Tag Archives: Show Jumping

*Featured/Spotlights, FEI, Show Jumping

Sweden Secures Super Furusiyya Victory in Sopot

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Malin Baryard-Johnsson and Baltimore jumped double-clear to help Sweden to victory in the twelfth leg of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping 2013 series. Photo: FEI/Monika Chrzan.

Sopot (POL), 14 June 2013 – The Swedish team recorded a convincing victory in the twelfth leg of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping 2013 series at Sopot in Poland today to move within one point of the leading Belgians on the Europe Division 2 league table.  Sylve Soderstrand deliberately selected a strong side for this qualifier with the intention of boosting his country’s position at this stage in the series, and with his sights set on a return to Europe Division 1 next season.

A clean sheet for all four of his riders’ first time out put them firmly in the driving seat at the end of the first round, and anchorman, Peder Fredricson, was not required to jump a second time when team-mates Malin Baryard-Johnsson and Emma Emanuelsson recorded two of the three double-clears of the day to clinch it.  Belgium finished second despite the elimination of Ludo Phillipaerts who took a fall first time out, but perhaps the biggest and most heartening surprise of the day was the third-place result for the Hungarian side who finished with just one fault more than the Belgians as the exciting competition drew to a close.

A total of 13 teams started in round one, but only six returned for the second round and it was the Norwegians who slotted into fourth ahead of The Netherlands who slipped from second to fifth in the closing stages as their performance deteriorated. Switzerland finished sixth, but, like the Dutch, their second-round effort was considerably less impressive as they added 32 additional faults to complete on a big total of 41.

Perfect Test

The Hippodrome at the seaside town of Sopot, which lies on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea in northern Poland, was bathed in bright sunlight throughout the class, and course designer, Poland’s Lukasz Jankowski, set them the perfect test.  The all-weather arena, which measures just 50 x 80 metres, was packed with fences but the lines were all very rideable and while the open water proved the bogey of the day, faults were also accrued at other points around the cleverly-created 12-fence track.  The double of verticals at fence five saw plenty of action, as did the triple combination at fence 10, and several riders found themselves with a long ride ahead after hitting the very first fence on the track, a simple 1.45m oxer.

The Longines timing system played an important role as the time-allowed of 78 seconds proved influential, and it was the single time penalties collected by Hungary’s last-line rider Laszlo Toth that prevented his side from overwhelming the second-placed Belgians.  But Toth and his lovely 10-year-old grey, Isti, whose water-jumping expertise was second to none, demonstrated the inspirational quality of this series which is exposing talent and potential in a way that has never previously been possible. Team-mate Emil Orban and Lacapo set his country on the road to a great result with a trail-blazing clear, and while many teams with much more experience wilted in the closing stages, the Hungarians remained impressive to the end.

First Round Concluded

As the first round concluded the Dutch were only a single penalty-point adrift of the leading Swedes.  Michel Hendrix was double-jobbing as both pathfinder and Dutch Chef d’Equipe, and, partnering Wait and See, showed the way with just that single time penalty.  Bart Heselbekke (Wigeunerin) and Stephanie Brugmann (Waldo) were both foot-perfect so Wesley Heydens wisely decided to retire after Dallas du Domaine Z had three fences down.

The Hungarians were in third carrying just five faults when counting a single error from third-line rider Gabor Szabo (Timpex Cabale), Toth’s first time fault and benefitting from Orban’s opening clear, with the 17 collected by Szabolcs Krucso (Chacco Boy) discounted.

Next in line were four teams carrying nine faults, but with only six qualifying places for round two, both the host nation and Denmark were squeezed out when the combined times of the best three riders were taken into account.  Also sidelined at this stage were Germany with 13 already on the board, Finland and Czech Republic with 17 apiece, Argentina with 19 and Italy who finished last with a first-round total of 25.

Uncharacteristic

Swedish confidence was given a sharp jolt by an uncharacteristic two fences down, the opening oxer and the vertical at fence three, for the Olympic partnership of Jens Fredricson and Lunatic as round two began.  But the second outing proved much more difficult for almost all the other remaining teams too, with three of the Dutch going into the water en route to their additional 20 penalties which put them right out of contention. Norway added nine more despite a very happy clear from Ole Kristoffer Meland and CC Top, and the Swiss really fell apart with an additional 32, anchorman Beat Mandli retiring after lowering the triple bar for a second time and then faulting at the water with Croesus.

Clears from Jos Lansink (Santa Maria) and the second part of his double-clear from Dirk Demeersman (Bufero van het Panishof) strengthened the Belgian challenge so they only had to count one of the single errors from Phlippaerts and Rik Hemeryck (Papillon Z) this time out.  This saw them rocket up the leaderboard, yet this top-class team still only finished with the narrowest of advantages over Hungary whose pathfinder, Orban, made it all the way to the very last fence before leaving that on the floor.  Hungary could only count three scores when Krucso didn’t line out this time, so Szabo’s mistake at the water therefore had to be added to their tally as did Toth’s time fault for a total of 14 faults.

Meanwhile Jens Fredricson’s shaky second-round start was swept aside by two more glorious clears from Baryard-Johnsson with the spectacular Baltimore and Emanuelsson with the ever-improving and very promising Titan to seal it for Sweden however.  A clear from Jens’ brother, Peder, could have seen them finish with a totally clean sheet but by now it was unnecessary for him to return to the ring as the job was done, and very neatly indeed.

Important Victory

Swedish team manager, Sylve Soderstrand, described today’s success as “a very important victory for us if we want to be at the top – this is our big goal this year.”  And he had a lot of nice things to say about the venue at Sopot which has been hosting Nations Cup competitions for the last 60 years.

“The reason we came (to Sopot) is because we have seen the progress the show has made in the last few years.  We asked to compete in this competition because it has grown in reputation a lot, as has the quality of the organisation,” he explained.

Baryard-Johnsson was delighted with Baltimore’s performance.  “It is his first Nations Cup ever – he is a great horse for the future,” she said.  Last-line rider, Peder Fredricson, said he didn’t have a problem with not having to come back to the ring for the second round – “I have been riding since 8 o’clock this morning!” he said with a laugh.

While the Fredricsons and Baryard-Johnsson are multiple medallists and steeped in experience, it is only the beginning of Emanuelsson’s career and she is blossoming into some considerable talent this season.  Successful at Junior and Young Rider level, she went on to compete in Senior competition only to lose her top horse to injury.  “That left me out of the loop for almost two years,” said the 27-year-old rider today, “so I just had to concentrate on producing young horses instead.”  One of those young horses was Titan however, and with this reliable grey she has already shown real progression throughout this Furusiyya season.  A rider-error led to a stop in Drammen, Norway last month but this is a trusting partnership and Titan lost none of his confidence that day, simply popping easily over the same fence when re-presented and finishing with a flourish.  In Copenhagen, Denmark three weeks ago they produced a clear and a four-fault effort and today they never touched a pole.

Sweden now lies just one point adrift of Belgium at the top of the Europe Division 2 leaderboard, but there are still five more legs to go in this Division before the line-up for the inaugural Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping final takes place. Budapest in Hungary is the next port of call in Division 2 in July, but before then the Furusiyya action resumes next Friday, 21 June, with the Europe Division 1 fixture in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

For information on the twelfth leg of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping 2013 series at Sopot, Poland, go to website www.csi.sopot.pl or contact Press Officer Agnieszka Bilda at Email agnieszka.bilda@czerwonafurtka.pl, Tel +48 531 2080 50.  The next leg will take place in Rotterdam, The Netherlands on Friday 21 June, website www.chio.nl, Press Officer Anita Lussenberg, Email press@chio.nl.

Facts and Figures:

Today’s leg of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping series at Sopot, Poland attracted the biggest entry of the season so far with 13 nations lining out.

