (0, 4), and Martin Guerra (MEX) on Carloubet (0,4) made up the team.
$2,500 Paramount Resources Prix des Nations 1.10m
In the $2,500 Paramount Resources Prix des Nations 1.10m, there was another four-way jump-off to determine the winning teams after three were tied with zero faults after the first two rounds. First in and taking the win was Shelby Edwards (CAN) on Adelaide. They were the only clear round in the jump-off, finishing in 34.17 seconds to help their team to victory. Edwards rode for the Xtreme team, with Chef d’Equipe Trish Mrakawa. They were double clear in the first two rounds. Also on the team were Ally Memedovich (CAN) on ARK Diamond (0, 0 faults), Kirsten Spence (CAN) and Jetsetter (8, 8), and Chantelle Moore (CAN) with Montenero (0, 0).
Second place went to the John’s Juveniles team with Chef d’Equipe Vinton Karrasch. Katherine Strauss (USA) rode Fidel van de Kooldries to four faults in 33.87 seconds in the jump-off. In the regular rounds, they were double clear. Genevieve Meyer (USA) and Coral Reef Crystal Cove (4, 0), Gwendolyn Sontheim Meyer (USA) and Coral Reef Rob (0, 0), and Wesley Newlands (CAN) on Uno Kinston (0, 0) rounded out the team.
Team NorCal, led by Chef d’Equipe Meredith Herman, finished in third place after their jump-off rider, Simonne Berg (USA), rode Limerick to four faults in 47.34 seconds. They had zero faults in the first two rounds of the competition. Joining them on the team were Sarah Pulchalski (USA) on Lucia de Luxe (0, 0), Eve Jobs (USA) with RL Cheenook (4, 0), and Lynne Lancaster (USA) with Sky Dancer LS (0, 0).
$2,500 Friends of the Meadows Prix des Nations 1.00m
The $2,500 Friends of the Meadows Prix des Nations 1.00m saw the H.A.P.P.E.E. Team with Chef d’Equipe Jan Pearce ride to victory. The team consisted of: Gwendolyn Sontheim Meyer (USA) on Coral Reef IEM Capolavoro, who had one time fault and then four faults; Katrina Garnett (USA) and Shakyra, who had four and 10 faults; Josef Polk (USA) and Saint Sebastian, who had four and a clear round; and Linda Lauper Polk (USA) and Top Shelf, who were clear and had five faults. They team finished on 14 faults.
Second place went to Border Patrol and Chef d’Equipe Mary Manfredi who finished on 19 faults. The team was led by Nicola Brandon (USA) and Outlander (0, 4 faults), as well as Kelsey Brooks (USA) and Callula (1, 8), Chad Leat (USA) on Dutch Girl (5, 1), and Taylor Phillips (CAN) with Ziggy, who were unfortunately eliminated in both rounds.
The Golden Girls team with Chef d’Equipe Robert Blanchette placed third on 21 faults. Carolyn Salas (USA) on Alltair (0, 12), Clara Burgeles (USA) and Cord (6, 1), Shannon Jones (USA) on Hello U (12, 9), and Bryce Richardson (USA) on Levitas (1, 4) were on the team.
Based in Calgary, Canada, Spruce Meadows is the brainchild of the Southern family who built a Show Jumping complex at the foothills of the Alberta Rocky Mountains. It was in 1976 that the first Spruce Tournaments were held, with annual spectator attendances reaching over 50,000 by the end of the decade. Today, Spruce Meadows boasts one of the greatest outdoor equestrian venues in the world and offers an incredible experience for riders and fans alike. Spruce Meadows focuses on the organization and hosting of show jumping tournaments of unmatched quality for junior, amateur and professional athletes in a manner that reflects basic family values in a clean, green and welcoming environment that celebrates the horse and encourages the breeding and training of quality sport horses and the teaching and development of athletes. For more information on Spruce Meadows, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
Aachen, Germany – Competition was in full swing at CHIO Aachen Wednesday with dressage, driving and jumping competitions all taking place. The U.S. had representation in all three disciplines and did not disappoint as American combinations notched solid results.
Driving
Leading the U.S. effort on Wednesday was veteran driver Chester Weber, who dominated the start of CAIO-4 competition. For the second consecutive year, Weber (Ocala, FL) claimed victory in the Preis der Fa. Horsch in a world-class field. Driving his own Para and Senate along with Jane Clark’s Splash and Uniek, the nine-time USEF Four-in-Hand National Champion drove a lovely test to score 31.2 to earn victory by more than a three-point margin over reigning World Champion Boyd Exell.
Weber now leads the individual competition in Aachen as he looks to secure his second European victory in a month after topping the Four-in-Hand field at the Saumur CAI-A4.
Also representing the U.S. in the Preis der Fa. Horsch was Jimmy Fairclough (Newtown, NJ), who drove a leased team from Koos de Ronde to a score of 63.24 for 25th place.
The Aachen CAIO-4 continues Thursday with the Prize of Martello Immobilienmanagement GmbH & Co. KG, where drivers will perform a second dressage test as the first phase of team competition.
Laura Kraut and Woodstock O (StockImageServices.com)
Jumping
In CSIO5* competition the U.S. was represented on Wednesday by Laura Kraut and Beezie Madden. In the final jumping competition of the day the Prize of StädteRegion Aachen, Kraut (Royal Palm Beach, FL) scorched to a third place finish with Le Bon’s Jubilee D’Ouilly. Earlier in the day, the Olympic Games veteran piloted Joan Kalman and the Freedom Group’s Woodstock O to a fifth place finish in the Prize of Handwerk. Kraut also contested the Warsteiner Prize with longtime partner Cherry Knoll Farm’s Cedric, producing an eight-fault round.
Madden (Cazenovia, NY) completed her first class of the 2013 Aachen CSIO5*, the Warsteiner Prize, riding Abigail Wexner’s Cortes ‘C’ to a four-fault effort. She rounded out Wednesday in the Prize of StädteRegion Aachen producing a four-fault trip with Wexner’s Vanilla.
Dressage
Three U.S. dressage riders began the CDI4* competition in Aachen today. Caroline Roffman and Her Highness O and Shelly Francis and Danilo contested the Prix St. Georges Test as part of the Small Tour competition, while Susan Dutta rode Currency DC in the Grand Prix Test for the Big Tour.
Caroline Roffman and Her Highness O (Shannon Brinkman)
Roffman (Wellington, FL) was the first rider to enter the ring in the Deutsche Bank Stadium with her own Her Highness O. She and the 10-year-old Hanoverian mare executed a lovely, flowing test, scoring a 71.026% and earning a seventh place finish in the Preis der VUV class. Francis (Loxahatchee, FL) and Patricia Stempel’s nine-year-old Hanoverian gelding, Danilo, put forth a respectable effort to score 67.500% for 11th place. In the HAVENS Pferdefutter-Preis class, Dutta (Wellington, FL) and Tim Dutta Inc.’s 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding scored a 64.766% in the Grand Prix Test to finish in 19th place.
Lausanne (SUI), 26 June 2013 – The 14th qualifier of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping 2013 will take place at the Aachen CSIO 5* in Germany this Thursday 27 June attracting a field of eight teams.
The starting order, which was determined by a draw held at Aachen today, will be as follows:
Switzerland
France
Great Britain
Germany
Belgium
Saudi Arabia
The Netherlands
Ireland
Four teams – France, Germany, Ireland, and The Netherlands – will be eligible for Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping points in Europe Division 1. The standings at the half-way stage in that division are available here.
Tomorrow’s competition will begin at 19.30 CEST (local time in Germany, GMT+2 hours) and will be broadcast live on FEI TV, FEI’s official online video platform.
The FEI is providing a wide range of online information resources in connection with the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping.
Dedicated webpage
Our dedicated webpage gives you access to useful information, including the calendar, latest results, updated standings, rules and news from the series.
Our signature Twitter hashtags are: #Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup #Jumping.
“Furusiyya” (Arabic: فروسيه) this single Arabic word conveys so much, embracing the idea of horsemanship, chivalry, and equestrian knowledge in general. The term is a derivation of faris, or horseman, and faras, a horse.
Rotterdam, Netherlands – June 26, 2013 – It was a showdown of the top caliber riders on Friday, June 21, as the 13th leg of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup, presented by Longines, took center stage at the 65th CHIO Rotterdam. Dutch course designer Louis Konickx challenged eight international teams with his course, but the impressive all-female team from the United States did not back down from the challenge. Laura Kraut and Cherry Knoll Farm’s Cedric helped secure a team total of five faults alongside teammates Beezie Madden, Lauren Hough and Lucy Davis. The U.S. took the second place position behind Germany, with only one point separating the two teams.