8 of those 13 countries – Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Poland and Sweden – were chasing qualification points for the series final which will take place in Barcelona, Spain in September.

All four of the Swedish team riders jumped clear in the first round.

There was one elimination – for Belgium’s Ludo Philippaerts who was unseated when his 10-year-old horse, Denver van’t Goemanshof, stumbled on landing over the water-tray oxer at fence four in the first round.

The bogey fence of the day was the open water at fence eight.

There were three double-clear rounds, from Sweden’s Malin Baryard-Johnsson (Baltimore) and Emma Emanuelsson (Titan) and from Belgium’s Dirk Demeersman (Bufero van het Panishof).

Just 6 of the 13 teams returned for the second round.

Course designer was Poland’s Lukasz Jankowski.

Sopot is a seaside town on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea in northern Poland.

It has a 10-kilometre stretch of beach and is a popular tourist destination.

Quotes:

Emma Emanuelsson – “My horse jumped super.  I just tried to focus on my round and do the best I can.”

Sopot Show Director, Olgierd Kuleszynski – “We have never had so many teams and good riders.  We are very pleased to have Sweden participate and upgrade the quality of our show.”

Standings:

For the latest standings in Europe Division 2 of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping 2013 series check this link.

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.

Longines is the Official Timekeeper of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping series.

Longines has been based at Saint-Imier (SUI) since 1832. Its watchmaking expertise reflects a strong devotion to tradition, elegance and performance. It has generations of experience as the official timekeeper at world championships and as a partner of international sports federations.

Longines’ passion for equestrian sports began in 1878, when a timepiece was made with a horse and jockey engraved on the watch face. Over the years, the brand has built strong and long-lasting links with equestrian sports. In 1926, for the first time, the brand was involved as timekeeper for the Official International Equestrian Competition of Geneva. Today, Longines’ involvement in equestrianism includes Jumping, Endurance and flat racing.

Longines is a member of The Swatch Group S.A., the world’s leading manufacturer of horological products. With an excellent reputation for creating refined timepieces, the brand, whose emblem is the winged hourglass, has outlets in over 130 countries.

By Louise Parkes

Media Contacts:

At Sopot:

Agnieszka Bilda
Email: agnieszka.bilda@czerwonafurtka.pl
Tel: + 48 531 2080 50

At FEI:

Grania Willis
Director Press Relations
Email: grania.willis@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 142

Malina Gueorguiev
Manager Media Relations
Email: malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 133

At Revolution Sports + Entertainment:

Tim Welland
tim@revolutionsports.co.uk
+44 7787 780 036

Awards, FEI, Revolution Sports, Show Jumping

Katie Dinan, Winner of the Furusiyya Rider of the Day Award at the CSIO5* Spruce Meadows

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John Madden, Chair of the FEI Jumping Committee, presenting Katie Dinan with the Furusiyya Rider of the Day award. Photo credit: StockImageServices.com/FEI.

As well as propelling Team USA to second place in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping at the CSIO5* Spruce Meadows, Katie Dinan has also been judged as the Furusiyya Rider of the Day.

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.

Judge of the award at the CSIO5* Spruce Meadows, Kim Morrison, President of the Ground Jury, commented, “There were a few reasons why we chose Katie as the Furusiyya Rider of the Day. One: She was double clean. Two: She’s young and probably a little less experienced than the other ones were. We liked that she stepped up to the plate and never once faltered all around the course. She did a great job. She was with the horse and they were a great pair.”

“They’re very similar mindsets, the two of them. They have a can-do, keen attitude and they feed off of each other. I don’t think there’s much that the two of them can’t accomplish when they’re both going with a positive mindset, which is what we liked about it. She had her plan, she did it consistently both rounds, the horse responded really well to whatever she asked, and you saw the results.”

Quotes from Katie Dinan:

My horse, Nougat du Vallet, I’ve had him a little over two years and he’s been a fantastic horse for me. He’s been the first horse that I’ve been competitive at this level with. Two years ago, Spruce Meadows was our first horse show together and we were doing 1.40m in this ring. It’s a little bit of a step up. Last year I brought him here and he jumped really well in the Meadows on the Green Ring, so I had a good feeling about this week. I was really excited to be named to one of the Nations Cup teams for the U.S. I feel great that he performed at his best today. He’s a great guy because I know that if I ride well, he’s going to rise to the occasion.

I feel very honored. I feel honored to be on the U.S. Team and to be chosen as the Furusiyya Rider of the Day in this company. It’s great. This is only my second Nations Cup and I really wanted to show I belonged on the team. It’s a little more pressure being on a team, so I was happy with my performance today.

There is a difference between entering into a Grand Prix and being chosen as a team member. You of course want to do well for the team, your team, and yourself, and all of those factors combine, but I just tried to stick to the plan. I knew there was nothing on this course that my horse and I couldn’t do. I just needed to stay calm and poised, and he jumped great, so that obviously helps too!

He’s a little bit on the smaller side, and I definitely need to set my rhythm at the beginning. That helps us establish scope over the oxers. He’s really careful, so I know that I can trust him out of the rhythm and he’s going to stay alert and pay attention. I think that’s one of the reasons why he’s so much fun to ride on this big field because it’s easier in the big rings when you start out with pace. He jumps really high, so I need to keep going.

I knew that I was going to have to pay a little bit of attention at the Canadian planks and I wanted to make sure I gave him a good ride at the bicycle jump. I knew the time allowed was going to be a factor. Last week the time allowed was tight and in general the time allowed is tight at Spruce Meadows. Even though I have a fast horse, that’s never something I want to take for granted.

– 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.

Revolution Sports + Entertainment
T: +44(0)207 592 1207
E: tim@revolutionsports.co.uk

FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

FEI Jumping Committee Rules Team Germany Eligible for Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Points

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Lausanne (SUI), 14 June 2013 – The FEI Jumping Committee has ruled that the German team, which was withdrawn from the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup leg in St Gallen (SUI) on 31 May, will be allowed to participate in its remaining three Nations Cup qualifying competitions and earn points towards the 2013 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Final. The German team will not be awarded any points from St Gallen and a further request from the German National Federation for a wild card for the Final in Barcelona has been turned down.

Prior to the start of the season, and in line with the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup rules, the German National Federation had nominated St Gallen, Rotterdam (NED) on 21 June Aachen (GER) on 27 June and Hickstead (GBR) on 2 August as the four events where it would aim to earn qualifying points for the series final.

Under the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup rules, any National Federation that does not respect its written commitment to take part in the specified qualifying competitions will lose its points for the entire season. However, according to a preamble to the series rules, “In any unforeseen or exceptional circumstance which is not addressed by these Rules, it is the duty of the FEI Jumping Committee to interpret them and render a Decision in a manner compatible to the fullest extent possible with the other provisions of these Rules, the GRs and any other applicable rules of the FEI, as well as sporting spirit.”

German Secretary General Soenke Lauterbach contacted the FEI on 3 June asking the FEI to consider allowing Germany to collect points during the 2013 Europe Division 1 season. The FEI Jumping Committee met via conference call the following day to review the events at St Gallen and voiced its full support for the decisions taken on the ground during the event, which had all been taken based on the conditions at the time and in full consultation with all Chefs d’Equipe, the Ground Jury, the Organising Committee and the FEI.

In a follow-up call, the decision to allow the German team to receive qualifying points at its three remaining qualifying competitions was made by FEI Jumping Committee Chair John Madden (USA) and two of the Committee members, Ian Allison (CAN) and Vladimir Platov (RUS). Stephan Ellenbruch (GER), athletes’ representative Max Kϋhner (GER) and Deputy Chair Marco Fusté (ESP) were not involved in the decision making process due to a potential conflict of interest.

The three-man panel of John Madden, Ian Allison and Vladimir Platov clarified that the intention of the rules was to prevent teams from not showing up at a given event. They then signed off on the final decision, ruling that the German team had met its commitment according to the rules by bringing a full team to the Swiss event with the clear intention of participating. German Chef d’Equipe Otto Becker attended the Chefs d’Equipe meetings, declared the German team for the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Competition and took part in the draw, at which the German team was selected to jump second.

Less than an hour before the start of the Nations Cup, Otto Becker informed the Organising Committee that the German team had no choice but to withdraw from the competition as the owners would not allow their horses to jump due to the weather conditions.

“The German National Federation respected its commitment by sending a team to take part in St-Gallen and acted in good faith with respect to that obligation,” John Madden said, “but the horse owners did not want their horses to jump due to the conditions. Neither the German National Federation nor the FEI has the right or the authority to instruct owners on what they must do with their horses at an event.

“It would not be in the spirit of fair play to sanction the German National Federation because of a decision beyond its control, so the Jumping Committee has ruled that Germany will be eligible to collect points at its three remaining qualifying competitions at Rotterdam, Aachen and Hickstead in an effort to try to qualify for the 2013 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Final.”

Media contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Press Relations
Email: grania.willis@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 142

Malina Gueorguiev
Manager Media Relations
Email: malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 133

Competitions, Show Jumping

Happy Z and Wilhelm Genn Happy to Win $30,000 WeatherTech Grand Prix

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Genn stops for fan to reward Happy Z with a treat.

Everything and Thatcher Try to Catch the Lead

Wayne, IL – June 9, 2013 – Threatening thunder storms missed Wayne making it a great day for a Grand Prix.  Showplace Productions’ $30,000 WeatherTech Grand Prix was the first Grand Prix to be held in the newly remodeled Grand Prix ring at Lamplight Equestrian Center in front of a supporting Chicago crowd.

A field of 30 horse and rider combinations competed in the first round leaving 12 for the jump off.  Out of the 12 first round jumps in the course designed by renowned course designer, Guilherne Jorge of Brazil, no particular jump took its toll on the riders. The jumps varied from a very airy gate and rail to a very solid wall.  In the jump off, the course allowed for a long gallop between fences one and two, which was the solid wall.  The triple became a one stride with another good gallop to fence six with a sharp left turn and gallop to the final sailboat oxer by the ingate.

Setting the time early was Lisa Goldman and Centurion B, with 41.599 but caught a rail for 4 faults.  Maggie Bracco and Manneken Du Cory were almost clean but had a rail at the last sailboat oxer and a time of 42.411

Kelsey Thatcher and Everything
Kelsey Thatcher and Everything

Kelsey Thatcher and Everything were the first clean with a time of 43.110. Right after Thatcher, Wilhelm Genn and Happy Z were the only other clear round and a faster time of 41.723, taking the lead.

Steve Schaefer and Caribe blazed around the course in usual fashion for the fastest time of the day, 41.485, but an unfortunate hind rail on the out of the one stride.  The one stride struck again, this time on the “in” for Ryan Genn and Cookie Monster.

Wilhelm Genn of Lebanon, OH, is not a stranger to the Chicago area.  Happy Z, the 14-year-old warmblood mare, is quite a favorite to the fans.  Genn was the first rider in 2005 to hit the million-dollar mark for money won. He currently ranks third in the 2013 rankings with $1,769,070 in the USHJA Rider Lifetime Money Earned program.

Genn has three children, Wilhelm Jr., Ryan and Theo.  Ryan and Theo also had mounts in the Prix and Quite Ruffy 840, a second mount for Wilhelm. It was a good day the Genn family, collecting checks on four of their six horses.

Thatcher is a student at the University of Georgia studying Early Childhood Education but home is Bluffdale, Utah. Her mount, Everything, is owned by Pony Lane Farm.

“Everything was great,” said Thatcher. “He got better and better as the week went by. He’s incredible in the jump-offs because he can make any distance work and wants to win too. He has a fighting personality; he tries his hardest for me over the jumps and is known to bite every once in a while! He is an incredible athlete, and with that talent comes his sparky personality!”

Next week riders will have the chance to compete in the $30,000 Barrington Saddlery Grand Prix at Showplace Productions’ Spring Spectacular II at Lamplight Equestrian Center.

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FEI, Show Jumping, USEF

Stripes Team Finishes Second in Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup, Stars Team Fourth

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McLain Ward and Rothchild (StockImageServices.com)

U.S. Wins North America, Central America and Caribbean League of Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Series

Calgary, Canada – The United States sent two teams into competition Thursday afternoon in the $100,000 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup at the CSIO5* Spruce Meadows ‘Continental’ Tournament. Not only was the U.S. eyeing top finishes but qualification for the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Season Series Final as well as a chance to win the North American, Central America and Caribbean League of Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Series were all on the line.

In its inaugural season the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Series has been a major focus for the U.S. and Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland. Thursday’s competition marked the second and final Nations Cup competition for the North America, Central America and Caribbean League and a strong finish by the designated “point team” the Stars Team was vital to winning the League and Final’s qualification. Additionally, to demonstrate the strength and depth of the U.S. program the second American squad, the Stripes Team, was also looking for a podium finish.

The U.S. did just as they had set out to do as the Stripes Team of Brianne Goutal, Katie Dinan, Candice King and McLain Ward cruised to a second place finish. While the Stars Team of Kent Farrington, Reed Kessler, Charlie Jayne and Christine McCrea earned a fourth place finish and in doing so clinched the top spot in the League and Final’s qualification for the U.S.

“This really fit into our plan. It would have been nice to win but we had two good finishes,” said Ridland. “We’ve now qualified for the Finals and won the League to boot.”

Ridland also believes the strategy of having two equally powered teams helped the U.S. on Thursday and is an example of things to come.

“We did it a little differently than most by having two equal teams but I think it really worked out today. Each team had a mix of veterans and young riders or young horses with more experienced riders. I believe the future looks really good.”

Course Design Leopoldo Palacios built a demanding 12 obstacle track that tested not only rider’s ability to leave the rails in place but also ride efficiently to finish within the time allowed.  It was made all the more difficult in the second round as high winds and pouring rain picked up.

Goutal (New York, NY) and Remarkable Farms LP’s Nice de Prissey were the pathfinders for the Stripes Team, collecting four faults after rolling the pole at fence three in the first round. In round two the 12-year-old Selle Francais stallion produced another four fault trip after dislodging the rail at the bicycle jump at eight.

Next up for the Stripes was Dinan (Wellington, FL) and Grant Road Partners LLC’s 12-year-old Selle Francais gelding Nougat Du Vallet. In round one the pair jumped an immaculate clear over Palacios’ challenging track. They returned later in the afternoon to repeat their faultless effort to be one four combinations to jump double clear.

“I was really pleased; Nougat felt great; I knew when we walked the course it was do-able but you still have to do it. There’s always more pressure when you’re on a team and it was only my second Nations Cup and I just wanted to rise to the occasion, stay calm and poised. I knew after the first round I was only halfway done and needed to make some adjustments for the second round. Which I was happy I was able to do. I’m just so happy and my horse jumped great,” said Dinan of her double clear effort on Thursday.

Jumping in the third spot, King (Wellington, FL) and Campbell VDL produced a 13 fault trip in round one after lowering the heights of three obstacles and collecting a single time fault. In their return effort the pair demonstrated improvement with Stateside Farm’s LLC’s nine-year-old Holsteiner stallion just faulting at two fences and again collecting a time fault for a second round score of nine.