The U.S. Team had only four faults to their name after Lucy Davis riding Old Oak Farm’s Barron and Beezie Madden riding Abigail Wexner’s Cortes ‘C’ produced fault free efforts; Kraut incurred four faults at the open water the first round, and was able to discard a previously earned eight-fault score from Hough, who was the first to traverse the track.
“We had a little bit of a spook on the line going to the water,” explained Kraut. “Cedric wasn’t spooking at the water; he didn’t even know it was there; he was spooking at these watches that had a shine on them from the light. It scared him and he actually bolted away. I didn’t think I would get him to the water because he was running away, but once he saw the water, he actually aimed back at it. Unfortunately we were at an awkward angle, and it was near impossible to get across.”
With four faults carrying into the second round, the United States fell two points behind Germany and one point ahead of Spain, Switzerland and France. As it happens all too often, the competition began to thin as the rails fell during the second round. The young Lucy Davis rode to two double-clear efforts, pushing the U.S. Team into the top three as they were in final contention with Germany and France.
Hough recovered nicely in the second round with Quick Study, only earning one time fault, and then Kraut was the next to enter the ring. She was able to lay down a beautiful clear effort, even though the display once again caught Cedric off guard. Kraut’s ride to the water was superlative as she expected his unease. The team was guaranteed the score of five or lower, pushing them into the second place position, and possibly the victory.
“Cedric jumped fantastic out there,” Kraut said. “The second round he still spooked again at the watches, but he knew the water was there, so he allowed me to steer him back to it. That time I knew it was coming, the first time he took me completely off guard. He hasn’t done something like that in a really long time; he was extra fresh this week at the horse show, and he was really jumping out there.”
The finish turned into a nail-biting moment for the sport of show jumping. Madden was the final U.S. rider to take on the course, but an eight-fault total secured the team with a total of five faults for the day’s efforts. If Ludger Beerbaum was able to complete the second round course without a rail, Germany would take the win.
Beerbaum took his time around the track, and although his conservancy left all rails in place, it proved suspenseful as the U.S. looked on at the possibility of a jump-off. Beerbaum rode to the final total of two time faults, avoiding a jump-off, and sealing Germany’s win.
“I was very optimistic coming to Rotterdam because I thought we had a great team,” Kraut explained. “Beezie and Lauren looked great, and Lucy is a phenomenal rider. I didn’t know her horse very well, but everyone spoke very highly of it, and they did fantastic. I thought we had a very solid team. We were darn close to winning it – it was tight, but a lot of fun. It was crazy how close it was.”
Later in the week, Kraut jumped to two double-clear rounds during the Grand Prix of Rotterdam. The course, also designed by the Netherland’s Louis Konickx, utilized 16 efforts, and opted for a very tight time allowed of 84 seconds. In the jump off, 10 clear riders were faced with seven obstacles, hoping to find the quickest track and score the win.
Kraut was able to jump clear during the first round course in 82.83 seconds with Cedric, owned by Cherry Knoll Farm, Inc., and soon faced the task of the second round track. Although Kraut was able to leave all of the rails in place and navigate quickly through the course by cutting turns and slicing fences, her time of 34.85 seconds earned the pair the fourth place position.
Germany’s Philipp Weishaupt and Monte Bellini took the victory with their untouchable time of 33.72 seconds, while Roger Yves Bost (FRA) and Castle Forbes Myrtille Paulois earned the second place in 34.11 seconds. Kevin Staut (FRA) and Silvana HDC rounded out the top three.
“It was just one of those jump offs, one of the ones where you keep galloping, but the place to leave one out never showed,” Kraut described. “In that company of horses and riders, that just isn’t good enough. I was pleased that he went double clear and earned fourth, but I was hoping to win it since I was second last year. He jumped great though, and I feel very good going into Aachen.”
From Rotterdam, the dynamic duo is heading to the CHIO Aachen 2013 World Equestrian Festival. For more information on the Longines Global Champions Tour where Kraut currently ranks first, please visit http://www.globalchampionstour.com/events/. To keep up to date with the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup, please visit http://www.fei.org/.