Rounding out the Stripes Team effort was Ward (Brewster, NY) and Sagamore Farm’s 12-year-old Warmblood gelding Rothchild. The veteran pair produced a tidy and efficient effort as a clear never looked in doubt in the first round. Jumping in a deluge of rain in round two, the pair repeated their clear effort to join Dinan and Irish riders Conor Swail and Cameron Hanley on the double clear list.

The Stripes Team finished on a two round total of nine faults.

Leading off the Stars Team was 2011 Pan American Games Team Gold medalist Farrington (Wellington, FL) and Robin Parsky’s Blue Angel. In round one the 11-year-old Anglo-European mare lowered the heights of two fences for an eight fault effort. The pair returned with an improved trip in round two, just collecting four faults for a foot in the water at fence four.

Kessler (Lexington, KY) and Mika jumped in the second spot for the Stars producing a near foot perfect trip in the first round that was just marred by a mistake at the plank at fence five resulting in four faults. The 2012 Olympic Games veteran and her own 14-year-old Selle Francais gelding returned in round two producing their second four fault of the day after also putting a foot in the water at four.

Jayne (Elgin, IL) and Alex Jayne and Maura Thatcher’s 10-year-old Zangerscheide stallion Chill R Z produced a four fault effort in the first round after knocking a block off the top of the wall at fence 10. In round two they again jumped a four fault trip, just rolling the front rail of the oxer at fence nine.

Christine McCrea and Zerly (StockImageServices.com)
Christine McCrea and Zerly (StockImageServices.com)

Riding in the anchor position for the Stars Team was McCrea (East Windsor, CT) with Candy Tribble and Windsor Show Stables’ Zerly. The pair jumped a stylish first round but after losing a shoe early in the course the nine-year-old KWPN mare rolled the poles at the final two efforts coming out of the triple at seven for eight faults. In round two the 2011 Pan American Games Team and Individual Gold medalist used all of her experience as she guided Zerly to an impressive fault free trip.

The Stars Team finished on an overall total of 24 faults.

The Stars Team’s fourth place finish resulting in 75 points paired with the 100 points the U.S. earned with a win at the $75,000 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup presented by G&C Farm at CSIO Wellington meant they finished with a total of 175 points to top the North American, Central America and Caribbean League. The U.S. and Canada (172 points) have now qualified for the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Season Series Final to be held in Barcelona, Spain September 26-29.

The team from Ireland finished on a score of four to earn victory in the $100,000 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup, with the Stripes Team finishing second and Team Canada One earning third place on a score of 14.

To learn more about the CSIO5* Spruce Meadows ‘Continental’ Tournament, visit: http://www.sprucemeadows.com/tournaments/view_tournament.jsp?id=25.

Follow the 2013 U.S. Jumping Team here.

By Helen Murray

Competitions, FEI, Show Jumping

Ireland Wins Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup at Spruce Meadows ‘Continental’ Tournament

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Conor Swail and Lansdowne. Photos © Spruce Meadows Media Services.

Judge Tops Husky Energy Cup 1.50m, McArdle and Cosma 20 Win Two in a Row

Calgary, AB – June 13, 2013 – Spruce Meadows hosted the second leg of competition for the North American region in the $100,000 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup, and it was Ireland who took home the win after they logged six clear rounds. The Irish team consisted of Conor Swail and Lansdowne, Darragh Kerins and E Muze Yek, Richie Moloney and Carrabis Z, and Cameron Hanley and Antello. The Team USA Stripes finished second, while Team Canada One was third. Later in the day, it was Quentin Judge (USA) and Dark de la Hart who took the top placing in the $35,000 Husky Energy Cup 1.50m. Abigail McArdle (USA) and Cosma 20 led the victory gallop for the second day in a row, this time in the $33,000 RSA Cup 1.45m.

The ‘Continental’ Tournament CSIO-W 5* runs June 12-16. The next highlight class of the week is the $200,000 CN Performance Grand Prix CSI-W on Sunday, June 16. There will be complimentary admission and parking for spectators during the ‘Continental’ Tournament.

There were seven teams in today’s Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup. The United States, Canada, and Mexico all fielded two teams and nominated one team to earn points toward the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Final in September. The course was designed by Leopoldo Palacios of Venezuela. Six teams returned for the second round, and the young Team Mexico Maya finished in seventh place.

Ireland came out with a bang in today’s Nations Cup competition when all four riders went clear in the first round. Cameron Hanley, Richie Moloney, and Darragh Kerins were all riding horses that were in their first Nations Cup. They had four clear rounds in the first round and finished on four points in the second round for a winning total of four faults.

Conor Swail and Lansdowne, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion by Guidam x Wolfgang owned by Susan and Ariel Grange, were double clear for the Irish team. Swail noted that he had to be aware of the tight time allowed. “My horse in particular is a big, slow mover, so I have to try and take advantage of a few places. The course today was a nice track. Leo did a great job. Thankfully we jumped it the best,” he said. “I have only had one other Nations Cup round with him and that didn’t go so well, so today I’m very happy. I’m glad that first Nations Cup is in the past. Today he showed that he has gotten more educated and is learning his job very well. I’m delighted.”

Cameron Hanley and Antello, a 10-year-old Warmblood gelding by Animo Z x Continue, were the anchors of the Irish team and were also double clear. Hanley, who just returned to the show ring this year after a long layoff from injury, was excited to be back with Antello and on a Nations Cup team. Hanley had the ride on Antello as an eight-year-old, but when he was hurt, the horse went to British rider Michael Whitaker. When new sponsors Elonore Paschoude and Yves Bouvier were looking for a grand prix horse, Hanley knew Antello would be a great fit.

“He has a lot of blood and is a little tricky and is a real talented jumper,” Hanley described. “I knew I could ride him because I rode him when he was younger. I got him back and started doing well in some shows. Three weeks ago he won the Riders Tour Grand Prix in Wiesbaden, which was a five-star. Robert (Splaine) was good enough to let me come here and do a Nations Cup with him.”

Richie Moloney and Carrabis Z, a 10-year-old Zangersheide stallion by Canabis Z x Grannusso owned by Equinimity LLC, were clear in the first round and had just four faults in the second round. Moloney noted that Carrabis Z is a “very inexperienced 10-year-old” and that they were just doing 1.35m last year. “I’m very proud of him. He’s a very scopey horse, (and) he doesn’t get tired for the second round,” he said.

Darragh Kerins had the youngest horse on the team in nine-year-old E Muze Yek. Owned by Kerins and Maarten Huygens, the For Pleasure x Carthago gelding was also clear in the first round but had three fences down in the second round. Kerins noted, “The biggest classes he’s ever jumped were probably in these last two weeks. To jump two back to back rounds like today, he was a little inexperienced for it, but I’m proud of him.”

Chef d’Equipe Robert Splaine was complimentary of Spruce Meadows and the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup competition. “The arena is just wonderful. When I arrived this morning, there were people in there paying such close attention to the grounds. The whole ambiance of the day was truly special,” he said. “It’s a new Nations Cup for us. We have riders based all over the world, some in America, which makes it quite a great and extra opportunity for us to come and compete.”

He pointed out that this competition will help him in choosing teams for future events as well. “For me to come here and get the opportunity to see these guys in action in a venue that could hold the Olympics has given me a lot to consider. I have to continue to look forward and broaden the base of our team to help us in our mission to win medals. So it was great, the guys did a fantastic job, and thank you to the owners of these horses for giving these guys the opportunity to compete at the highest level. It was just a great day; it was great to win. Compliments to the other teams as well.”

Team USA Stripes, led by Chef d’Equipe Will Simpson, were not the team competing for Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup points today, but two of their riders finished double clear. Katie Dinan and Nougat du Vallet, a 12-year-old Selle Francais gelding by Scherif d’Elle owned by Grant Road Partners, were one of those combinations. For her great riding today, Dinan was named the Furusiyya Rider of the Day, which recognizes the rider that gives the most outstanding contribution to his or her team over the course of two rounds.

“I feel very honored,” Dinan said. “I feel honored to be on the U.S. Team and to be chosen as the Rider of the Day in this company. It’s great. This is only my second Nations Cup and I really wanted to show I belonged on the team. It’s a little more pressure being on a team, so I was happy with my performance today.”

The other double clear came from McLain Ward and Rothchild, a 12-year-old Belgian Sport Horse gelding by Artos x Elegant De L’Ile owned by Sagamore Farm. Rounding out the team were Brianne Goutal on Nice de Prissey, who had five and four faults in the two rounds, and Candice King on Campbell VDL, who finished with 12 and nine faults. The Team USA Stripes finished on nine total faults for second place.

Chef d’Equipe Will Simpson credited U.S. Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland for his vision and said they were both happy with the team’s performances. “The young kids got some good experience along with the older riders. It’s very important and it’s a stepping stone. This is where the riders get their experience. It’s a great competition that we need to keep going,” he said.

Ridland added, “In a perfect world, we would have loved to have beaten the Irish. But what we really came here to do was one, qualify for the final. Number two, was really giving some young horses and young riders some experience on competitive teams.”

He went on to say, “To me, the only way to do that is to do what we did, which was a little against the grain. There was no question that normally, as the Canadians did, you stack the deck on one team and that’s your point team. That’s the more conventional way of doing it. My feeling, the whole way along, is that it’s so important for the young riders to be able to experience Nations Cups on contending teams with veterans. We got huge experience today. We saw them perform well. I’m very excited.”

The Canada One team was led by Chef d’Equipe Mark Laskin, and he was pleased to see his riders perform well with new horses. Eric Lamaze and Powerplay were clear in the second round (and had five faults in the first round), as were Ian Millar and Dixson (who had four faults in the first round). Joining them on the third place Canada One team were Tiffany Foster and Verdi II, who had four and five faults, and Mac Cone with Amor van de Rostal, who had five faults in the first round and just one time fault in the second round. The team had a total of 13 faults in round one and one faults in round two for a total of 14.

On the Canada Two team, Chris Sorensen and Bobby, in their first Nations Cup performance, improved to a clear trip in the second round.

“It was a fantastic opportunity for our developing riders. It was an invaluable experience that they’ll both draw on in the future,” he remarked. “We’re only going to get better and it bodes well for the future. We’re really excited to qualify for Barcelona and we’ll be there.”

This was the second and final qualifying event for the North American region for the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup. The United States won the region with 175 points, while Canada was close behind with 172 points. Both teams will move on to the Final in Barcelona, Spain.

Irish Chef d’Equipe Robert Splaine nicely concluded on today’s event, “Nations Cup competition is really what the sport’s all about. It makes great riders because of the special type of pressure it creates. I think the riders that come forward and compete and take the good days with the bad turn into very special competitors. They become the riders that can win at the Olympic level.”

Quentin Judge and HH Dark de la Hart
Quentin Judge and HH Dark de la Hart

Quentin Judge Tops Husky Energy Cup

In the $35,000 Husky Energy Cup 1.50m, it was Quentin Judge and HH Dark de la Hart who brought home the win. They were fastest in a jump-off of 10 competitors when they stopped the clock in 41.20 seconds and no faults. Christine McCrea (USA) and Wannick WH were second in 41.55 seconds, while Ashlee Bond (USA) rode Cadett 7 to third in 41.67 seconds.

Judge felt that he had to be fast in the beginning of the course in order to catch the early time set by Bond and Cadett 7. “After seeing Ashlee go, I knew I had to go fast. I knew that I needed to be fast from number one through three in the jump-off. After three, you kind of had to do the same strides, except for the last jump. I knew if I could be fast through the start timers and then to one, two, three, I could maybe shave a second off. My horse is really good at eyeing in on a jump and jumping at an angle, so I knew I could be quick there.”

The long gallop to the final oxer was an exciting part of the course as well. Heading down to it, Judge said he was thinking, “I hope I don’t get in trouble for going too fast and having the last jump down!” He added with a smile, “I steadied the last three strides. Ian (Millar) and Cayce (Harrison) told me to go quick to the last jump, but don’t blow it out of the water. He came back really well and jumped the last jump great.”

Judge and HH Dark de la Hart, a 10-year-old Belgian Sport Horse stallion by Kashmir van Schuttershof x Nonstop owned by Double H Farm, have been paired together for nine months. “We’ve really just started to click here in Calgary,” Judge revealed. “He was good all through Florida, but I was getting used to him and he was getting used to me. Being here, I think he really loves the venue and the jumps and the grass.”

This was Judge’s first FEI-level victory at any show, and his first victory in the main ring at Spruce Meadows. “This venue is amazing, and to win your first big class and have a presentation like that is really special,” he expressed. “I’ve seen people lead the victory gallop for years and I’ve always really wanted to be there. I’ve tried to work hard and get there, and now that it’s happened, it’s a great feeling.”

Abigail McArdle Wins Two in a Row

Abigail McArdle and Cosma 20
Abigail McArdle and Cosma 20

Abigail McArdle of Chicago, IL, won her second competition in a row at the ‘Continental’ Tournament with Cosma 20, a 10-year-old Hanoverian mare by Couleur Rubin x Stakkato owned by David McArdle. They won the $33,000 RSA Cup 1.45m Speed competition by going clear in a time of 71.945 seconds. There were 31 entries in the class. Wilton Porter (USA) and Radio City finished second in 72.204 seconds, and Conor Swail (IRL) was third with Martha Louise in 75.446 seconds.

McArdle felt that it was Cosma 20’s natural speed that helped her win today. “I had a plan with numbers and we did all the strides. She’s a naturally fast horse. She goes and she’s two seconds faster. Everywhere in the turns I was thinking of picking it up and staying on it. On those long gallops, I have her now that she can come back so easily, so I can really let her go and be able to get her back quick enough,” she said.

Regarding her win, McArdle expressed, “I’m excited because this one gets some world ranking points for me! That will hopefully qualify me for stuff I want to do, and there are plenty of opportunities here at Spruce. It was super; I couldn’t have asked for her to go any better.”

Competition continues tomorrow with the $33,000 Altagas Cup 1.45m and the $33,000 Scotiabank Cup 1.50m. For more information on Spruce Meadows and full results, 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.

Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Equestrian Public Relations
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com

*Featured/Spotlights, FEI, Show Jumping

Hanley’s the Hero as Irish Victorious at Spruce Meadows Where USA and Canada Qualify for Furusiyya Final

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A double-clear from anchorman Cameron Hanley and Antello secured victory for Ireland in the eleventh leg of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping 2013 series. Photo: FEI/StockimageServices.com.

Spruce Meadows (CAN), 13 June 2013 – On a day when four double-clear performances were registered, it was the clean sheet maintained by Cameron Hanley that stood out above all others as he clinched victory for Ireland in the eleventh leg of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping 2013 series at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Canada.  The anchorman of the Irish side has been to hell and back over the last two years, with his health, and his career, seriously compromised by a freak injury.  But today he copper-fastened his return to the top of the sport as he, and his fellow-countrymen, flexed their not-inconsiderable muscle to keep crack sides from the USA and Canada in check.

A total of seven teams from four nations lined out in this competition, with Canada, the USA and Mexico taking the opportunity to field two sides apiece.  And although the runner-up US selection was not the one nominated for points-gathering, both America and Canada have qualified for the Furusiyya Final which will take place in Barcelona, Spain in September.

The USA Stripes team lined up second ahead of Canada One in third and USA Stars in fourth, while Canada Two finished fifth and Mexico’s Azteca and Maya slotted into sixth and seventh places respectively.