Kendall Bierer for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
(L to R) silver medallist Siengsaw Lertratanachai (THA), gold medallist Isabel Sanchez (DOM), bronze medallist Philippe Burckel (MRI) and Janine Khoo (SIN) who finished just outside the medals in fourth place.
Caracas (VEN), 25 June 2013 – The 12th annual FEI World Jumping Challenge Final 2013 came to an exciting conclusion on Sunday 23 June at the Caracas Country Club in Venezuela where Isabel Sanchez from the Dominican Republic emerged victorious. This year’s event attracted 21 competitors from 10 different regional zones, and 16 federations were represented. The flags of Algeria, Argentina, Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Libya, Mauritius, New Zealand, Paraguay, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, Tunisia, Venezuela and Zimbabwe flew high at this truly international event, and the action-packed five-day fixture saw a very close finish, with Thailand’s Siengsaw Lertratanachi just pipped for gold while Philippe Burckel from Mauritius claimed bronze.
It was the perfect birthday celebration for gold medallist Sanchez who turned 20 last Thursday. The FEI World Jumping Challenge series is open to riders of all ages, and the oldest competitor at this year’s event was 40-year-old Alt Lounis Brahim from Algeria while the youngest was Tunisian 16-year-old, Amel Meziane.
Regional Events
Category A riders qualify at their own regional events, and the Final is always staged outdoors and using borrowed horses. It begins with a warm-up class and then moves on through two qualifying rounds before the Consolation Competition and Semi-Final on the penultimate afternoon.
The result is decided on the last day in a challenging four-way change-horse competition. The format provides a true test of horsemanship as each rider must quickly form a good relationship with an unknown mount, and must then demonstrate further flexibility on the final day when horses are exchanged.
The series and Final are designed to provide top-quality competition for less experienced competitors from remote regions, helping them to develop their skills and guiding them towards positive future involvement in equestrian sport. Its success is highlighted by the results achieved by graduates such as 2012 bronze medallist Emanuel Andrade from Venezuela who enjoyed another tremendous season at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida (USA) over the past winter.
Qualifiers
Partnered with Carnida Z, Sanchez lined up seventh in this year’s first qualifier which was won by 2010 FEI World Jumping Challenge champion Santiago Diaz Ortega from Colombia who also won the opening competition on his road to success three years ago. Riding Cachafaz, the 24-year-old pipped Philippe Burkel from Mauritius by almost three seconds while New Zealand’s Rebekah Van Tiel slotted into third ahead of Singapore’s Janine Khoo. There were three eliminations at this early stage while Venezuela’s Gustavo Machado withdrew, but 19 lined out in the second qualifier in which Khoo came out on top with After Eight Z.
There were only six clear rounds in this competition, and Algeria’s Alt Lounis Brahim made a superb recovery from elimination the previous day to produce a foot-perfect performance with Rotterdam Z. The consistent Burckel lined up second with Benala while Van Tiel was once again third ahead of Saudi Arabia’s Bader Mohamed Alfard with Oscar du Pin. Sanchez slotted into eighth place with another four-fault result.
Semi-Final
A win in the Semi-Final however gave the eventual champion the chance she had been waiting for. With growing confidence she steered Carnida Z home in the fast time of 68.07 seconds to snatch pole position while, yet again, Burckel was runner-up and when Khoo finished third ahead of Lertratanachai it would be these four who would go through to the four-horse ride-off on the final day. Paraguay’s Sofia Chaparro just missed out on a place in the ride-off when clear with Lendell but almost three seconds slower than Lertratanachai. However the 17-year-old was rightly pleased with her own performance and that of the horse allocated to her. “Although lots of people thought my horse was difficult, I improved each day and I just fell in love with him!” Chaparro said.
The Farewell Consolation class went to a three-way jump-off against the clock with a super-fast clear round clinching it for Saudi Arabia’s Bandar Sami Binmahfouz and La Fe Falke ahead of Libya’s Georges Bittar (Too Much) in second and Argentina’s Victoria Jiminez (T Star) in third place.
There was also a National Final for Venezuelan riders in which Leopoldo Paoli and Country Boy were convincing winners ahead of Noel Vanososte (Ida) in second and Juan Andres Sauce (Tampa Graff) in third.
Change-Horse Final
Back at the sharp end, the change-horse Final began with clear rounds for all four riders on their own horses. And Burckel was the only one to make a mistake in the second round when swopping his own Benala for Khoo’s ride, After Eight Z.