The fabulous Meadows on the Green Arena at Spruce Meadows was bathed in sunshine during the first half of the competition, but weather conditions deteriorated dramatically towards the closing stages to add further drama to the occasion.  The Irish already had the whip hand by the halfway point, with four clear rounds that left them well clear of USA Stripes in second spot carrying five, Canada One in third with 13 faults on the board, the USA Stars in fourth with 16 while Canada Two’s 18 faults saw them lying fifth ahead of Mexico’s Azteca in sixth with 25.  The Maya team from Mexico collected only one penalty more to finish on 26 at the end of round one, but didn’t return for round two.

It was tense finale however as, despite a second sparkling run from pathfinders Conor Swail and Lansdowne, both Darragh Kerins (E Muze Yek) and Richie Moloney (Carrabis Z) faulted on their second tour of the track and it was left to Hanley hold his nerve and win the day, which he did in style.

Course

The 12-fence course presented by Leopoldo Palacios included his now-infamous “bicycle” vertical which, when first designed by the Venezuelan maestro some years ago, used to strike fear into the hearts of the bravest due to its pencil-thin poles.  But riders have learned how to deal with it over the intervening years, and only one, USA Stripes’ pathfinder Brianne Goutal, lowered it in the second round with Nice de Prissey.

The bogey fences of the day proved to be the wavy Canadian planks at fence five which were, in time-honoured fashion, located at the end of a three-fence line following the open water and therefore testing control and carefulness.  The triple combination at fence seven was also influential but the Mount Rushmore Wall, an inheritance from the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta (USA) which has become another trademark of the Spruce Meadows arenas, claimed a surprising number of victims just three fences from home, while the penultimate double also took its toll.

Much-Improved Result

As round two unfolded, Mexico’s Azteca team produced a much-improved result with just 10 faults to add, Nicolas Pizarro recovering brilliantly from three fences down in the first round to go clear this time out with the lovely grey stallion, Crossing Jordan.

The Canada Two team included father-and-son Ben and Jonathan Asselin, but Ben’s elimination in round one when unseated from Makavoy, who put in a spooky jump over the open water, left them under pressure.  And although the 19-year-old rider steered his 10-year-old steed home for just four faults in round two, a surprise refusal by his father’s mare, Showgirl, at the oxer at fence three proved costly. Despite a second-round clear from Christian Sorenson and Bobby, the final team total here was 30 faults.

US Chef d’Equipe, Robert Ridland, was spoiled for choice when deciding which of his two sides he would nominate for points-gathering purposes today.  But as it turned out it wasn’t his chosen USA Stars side of Kent Farrington (Blue Angel), Reed Kessler (Mika), Charlie Jayne (Chill R Z) and Christine McCrea (Zerly) who finished best, the latter producing the only clear round of this team effort second time out as they completed on 24 faults.

It was double-clears from Katie Dinan (Nougat du Vallet) and McLain Ward (Rothchild) that ensured runner-up spot for USA Stripes, Candice King’s two-round total of 22 faults with Campbell VDL discarded to leave them on a final tally of nine faults and three points clear of Canada One in third. Second-round clears from pathfinder Eric Lamaze (Power Play) and legendary anchorman Ian Millar (Dixson) ensured only the single time fault picked up by Mac Cone had to be added to the Canada One scoreline to see them complete with 14 on the board for third place.  But it wasn’t a completely smooth run for the eventual winners from Ireland.

Bolstered Their Position

Swail’s second classic clear initially bolstered their position at the top of the order but when Darragh Kerins’ E Muze Yek left the planks at five and both elements of the penultimate double at fence 11 on the ground second time out, then they looked a great deal less secure.  And when Richie Moloney’s fiery stallion, Carrabis Z, hit the wall in an otherwise clean run then Hanley knew that any more than a single error would scupper Irish chances.

This is a man however who knows how to take his chances when he gets them.  His hunger to return to the sport he loves has seen him overcome tremendous personal challenges since a simple accident, incurred at his home in Germany while playing with his children, shattered his career and his life two years ago.  No less than 17 operations to repair his damaged leg and to deal with subsequent complications left his medical advisors in grave doubt about his ever riding again, let alone at top level.  But he climbed back into the saddle last autumn and, just three weeks ago, he showed he was right back in business when winning the Grand Prix at Wiesbaden, Germany with Antello.

Last into the ring today the pair never put a foot wrong to seal the result with conviction.

Thrilled

Irish Chef d’Equipe, Robert Splaine, was thrilled for the team and for Hanley.

“Cameron made a fantastic comeback at Wiesbaden.  He was always a stalwart of the team and one of our strongest team riders so it was a huge loss when we didn’t have him for the last couple of years.”  Explaining the reason for Ireland’s participation at the Canadian event, he said, “Irish riders are based all over the world and many of our horses are not owned by Irish people.  Conor (Swail), Darragh Kerins and Darragh Kenny, who was our fifth man today, and Richie (Moloney) all have owners in this part of the world so we had an opportunity to field a team with the future in mind – looking ahead to Dublin, Hickstead and hopefully Barcelona as well as the European Championships.  It would be a huge mistake not to field a team here, and they were particularly well mounted. For three of the horses it was their first Nations Cup.  Only Conor’s Lansdowne competed in a Nations Cup before – at Gijon (Spain) last year,” the Irish team manager pointed out.

Hanley’s brother, Carl, bought Antello at a local show as a seven-year-old and Cameron rode him a year later, but when he sustained his injury the horse went to fellow-Irishman Alex Duffy and then to Great Britain’s Michael Whitaker who competed him successfully.  When he returned to fitness, Hanley’s new Swiss sponsors Eleonore Paschoud and Yves Bouv told him to find a Grand Prix horse, and there was no doubt in his mind which one he wanted.  He bought Antello back and, together with the 10-year-old horse, the 40-year-old Irishman’s career is right back on track.

Rider of the Day Award

Katie Dinan, second-line rider for the runner-up USA Stripes team, was presented with the Furusiyya Rider of the Day award and the super-talented 19-year-old said, “I feel very honoured.  This is only my second Nations Cup and I really wanted to show I belonged on the team.  It’s a little more pressure being on a team, so I was happy with my performance today.”

Today’s competition brought the North America, Central America and Caribbean League of the Furusiyya series to a close, with the USA finishing first but with just three points of an advantage over the runners-up from Canada while Mexico in third place.  The top two teams, USA and Canada, have qualified for the series Final in three months’ time.

Talking about today’s competition, US team manager, Robert Ridland, commented, “In a perfect world, we would have loved to have beaten the Irish. But what we really came here to do was one, qualify for the final. Number two, was really to give some young horses and young riders some experience on competitive teams. To me, the only way to do that is to do what we did, which was a little against the grain. There was no question that normally, as the Canadians did, you stack the deck on one team and that’s your point team. That’s the more conventional way of doing it. My feeling, the whole way along, is that it’s so important for the young riders to be able to experience Nations Cups on contending teams with veterans. We got huge experience today. We saw them perform well. I’m very excited.”

The globalisation of team Jumping through the new Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup format has already taken hold. Riders’ enthusiasm for the new concept was confirmed by Canadian Chef d’Equipe, Mark Laskin, who remarked, “We had a lot of interest in being a part of these two teams…. At the end of the day, I think the two groups that we chose were definitely the right picks. It was a fantastic opportunity for our developing riders. Our two least experienced riders, Chris Sorensen and Ben Asselin, really benefited from their experience today. They both were a little shaky in the first round, but they both came back and were able to redeem themselves. It was an invaluable experience that they’ll both draw on in the future. You need riders in the pipeline and on the right horses. We have a lot coming up. This was a tricky course today to be sitting on a horse you’re not really familiar with. Three of our riders on our points team were on newer mounts. Ian got his last Fall, but he hasn’t had him for a full season. Eric and Tiffany, last week was the first time. We’re only going to get better and it bodes well for the future. We’re really excited to qualify for Barcelona, and we’ll be there!” he pointed out.