But with the tension mounting, Khoo was eliminated in round three when partnered with Templario who had earned a place in the closing stages for Lertratanachai and who had previously jumped clear for both the Thai rider and Sanchez. Burckel began to slip with just a single fence down with Sanchez’s Carnida Z, but Lertratanachai stood firm with another clear, this time partnering Khoo’s After Eight Z. So the Thai rider and Sanchez were on level pegging going into the fourth and last round carrying zero scores.
And in the end it was so very close, a jump-off between these two only prevented by the single time fault collected by Lertratanachi on her final tour of the track with Sanchez’s week-long partner, Carnida Z. This time Sanchez rode Khoo’s After Eight Z and, again, breezed home with another fault-free effort to seal it, her time of 53.48 seconds almost two seconds quicker than that of her Thai rival. Burckel picked up eight faults with Templario, but this was still good enough for bronze as his finishing total was 16 while, despite a superb recovery when steering Benala home clear at her last attempt, Khoo finished outside the medals due to her earlier elimination.
The Best Horse award went to the brilliant Benala who stayed clear for all four riders on the final day.
Amazing Final
Jacqueline Braissant, FEI Solidarity Director, attended the event and said, “It’s been another amazing FEI World Jumping Challenge Final. The Caracas Country Club, so filled with greenery and surrounded by magnificent trees, contributed a lot to the nice atmosphere. Everything was convenient on site, the catering, the OC secretariat, Judges’ office, the show arena and the warm-up. For the first time in the history of the six Finals that have been staged, half of the participants were juniors, between 16 and 20 years of age, and among them were 11 girls.
“Most of these young riders are very active. Some of them are on their way to qualifying for the Youth Olympic Games 2014, some are aiming at the Bolivarian Games in Peru 2013 or the Central American and Caribbean Games in 2014. They showed a very high quality of riding. It is also to be noted that many of the coaches accompanying these riders went through the FEI Coach Education Programme.
“The Organising Committee did a wonderful job. They really aimed to please the riders and they reached their goal. Entertainment was organised during the rest day, and the highlight was a wonderful lunch in a typical restaurant outside Caracas. The Course Designer from Iran, Mr Hossein Shafiee, did a fantastic job in creating friendly courses asking different questions for this Final. He received lots of compliments from the riders. The Ground Jury were excellent, working really well together and in a very friendly atmosphere,” she concluded.
The event wasn’t all about the winners, it was about everyone taking part and El Salvador’s Stacey Sutton described it as “a great experience even though I did not make it to the Final. I made lots of new friends and I was able to spend time with them and that was great!” Tunisia’s Amel Meziane was awarded the prize for the most popular rider by her fellow competitors and said it was “a wonderful surprise – I am really happy!”
Result:
FEI World Jumping Challenge Final 2013: GOLD – Isabel Sanchez (DOM); SILVER – Siengsaw Lertratanachi (THA); BRONZE – Philippe Burckel (MRI).
Lexington, KY – The U.S. sends a strong group of athletes to Germany to compete across five disciplines at the prestigious CHIO Aachen. The host of the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games, Aachen draws many of the best in the game for world class competition held over ten days. In 2013, the competition runs June 21-30 and will feature 20 talented American athletes.
Dressage
In dressage competition the United States will have representation in each division with six athletes competing on eight horses. The U.S. sends four talented pairs to the CDIO5* which will run June 27-30. Jan Ebeling (Moorpark, CA) will ride his 2012 Olympic veteran Ann Romney, Beth Meyers, and Amy Ebeling’s Rafalca. Tina Konyot (Palm City, FL) also brings her Olympic Games partner Calecto V. They will be joined by rising stars Shelly Francis (Loxahatchee, FL) and Patricia Stempel’s Doktor. Rounding out the U.S.’s CDIO5* team is Olympic Games and FEI World Equestrian Games Team medalist Steffen Peters (San Diego, CA), who will ride Four Winds Farm’s Legolas 92.
In 2013, the United States will be represented in CDI-U25 competition for the first time; Caroline Roffman (Wellington, FL) will vie for top honors with Hyperion Farm, Inc.’s Sagacious HF. The pair was awarded a Dutta Corp. flight to train and compete in Europe and look to make a splash at the prestigious European CDI.