The march to the inaugural Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final continues with the next leg at Sopot in Poland tomorrow afternoon where 13 teams will be in action and eight will be battling for those all-important qualifying points.

For information on the eleventh leg of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping 2013 series at Spruce Meadows (CAN) check out website www.sprucemeadows.com or contact Press Officer Jennifer Wood, Email jennifer@jenniferwoodmedia.com, Tel +1 803 240 7488. The next leg takes place in Sopot, Poland tomorrow, Friday 14 June.  For details of the Polish fixture go to website www.csi.sopot.pl or contact Press Officer Agnieszka Bilda at Email agnieszka.bilda@czerwonafurtka.pl, Tel +48 531 2080 50.

Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping 2013 – Round 11 (Spruce Meadows CAN):

Result:

1. Ireland 4 faults: Lansdowne (Conor Swail) 0/0, E Muze Yek (Darragh Kerins) 0/12, Carrabis Z (Richie Moloney) 0/4, Antello (Cameron Hanley) 0/0.

2. USA Stripes 9 faults:  Nice de Prissey (Brianne Goutal) 5/4, Nougat du Vallet (Katie Dinan) 0/0, Campbell VDL (Candice King) 13/9, Rothchild (McLain Ward) 0/0.

3. Canada One 14 faults: Power Play (Eric Lamaze) 5/0, Verdi llll (Tiffany Foster) 4/5, Amor van de Rostal (Mac Cone) 5/1, Dixson (Ian Millar) 4/0.

4. USA Stars 24 faults: Blue Angel (Kent Farrington) 8/4, Mika (Reed Kessler) 4/4, Chill RZ (Charlie Jayne) 4/4, Zerly (Christine McCrea) 8/0.

5. Canada Two 30 faults: La Boom (Lisa Carlson) 5/9, Bobby (Christian Sorenson) 9/0, Makavoy (Ben Asselin) Elim/4, Showgirl (Jonathan Asselin) 4/8.

6. Mexico Azteca 35 faults: Crossing Jordan (Nicolas Pizzaro Suarez) 12/0, Spirit Magic (Manuel Alvarez) 13/8, Gitano (Frdeico Fernandez) 13/5, Criptonite (Enrique Gonzalez) 0/5.

7. Mexico Maya 26 faults IN ROUND 1 : Careyes (Patricio Pasquel) 17, Valentina (Claudia Lorenza O Farrill) 13, Vicky van het Geinsteinde (Alejandro Plascencia) 4, Skylubet (Ricardo Nizri) 9.

Facts and Figures:

Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Canada presented the eleventh leg of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping 2013 series.

7 teams from four nations started in today’s competition – Canada One, Canada Two, USA Stars, USA Stripes, Mexico Azteca, Mexico Maya and Ireland.

6 teams competed in the second round.  Mexico Maya did not return for round two.

3 teams –  Mexico Azteca, USA Stars and Canada One – were competing for points towards the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final which will take place in Barcelona, Spain in September.

Third place for Canada One and fourth for USA Stars ensures that the USA and Canada have now qualified for the Final.

Anchorman on the winning Irish team was Cameron Hanley who produced one of 4 double-clears in today’s competition.

4 double-clear rounds – from Ireland’s Conor Swail (Lansdowne) and Cameron Hanley (Antello) and USA Stripes’ Katie Dinan (Nougat du Vallet) and McLain Ward (Rothchild).

The bogey fences on the 12-obstacle course were the wavy planks at fence five and the wall at fence 10.

Hanley only recently returned to the saddle after a career-threatening leg injury sustained while playing with his children two years ago.

The 40-year-old Irishman was seriously ill for some considerable time, and underwent 17 different operations on his long road to recovery.

Today’s competition was part of the two-leg North America, Central America and Caribbean league of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping 2013 series.

The USA was heading the leaderboard going into this second competition following victory on home turf at the first leg in Wellington, Florida in March.

Today’s course designer at Spruce Meadows was Venezuela’s Leopoldo Palacios.

Quotes:

Katie Dinan, USA Stripes – “My horse, Nougat du Vallet, I’ve had him a little over two years and he’s been a fantastic horse for me. He’s been the first horse that I’ve been competitive at this level with. Two years ago, Spruce Meadows was our first horse show together and we were doing 1.40m in this ring. It’s a little bit of a step up. Last year I brought him here and he jumped really well in the Meadows on the Green Ring, so I had a good feeling about this week. I was really excited to be named to one of the Nations Cup teams for the U.S. I feel great that he performed at his best today. He’s a great guy because I know that if I ride well, he’s going to rise to the occasion.”

US Chef d’Equipe, Robert Ridland, talking about Katie Dinan’s brilliant double-clear and his other riders performances today – “I expected that. I was not at all surprised to see her (Katie) jump double clean. It was great. There were a couple rounds we could improve on. Some of the veteran riders, with the newer horses, they know what to work on. The two rounds Nations Cup, when it really counts like it does here, you can learn something about your horse more than in a one round jump-off grand prix.”

Irish Chef d’Equipe, Robert Splaine – “This was a competition of the highest quality. I had an abundance of hope coming here – I knew the riders but only a little about some of the horses but I reckoned we were in with a good chance.”

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.

By Louise Parkes

Media Contacts:

At Spruce Meadows:

Jennifer Wood
Press Officer
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com
jennifer@jenniferwoodmedia.com
+1 803 240 74 88

At FEI:

Grania Willis
Director Press Relations
Email: grania.willis@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 142

Malina Gueorguiev
Manager Media Relations
Email: malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 133

At Revolution Sports + Entertainment:

Tim Welland
tim@revolutionsports.co.uk
+44 7787 780 036

Competitions, FEI, Show Jumping

U.S. Teams Ready for $100,000 FEI Nations Cup at CSIO5* Spruce Meadows ‘Continental’ Tournament

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Kent Farrington and Blue Angel (Sportfot)

Lexington, KY – All eyes will be on Calgary, Canada June 13-16 for the CSIO5* Spruce Meadows ‘Continental’ Tournament as many of the best jumpers from North America and abroad go head-to-head. The feature competition of the week, Thursday’s $100,000 Furusiyya Nations Cup, will host seven teams from four nations. Canada, Mexico and the United States will all be represented by two teams, with one team from each nation serving as the designated “point team”. These “point teams” will earn valuable points towards qualifying for the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Season Series Final in Barcelona, Spain, September 26-29, 2013. The United States currently carries 100 points after claiming victory in the $75,000 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup presented by G&C Farm at CSIO Wellington in March. They will look to book their ticket to Barcelona with a strong performance at Spruce Meadows on Thursday.

The Stars Team, composed of Reed Kessler, Kent Farrington, Charlie Jayne and Christine McCrea, has been chosen as the “point team” for the United States. Kessler (Lexington, KY) and Farrington (Wellington, FL) were teammates on the winning U.S. team in Wellington and look to secure their second Nations Cup victory of 2013. Kessler, who recently placed 10th in her first Rolex/FEI World Cup Final, will ride Mika, her second place finisher at the 2013 $200,000 Gene Mische American Invitational presented by G&C Farm. Farrington brings Robin Parsky’s Blue Angel into Nations Cup competition; the pair won the $150,000 CSIO4* Grand Prix presented by Wellington Equestrian Realty in March as well as last week’s $33,000 ATB Financial Cup at Spruce Meadows.