CDI-U25 competition will run June 28-29 and features 15 competitors from eight nations.
The United States will send three combinations down center line in the CDI4*, which will be held June 26-29. In Big Tour competition, Grand Prix, Susie Dutta (Wellington, FL) will fly the flag for the U.S. with Tim Dutta Inc.’s Currency DC. While in the Prix St. Georges division, Small Tour, Francis brings Stempel’s Danilo and Roffman will ride her own Her Highness O.
A total of 57 competitors from 16 different nations are set to contest the CDIO5* and CDI4*.
Vaulting
The first weekend of competition at CHIO Aachen wrapped up on Sunday with six U.S. vaulters putting forth great efforts and gaining valuable experience. Four individuals and one Pas de Deux team represented the U.S. in CVIO3* competition with Kimberly and Cassidy Palmer and Alicen Divita leading the way.
The Palmer Sisters (Half Moon Bay, CA), vaulting on Wolfgang Renz’s Leon 364 and lunged by Wolfgang Renz, earned scores of 6.658 and 7.302 on their way to a fourth place finish in the Pas de Deux competition.
In the three-phase individual female competition Alicen Divita (Redwood City, CA), vaulting on her mother Julie Divita’s Pino del Rio and lunged by Elke Lensing, was the U.S.’s top representative. With a tenth place finish in the compulsory competition, an impressive fourth in the technical competition, and eighth in Saturday’s freestyle competition, Divita earned a sixth place overall finish with an average score of 7.465.
Also competing for the U.S. were Elizabeth Ioannou (Saratoga, CA), who finished in twelfth place overall and Mary Garrett (Seal Beach, CA), who finished fourteenth.
In the individual male competition, Kristian Roberts (Moss Beach, CA) was the U.S.’s sole representative. Vaulting on Wolfgang Renz’s Leon 364 and lunged by Wolfgang Renz, Roberts finished in fourteenth place overall.
Chester Weber (Shannon Brinkman)
Driving
The U.S. sends two of its most experienced drivers into CAIO-4 competition this week in Aachen. The driving portion of CHIO Aachen will run June 25-30 and hosts 25 competitors from 10 nations. Chester Weber (Ocala, FL) is no stranger to success in international competition, having won four FEI World Championship medals. Recently, he won at the Saumur CAI-A4 with his own and Jane Clark’s team; he looks to win his second competition in the month of June in Aachen. Jimmy Fairclough (Newtown, NJ) has represented the U.S. at numerous championships and has more than five National Titles to his name. He will look to utilize that experience as he drives a leased team from Koos de Ronde.
Jumping
Always a destination competition for the top jumpers in the world, the Aachen CSIO5* once again hosts the very best in the game June 25-30 as 62 riders from 17 nations line up. The U.S. will be represented by two of its most experienced and accomplished competitors. Olympic and FEI World Equestrian Games Team medalist, Laura Kraut (Royal Palm Beach, FL) brings four horses to Aachen; Cherry Knoll Farm’s Cedric, Le Bon’s Jubilee D’Ouilly, Joan Kalman and the Freedom Group’s Woodstock O, and Stars and Stripes’ Bonito R. Reigning Rolex/FEI World Cup Final champion, Beezie Madden (Cazenovia, NY) has two entries for Aachen’s prestigious classes; Abigail Wexner’s Cortes ‘C’ and Vanilla.
Eventing
Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister (Mike McNally)
The 2013 Aachen CICO3* represents a new challenge for the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team as they contest the highly regarded competition for the first time. A team of four experienced riders are set to try and help the United States secure CICO3* victory in their inaugural effort. Tiana Coudray (Ojai, CA) brings Jatial, Inc.’s Ringwood Magister to Aachen. Will Faudree (Hoffman, NC) makes a return to the venue of the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games having represented the U.S. at those championships; in 2013 he rides Jennifer Mosing’s Pawlow. Marilyn Little (Fredrick, MD) will ride her Raylyn Farms Inc. and Phoebe and Michael Manders’ RF Smoke on the Water. Rounding out the American effort is Clark Montgomery (Wiltshire, UK) and Jessica Montgomery, Carole Montgomery, Janet Higgins, and Elizabeth Smith’s Universe.
The Aachen CICO3* runs June 27-29 and features 40 competitors from 10 nations.