Jayne (Elgin, IL) will ride Alex Jayne and Maura Thatcher’s Chill R Z on the Stars Team. The reserve combination for the U.S. Team at the 2012 Olympic Games recently traveled to Gothenburg, Sweden and earned a top 20 finish at the Rolex/FEI World Cup Final. McCrea (East Windsor, CT) brings her $25,000 Grand Prix of North Salem winner, Candy Tribble and Windsor Show Stables’ Zerly, to Spruce Meadows’ Nation Cup competition. The pair spent the winter jumping at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival where they won the $125,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup.

Brianne Goutal and Nice de Prissey (Sean McMillen Photography)
Brianne Goutal and Nice de Prissey (Sean McMillen Photography)

The U.S. will also be represented by a Stripes Team composed of Brianne Goutal, Katie Dinan, Candice King and McLain Ward. Goutal (New York, NY), who won many of the most prestigious equitation titles during her junior years, will ride Remarkable Farms LP’s talented Nice de Prissey in Nations Cup competition. The pair began their 2013 campaign with a third place finish in the $50,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival. Riding in her first North American Nations Cup, Dinan (Wellington, FL) brings her veteran partner Grant Road Partners LLC’s Nougat Du Vallet into competition on Thursday. The pair won the $100,000 Empire State Grand Prix presented by the Kincade Group at the Old Salem Spring Horse Show following a successful debut at the Rolex/FEI World Cup Final.

King (Wellington, FL) will represent the U.S. on the Stripes Team with Stateside Farm LLC’s Campbell VDL. The pair closed out the month of May with a fourth place effort in the $50,000 EMO Grand Prix presented by Zoetis. Rounding out the team is Ward (Brewster, NY) and his 2013 $200,000 Gene Mische American Invitational presented by G&C Farm and Wells Fargo Grand Prix of Devon winner, Sagamore Farms’ Rothchild.

To learn more about the horse-and-rider combinations on both U.S. Teams, click here.

The $100,000 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup gets underway at 12pm MT.

Live coverage of competition can be found on FEITV.org.

To learn more about the CSIO5* Spruce Meadows ‘Continental’ Tournament, visit: http://www.sprucemeadows.com/tournaments/view_tournament.jsp?id=25.

Follow the 2013 U.S. Jumping Team here.

By Helen Murray

 

*Featured/Spotlights, Show Jumping

Charlie Jacobs Tops Leader Board for Deeridge Farms at Spruce Meadows ‘National’

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Charlie Jacobs and Flaming Star placed third in the $400,000 CN Reliability Grand Prix World Cup Qualifier. Photo By: Holly Burns.

East Aurora, NY and Wellington, FL – June 11, 2013 – The best riders in the world traveled to the Spruce Meadows ‘National’ tournament in Calgary, Alberta during the past week, and that included amateur rider Charlie Jacobs. Representing his family’s Deeridge Farms, Jacobs piloted his leading mount Flaming Star to an impressive third place finish during the $400,000 CN Reliability Grand Prix World Cup Qualifier.

The week’s highlight event gathered a large crowd at the international ring as they watched the top show jumpers compete over the technical track designed by Werner Deeg of Germany. Only four horse and rider combinations managed to best the first round, the second of which was Jacobs aboard his 14-year-old Swiss Warmblood gelding by Fairman owned by CMJ Sporthorse LLC, Flaming Star.

When Jacobs returned for the tiebreaker, he opted for the tidy route, which paid off when he crossed the finish line aboard Flaming Star, all the rails intact and the clock stopping at 53.62 seconds. Professionals Kent Farrington and Reed Kessler managed to beat Jacobs time later in the jump-off, but his effort held up for the third place honors as the United States swept all three of the top positions.

“It was amazing,” expressed Jacobs. “There were four that jumped clean, and the course was very solid. It was a meaty track and it caught people at different places. I was ecstatic to jump clean in the first round, and when I came back second in the jump-off I went tidy, but not to the wall fast, and was clear, but then those two came in and were faster.”

Unlike Farrington and Kessler, Jacobs has a fulltime job in Boston with the Boston Bruins hockey team. He does not have the option to ride as much as he would like, but he still manages to compete with the best in the world.

“I love to ride, and I think it speaks volumes about the support that I have not only from my wife and kids but also the team that looks after the horses and rides them at Deeridge when I can’t be there,” he explained. “It’s great to be part of the team with all the people at Deeridge.”

Jacobs added, “Flaming Star is a great animal. He’s a quirky little guy and has particular things that he likes. If you get to know him well enough though and form a partnership, he gets done what needs to get done. He’s all heart and he’s a real competitor; he always goes for it.”

Jacobs will compete again in a few weeks with Deeridge Farms at the Lake Placid Horse Shows in New York before heading to Traverse City, Michigan for Horse Shows by the Bay.

Media Contact: Rebecca Walton
Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
phone 561.753.3389  fax 561.753.3386
rjw@phelpsmediagroup.com
PhelpsMediaGroup.com

*Featured/Spotlights, Show Jumping

Eric Lamaze and Wang Chung Score Spruce Meadows Victory

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Eric Lamaze riding Wang Chung M2S scored victory in the $40,000 ATCO Structures & Logistics Cup. Photo – Spruce Meadows Media Services.

June 9, 2013 – Calgary, Alberta – 2008 Olympic Champion Eric Lamaze was in the winner’s circle after claiming the $40,000 ATCO Structures & Logistics Cup on Sunday, June 9, at the Spruce Meadows “National” Tournament in Calgary, AB.

While Lamaze has welcomed two new international mounts to his stable in recent weeks, it was his partner of almost two years, Wang Chung M2S, that carried him to Sunday’s victory.  The pair had the advantage of going second to last in the starting order, knowing they had to better the time of 85.33 seconds set by Reed Kessler of the United States.  Catch her time they did, cruising through Werner Deeg’s course in the International Ring in a time of 84.73 seconds.  When the final rider, Brianne Goutal of the U.S., proved to be no threat, Lamaze claimed his first victory of the Spruce Meadows summer series.

“We’re out at Spruce Meadows with some young horses and new horses; this horse is the only one left of my old string, so I know him better than the others,” said Lamaze, 45.  “This competition really suited him well and I am very happy with the outcome.”

The all-time leading money winner at Spruce Meadows with earnings in excess of $3.7 million at the Calgary venue alone, Lamaze is no stranger to hoisting the winner’s trophy in the International Ring.  For his victory in the $40,000 ATCO Structures & Logistics Cup, Lamaze added another $13,200 to his overall winnings.

“I use him quite a bit in the speed competitions so I know him quite well,” said Lamaze of the 10-year-old Irish-bred Dutch Warmblood stallion (Royal Bravour x Ahorn) owned by Morningside Stud of Ireland and Lamaze’s Torrey Pines Stable.  “He’s very dependable in the short turns and he has a huge gallop so, on this field, it was advantage.”

In addition to Wang Chung M2S, Lamaze has recently added two new international mounts to his string.  Owners Carlene and Andy Ziegler of Artisan Farms purchased Powerplay, the former mount of Swiss rider Pius Schwizer, and Quelmec de Gery, formerly under the saddle of France’s Penelope Leprovost, days before the Spruce Meadows “National” opened.  Lamaze made his competition debut with both nine-year-old geldings this week at the Calgary venue.

“I was thrilled with both of the horses in our first week competing together,” said Lamaze who plans to ride one of his two new mounts for Canada in the Nations’ Cup competition on Thursday, June 13.  “I didn’t have any sort of practice prior to coming to Spruce Meadows.  It’s hard enough to ride any horse that’s never been in the International Ring, let alone a horse that is new to its rider, so I was super happy with how it went.  I just took it easy, I’m just getting to know them, but I’m very happy with how everything felt.”

Hailing from Schomberg, ON, Lamaze now divides his time between training bases in Wellington, FL, and Vrasene, Belgium.

Contact:  Jennifer Ward
Starting Gate Communications
Cell: (613) 292-5439
www.startinggate.ca